"BROKEN is essentially a demonstration
of the mastery of horror imagery
and techniques. The film is effective
and professional and the ominous sound track
works with the images to create the desired effect.
Looking forward to “BROKEN: The
Feature."
- Roger Ebert (Film
Critic Chicago SunTimes/Ebert & Ropper)
"Allow me to introduce you to the next big thing.
BROKEN is an example that just re-affirms the fact that
indie does not mean shit. They have single handedly
taken indie to the next level showing that great film
makers can work with any budget. I can see these guys
doing a huge summer block buster on a peanuts budget
and making a studio alot of money, as well as pleasing
the audience. This $8,000 dollar film looks as good
as Sin City." - MoviesOnline. To
read the rest of the review click here: MoviesOnline.ca
"Broken has all the visual potency
of the likes of The Matrix and Fight Club."
- FilmFocus UK
To read the entire review go to: FilmFocus
UK
4
STARS! "Broken”
looks great, sounds great and threatens to put a bullet
between your eyes right from the get go. Can’t
complain about that, especially if you’re an action
nut with a short attention span. Have fun! “Broken”
does however show that these filmmakers have the chops
to pull off a pretty beefy feature length action flick
if they so desire, and I’m sure they do. We eagerly
await." - Check it out: FilmThreat
"I
was definitely engaged throughout. Needless to say,
the SE7EN-esque style of the film
made it that much cooler, and I really liked the action
scenes as well. I really dug the style and the visuals,
and hope to see something a little LENGTHIER from you
in the future. The next David
Fincher perhaps? :)" - JoBlo.com
BROKEN is featured in
August's issue of UK based DIGIT
Magazine. Is is one of the
worlds most respected and largest visual
effects magazines. We scored a four
page layout that looks AMAZING. Check out the
article: BROKEN'S DIGIT ARTICLE
BROKEN is featured in Novemeber's
issue of STASH DVD Magazine.
It is one of the worlds
most innovative and largest gfx design,
motion graphics and VFX DVD magazines. STASH delivers
the planet's most innovative and outstanding commercial
animation, VFX and motion graphics plus insightful behind-the-scenes
extras in a monthly DVD magazine. Also tucked inside
the STASH DVD case is a companion book of color stills,
details on the featured work, credits and tech notes.
STASH is the essential resource for ad agencies, broadcasters,
animation and VFX studios, designers, post houses, production
companies and schools.
They highlighted B R O K E N's opening title sequence.
(Alex - Editing & VFX, Dan
Cregan - Graphic Design & Mark Roumelis for sound
design & score). For more info on STASH goto:
http://www.stashmedia.tv
Check out what
they had to say:
"Broken is a fifteen
minute feature that doesn’t just pack enough wallop
to leave you feeling woozy—it’s packing
enough cinematic DY-NO-MITE to completely blow your
ass off! Broken has a pace that is feverish and unrelenting,
and yet maintains a style that allows it to glisten
through its foreboding darkness...the onus of the film
is to deliver a skull-shattering array of special effects
shots that equals the quality of big budgeted studio
flicks, and it does. If you run across this little slice
of brilliance, watch it." - Check
out the entire review here: Living
Corpse.com
10/10 Rating! "Broken"
serves as the platform for special effects talent, director,
and co-writer Ferrari to educate us on how everything
is done. The amazingly power packed DVD is extremely
instructive and even fascinating. Anyone
who is thinking about making an action/thriller ought
to have the "Broken" DVD in their library.
I liked the short movie fine, but when combined with
a dynamite DVD loaded with extras that are content rich,
this should be a essential part of any independent filmmaker's
library. A must for anyone intending
to make their own low budget action/thriller
or anyone whose just curious about the subject."
- Check it out: Einsders.com
"...produced on an $8,000 budget that would make
studio execs think they'd snorted fairy dust instead
of coke. A short film that looks as good as any Hollywood
blockbuster & twice as exciting. The film represents
a new benchmark in self-financed movies. BROKEN excels
in just about every department. It exudes quality and
high production values that simply belie its budget
& must be a torchbearer for the new revolution in
digital film-making. It's a stunning achievement."
