Here's the basic plot: a young woman awakens during a thunderstorm and is kidnapped by a harmonica-playing man and his entourage. She awakens in a dungeon-like basement surrounded by the thugs, while a mysterious stranger waits in the wings to rescue her. A recurring dream may be her ticket out, but it turns out that her kidnapping may just be part of the dream. A flurry of gunshots later, the story concludes with an ending that's more of a cop-out than a genuine twist.

Let's get the obvious out of the way: Broken looks good while it lasts---again, especially for the production costs---but I'd have traded in the special effects and atmosphere for an original story, halfway talented actors and a tighter script. Broken aims high but misses the target: it's all flash and little substance, everything that's wrong with most comic book films of the last few years.

Still, you've got to give Ferrari and company credit for their enthusiasm---after all, they're just cutting their teeth in the industry. Broken is one of the most visually impressive films you'll see for under $10K---heck, even $100K---but the flat story and characters show that the creative team should be confined to visuals in the future. An audio commentary with Ferrari and Rodriguez mentions their love of comic books like Grendel and the classic Sandman, but this one plays more along the lines of 1990s-era Youngblood or whatever passes for Spawn these days.

While the movie isn't much more than a visual curiosity, the DVD has an ace up its sleeve: namely, a massive amount of bonus features that really captures the creative team's enthusiasm. From pre-production all the way through completion, the interesting supplements easily trump the final product. The film's technical presentation is a bit dodgy, but serviceable given the budget.

For a film that strives to get by on visuals, it's really strange that this re-release of Broken still hasn't been anamorphically enhanced. Even so, the 1.85:1 widescreen transfer is clean and clear, easily defying the film's modest budget. It's a clean print, largely free of edge enhancement and other digital problems. The film's limited use of CGI even blends in well, creating a convincing atmosphere.

Sadly, the audio doesn't fare quite as well. An uneven 5.1 Surround mix is included, which often sacrifices a smooth atmosphere for cheap directional activity. It's hard to be tough on such a shoestring production, but the sound design for Broken is extremely heavy-handed and usually creates distraction instead of illusion---that's an avoidable problem for films of any budget. A more down-to-earth 2.0 mix is also on board, and it's actually more satisfying than the surround track.

After sifting through the commentaries, those interested in independent filmmaking can wade through nearly every aspect of the film's execution. Pre-Production includes looks at concept art (above left), storyboards, rehearsal, a costume design gallery and more. Production offers a glimpse at the film's special effects, stunts, and also includes a series of behind-the-scenes vignettes and the recipe for a "guacamole gun", the infamous device created by Robert Rodriguez as a cheap and easy technique to create convincing blood splatters. Post-Production is perhaps the most interesting section of all, covering everything from color correction (above right) and sound design to the film's visual effects. From start to finish, this is a veritable gold mine for young hopefuls.

A few other move-related extras are included here, including a Behind the Scenes Featurette, a section that covers the film's Marketing (including a brief poster and art gallery), an Alternate Ending and the obligatory Gag Reel. Finally, there's a few text-based Biographies about the cast and crew. In all, this assortment of special features clocks in at nearly three hours! All in all, it's not bad for an independent film that's shorter than most sitcom episodes.

I can't say that Broken is anywhere near a great movie…I just can't. $8,000 budget or not, Alex Ferrari should have realized from Day One that special effects and gimmicky plot twists are no substitute for good acting and a solid script. All things considered, the production values are excellent and the atmosphere is usually effective---but without substance to back them up, viewers are left with a compact, low-rent comic book film that wouldn't really hold up on any budget. The DVD's technical presentation is largely hit-or-miss, but the informative wealth of bonus features makes Broken a solid weekend pick for any and all aspiring young filmmakers. Rent It.