Tank 432 is the directorial debut film of Nick Gillespie, a frequent collaborator with Ben Wheatley (Kill List, High-Rise, Free Fire), who is an executive producer here, when he should have been a co- writer, because this film, while admirable for it's stylish and truly terrible (in a good way) atmosphere, the ultimate payoff never comes.
When a group of mercenaries transporting two hooded individuals through a rural forested area somewhere in Europe, they eventually become trapped in a tank, where the enemy slowly reveals itself to be not the enemy from beyond the forest, but trapped in the belly of the steel beast they now reside.
The story, characters and setting were all there, with the latter two being pretty solid, but the psychedelic and surreal imagery, while compelling and intriguing, doesn't help to clear up the confusing and pointless plot. The pieces to a ground-breaking horror thriller are here, but Gillespie just couldn't put the puzzle together himself, being the writer and director. I feel if Wheatley had co-written the script or did re-writes after Gillespie, the issue could have been worked out and through, but sadly, we're stuck with an empty but stylish thriller, with some truly awesome acting chops (Michael Smiley has an outstanding moment of craziness that does show Gillespie's love of the craft).
Tank 432 is a missed opportunity, but still worth a watch for the performances and the cinematography. Maybe Gillespie will have better luck directing a script from a more experienced playwright, or have his script directed, because the man has talent.
When a group of mercenaries transporting two hooded individuals through a rural forested area somewhere in Europe, they eventually become trapped in a tank, where the enemy slowly reveals itself to be not the enemy from beyond the forest, but trapped in the belly of the steel beast they now reside.
The story, characters and setting were all there, with the latter two being pretty solid, but the psychedelic and surreal imagery, while compelling and intriguing, doesn't help to clear up the confusing and pointless plot. The pieces to a ground-breaking horror thriller are here, but Gillespie just couldn't put the puzzle together himself, being the writer and director. I feel if Wheatley had co-written the script or did re-writes after Gillespie, the issue could have been worked out and through, but sadly, we're stuck with an empty but stylish thriller, with some truly awesome acting chops (Michael Smiley has an outstanding moment of craziness that does show Gillespie's love of the craft).
Tank 432 is a missed opportunity, but still worth a watch for the performances and the cinematography. Maybe Gillespie will have better luck directing a script from a more experienced playwright, or have his script directed, because the man has talent.