- Pixel Surgeon. Click here to read the
review: PIXEL
SURGEON
"Let me tell you, the special effects are almost
universally fantastic, and never used as an actual crutch
to prop up poor writing (because there ain't any, kids).
Ferrari as writer and director could pull off a great
short with or without the computer assistance. His talent
with the camera, daring camera angles, and lack of mimicry
to the current trends show what a different kind artist
he is. Hell, he could probably pop a tape in a camcorder,
film a square dance documentary and actually make it
watchable! Broken is a quality film! It's the best suspense
thriller you never saw...Broken gets Four Stars out
of Five!"
Read the whole review: Worldsgreatestcritic.com
"The
characters are interesting, the story premise is intriguing
and the execution is professional in feel and look.
It’s almost a how to guide, a budget handbook
for budding filmmakers, as Alex Ferrari and his production
team discuss the process of turning $8000 into a professional
looking end product. When it comes to extra features,
Broken rivals the Lord Of The
Rings Extended Editions in terms of ratio. For
a film that comes in under 20 minutes, there are almost
3 hours of featurettes and documentaries, and that doesn’t
include six, count them, six audio commentaries. Alex
Ferrari and his crew give some invaluable advice for
budding filmmakers here, naturally they don’t
give all the tricks of the trade away, but it is enough
to inspire any budding filmmaker."
- Read the entire review here: DVD
Reviewer UK
4 out of 4 STARS! : "If
there is one Independent film I've seen this year that
looked like it was made in a Hollywood studio it would
be "Broken". In a nutshell "Broken"
puts most Independent films to shame. I believe that
every self proclaimed indie filmmaker out there should
see this film and see what a real indie filmmaker can
do with such a small budget. was far as directing, acting,
and script go, for the most part everything was nothing
but top notch. The Special Effects are probably
the best effects ever used in a low budget short film
ever. The production value is that of a Hollywood film
and I can't stress that enough. It is probably the best
short film I've ever seen." - Check
it out - The
Horror Review
"Enter Broken, and
aggressively promoted,
twenty minute short with style and enthusiams to spare.
Fortunately for us, director Alex Ferrari seems to know
what he's doing, or at least he's very good at faking
it. Broken does not suffer from any lack of visual flair,
which is especially commendable considering its budget
and the inexperience of all involved. I
recommend the DVD for its features and as a perfect
example of what can be done with a mere eight thousand
American dollars. Those who purchase the DVD can think
of themselves as ghost producers
for a larger project, as the more attention these
guys get, the more funding the feature-length version
will get." -DVDanswers.com
"It's
sheer entertainment. It warms the black pits of my heart
to think this was made on such a budget. We get passed
a goodly number of indie films around here, but seldom
do we see anything as polished as this short is, and
we've never seen one done in the action genre that looked
this good. Hell, you could hand these two guys MI: 3
and it might draw me into watch it. The Bond franchise.
Hell, anything. No, in fact, better yet: I'd like to
see these guys make a feature on their own and stay
the hell away from Hollywood. Whatever's out there killing
the movie industry is no doubt infectious. Best indie
we've seen in a while and the most effective indie calling
card we've ever seen. The DVD's $20 and has bonus features
out the ass. Go take your movie ticket budget and put
it towards this instead."
- NeedCoffee.com
Rogue Cinema Magazine's Duane L. Martin
has done a review - "Once in a while,
a film comes along where all the pieces just fit. The
production is first rate, the acting is incredible and
both visuals and sound are something special. Broken
is an absolutely gorgeous movie visually. The way it
was shot, the editing, and the entire feel of it puts
you in a completely separate world."
- Click here for the full review: Rogue
Cinema
"BROKEN
is an amazing achievement. The film quality is top-notch
- clean, well-lit, tightly edited and great use of color.
A big plus in BROKEN is its visual effects. They are
first rate, and mesh well in the film’s structure,
adding to the intensity as opposed to taking away one’s
focus. The Bride takes out the ‘Crazy 88’.
Suppertime aboard the ‘Nostromo’. Eyeball
cam in “Evil Dead II”. All are unforgettable
scenes in the history of cinema. Filmmaker and editor
Alex Ferrari debuts a stylish thriller with his short
BROKEN that – like these great scenes - cuts right
to the heart of the matter. Check out BROKEN - a short
sharp shock to the system."
Click here for the whole
review: Monsters
at Play.com
"With flashes of
talent, imagination, and drive that clearly demonstrate
that the people behind it could probably step up to
the major leagues. For me, as a film aficianado, seeing
people creating works like this is like a breath of
fresh air.
I urge Alex Ferrari and Jorge Rodriguez (the makers
of Broken) to use this film as a Trojan Horse, allowing
them to enter the gates of Hollywood film making, while
allowing them to secretly bring their artistic sensibilities
along for the ride and not be assimilated. Resistance
is NOT futile!
- Check it out: Cleverdonkey.com
"There is so much
to admire here, not least the deliberate choice of interesting
and complex angles. We don’t actually need that
shot from inside the fridge but it works brilliantly
and actually does serve a functional purpose because
the viewer’s attention is distracted by it and
the surprise that follows is all the greater. When bullets
start flying, the effects and the editing both come
into play and both are excellent. In an age when some
big, expensive and on the whole pretty good films are
let down by directors who simply have no idea how to
shoot an action sequence, Ferrari
really shows us how it should be done. Those
looking for the next big thing, those interested in
finding out just how professional an indie film can
be with today’s technology (in the right hands!)
or just those with an interest in powerful,
action-packed short films will get a kick out
of Broken." - Check it out: MJSimpson
UK
"The goal of this
movie, as explained on the official website, was to
make a low-budget fifteen minute short which could seamlessly
replace an action scene in a big budget Hollywood film.
With a grand total of eight thousand dollars, the guys
responsible for this movie have succeeded in their goal
- this really looks like something
that would come out of Hollywood, not out of
a low-budget offering.The effects are absolutely amazing,
and one is hard-pressed to believe that this was all
put together on a budget smaller than what most Hollywood
films spend on a days worth of having their trailer
ran on basic cable. Imagine combining the action sequences
of The Matrix with the look and
general feel of Saw and you'd have a pretty good
idea of what to expect here. Director Alex Ferrari has
shown that low-budget movies do not have to be visually
unappealing, and his name is one you should watch for
in the future." - Check it out:
MoviesMadeMe.com
"Visually,
it’s fantastic, with production values as high
– if not higher – than anything you
will see in more mainstream films. The washed out cinematography
is reminiscent – in some ways – of Sin City,
with the odd flash of colour standing out against a
near monochrome background. The acting
is consistently impressive. But it’s in
the visual effects and the action sequence that the
film really does deliver. The effects, throughout,
are incredible and it’s difficult to believe that
all this was achieved with only $8,000 – every
last cent has clearly made its presence felt" -
Check out the whole story: Pulp
Movies
"Ultimately,
Broken is interesting and I could certainly see Ferarri
doing more with this world he has created. Normally,
I do my best to try to document and comment on all of
the special features on a disc. Usually this isn't a
problem, but on Broken, it's simply impossible. There
is just a ton of material here. Alex Ferrari documented
everything and anything that went into producing and
marketing his film, and he's made a great deal of it
available here on this disc. The result is, quite literally,
a lesson in guerilla filmmaking." -
Check out the whole story: DVDDude.net
"
Alex Ferrari probably has given an enormous amount of
hope to aspiring, young filmmakers with his short film
Broken. Broken is a great example of pushing the borders
of shoestring budget filmmaking, when it comes to looks
of the film. Great fun, and one can learn a lot from
it too." - Check out the whole story:
Extraordinary
Movie and Video Guide
"Bored with Hollywood's
standard methods of operation, Alex Ferrari took it
upon himself to make a film on his own with a measley
budget and see if he could pull it off just as well
as the studios. Aside from the fact that it's only twenty
minutes in length, I think he has succeeded. With only
eight grand in his pocket, Ferrari found some really
talented actors, a SFX team to
marvel at and edited the film beautifully. Wow!
They did all this with $8000?
Very impressive. The lighting is just sweet.
For some reason it reminded me
of places within The Matrix. Yet this setting
has a feel all its own. The gun fighting has a unique
style and the people don't simply fall over dead when
getting shot. There are interesting
angles and camera movements as the bullets fly
and hit their mark. The evil Duncan is for sure the
bright spot in the charaters. Creepy and obviously disturbed,
he really brings life to the film and is the character
you really want to keep your eye on. Check out this
film if you can track it down. It
takes less time than watching an episode of The Simpsons,
but packs twice the punch. - Check it out: MoviePatron.com
"Broken
is an inventive and action packed short...it suceeds
on the level of a Hitchcockian nightmare, where an unwitting
protagonist is thrust into an uncontrollable situation
with no motive or explanation and, vitally, as a cracking
action set piece...we're treated to some expertly choreographed
action. Technically, Broken is very impressive...sound
design and effects editing of a very high order... Broken
is an intriguing and hugely entertaining concoction."
- Read the whole review here: Future
Movies UK
"What is Broken? is the flashing question
of the day...it is an attempt at an uppercut directed
toward Hollywood to prove that no-budget films can pack
enough juice and luster to rival the best of the best
that moneygrubbers can squeeze out of the nonstop grinder.
The major highlight of Broken is twofold–the amazing
visual effects and the photography. The dark yet vibrant
green-toned claustrophobic atmosphere reminded me of
a mix between The Sixth Sense,
Fight Club, and Sin City. Equally magnificent
are the photography and camera angles. They were insanely
aesthetic and captivating, throwing you right into the
mix. Broken is a major accomplishment in visual artistry.
To the people behind the film: Kick-ass job!"
- Check it out: Cin3ma.tv
"Stylish,
noirish and edgy, Broken engages from the start.
Tension is well maintained in this often inventive short
thriller, and the payoff twist is as unexpected as it
is disturbing. Performances are well controlled and
the action scenes near then end
are surprisingly sophisticated." - Urbancinefile.com.au
"Desire is one of the few emotions
that can overcome the flaws we set on ourselves. This
desire can sometimes overcome things of the flesh or
it can overcome those things that make the world go
round (money). Well, let me be one of the first to tell
you that the team at Enigma Factory (Writer/Director
Alex Ferrari and Writer/ Producer Jorge Flores Rodgriquez)
have plenty of desire. You see, they have produced a
fifteen minute film that could hold up to fifteen minutes
of ninety-five percent of the films I’ve seen
this year. BROKEN is all that you could ask for in it’s
allotted time, and I myself cannot wait for it to be
completed. You might say that my statement is not something
out of the ordinary. You might even tell me that the
most original, and purpose driven films come from independents
if you were talking to me face to face. I’d even
nod my head in agreement with you. I’d maybe turn,
pick up a soda, and then astound you with this little
factoid. BROKEN’s fifteen minutes of film was
shot at the astronomical price of eight-thousand dollars!
My faith in good film-making has been uplifted, long
live those who follow their dreams."
Check it out: ReviewGuyOnine.com
"One
of ScreamFest's big winners was Broken, a 20-minute
film made by Alex Ferrari and Jorge Flores Rodriguez.
The film was made for $8,000, looks
like a million, and has found a champion in Hollywood
to expand it into a feature-length movie. If
they can sell "Broken DVDs for $20.00, as their
sign read, then these guys can do anything."
- Check out his website and TV show at:
http://www.cinemainsomnia.com
Visually,
Broken looks great, and what’s really nice is
that unlike so many other “little indies”
Broken offers a host of exciting
effects shots and dynamic camerawork to keep
the viewer interested not only in the content of the
dialogue, but in the whole package. I watched Broken
more than a few times only to study the visuals. I was
constantly impressed at the professional
level of work these guys did on a couple of Macs
and off-the-shelf software (Shake and Final Cut Pro).
Broken proves that good, affordable technology is paving
the way for tomorrow’s visionary filmmakers. I
will urge all of you to check it out if only for the
gigantic amount of information contained on the DVD.
Think of it as a resume, one that’s
tied to flaming arrow and fired into the window of Harvey
Weinstein’s office at Miramax." -
Check it out: HorrorView
REVIEW
"Writer/Director Alex Ferrari and Writer/Producer
Jorge Flores Rodriguez have pulled off a 20-minute sci-fi
action thriller with 100 f/x shots for only $8,000 and
it looks as professional as any motion picture you’ll
find in theaters today. The best
way I could summarize the film would be say it has all
the aesthetics of a Twilight Zone episode mixed with
the sensibilities of a video game and the visual feel
of films like SAW and SEVEN...these two have
managed to pull off something really special."
- Check it out: Foywonder
"BROKEN shows that independent short
films do not have to be two people talking earnestly
in a empty room because that's all the budget can afford.
Indeed, what they have achieved is undeniably impressive,
a slick and glossy twenty minutes of suspense and special
effects that could easily be the opening act of an intriguing
thriller. It's tricky for film makers to keep so much
from the audience and still hold their interest, but
they manage it here. However, its frustrations could
be remedied with a feature length version, which is
unsurprisingly what was planned. 7 out 10 Stars"
- Check it out: Spinning
Image UK
3.5
STARS "...great lighting, great DP work,
fantastic sound – the atmosphere and look are
some of the best I’ve seen on the microbudget
level. Broken shows a lot of potential, and I hope
to see more from these filmmakers! - Check
it out: MicroCinemaScene.com
"Rarely do unfunded independent filmmakers
make a brilliant first effort
with production values that rival fully funded projects.
Broken (2005), a flagship short by erstwhile post production
editor Alex Ferrari, is one such. First and foremost
a showcase of polished visual
effects, the cinematography and soundtrack are
also accomplished. The story is both atmospheric and
punchy, with a twist you will not see coming. Paul Gordon’s
evilly playful portrayal of the sociopathic Duncan is
riveting. Samantha Jane Polay is a believably terrified
Bonnie, with a surprising hidden resource which is a
keyhole special effect to myriad character implications.
A soundtrack by Mark Roumelis adds dimension to this
satisfyingly well crafted thriller from writer/director
team Jorge Rodriguez and Alex Ferrari. I’m
looking forward to seeing what this immensely talented
and creative team can do next – hopefully with
some serious funding." - Check
it out: Movie-Vault.com
"Once in a while, though, there is
a film that is born of pure passion and desire, as if
created for the purpose of reminding the film industry
that good movies are still possible. The short film
B R O K E N, directed by Alex Ferrari, is a genuine
surprise and worth a second look. The kicker here is
that, despite being a low budget film it doesn't play
like one. From the very beginning, the feeling is that
B R O K E N has been shot, edited, and produced by professionals.
It looks like something Quentin Tarantino might have
done on his day off when he was jamming with the Wachowski
brothers. The film is sharp and cool, it looks good
and it feels like something big."
- Check out the whole story: FilmGuru.net
"Watching Broken, the 15 minute writing
and directoral debut by newcomer Alex Ferrari, you get
the feeling that you've walked in on the final sequence
in a really kickass movie.
And that's what really got me about his movie... Ferrari
reveals more plot than may be evident at first. When
I watched Broken a second time for the purposes of doing
this review, I found that I was really getting into
what was going on. I picked up on things that I hadn't
noticed before, and found myself really having fun trying
to come up with plausible backstories for Bonnie &
Duncan. It's hard for a movie to not give everything
away without frustrating it's audience (especially in
America), but I think Ferrari has successfully walked
that line. Broken is an exiting
first look at a filmmaker who seems to have the knack
of telling truly interesting stories." -
Check out the rest: Dumb
Distraction.com
"Director Alex Ferrari, who made the
movie using a script written by Ferrari and Jorge F.
Rodriguez (and based off Ferrari’s story), has
crafted a slick-looking little short. I do hope
that this short impresses some studio enough to want
to make a full-length movie, based on the cool visuals
in it. If you do get a chance to check it out,
I encourage it. Maybe we might be looking at the next
David Fincher in Ferrari." - Check
it out: Entertain
Your Brain.com
"The
film is tightly plotted and the action fast paced. It's
certainly much better than what passes for action in
Hollywood for action these days (it easily surpases
what Uwe Boll or Paul W.S. Anderson could achieve with
1000 times more budget). What is especially comendable
is the high production values involved, particularly
notable with the locations and sets, which usually are
very restricted in low budget fare, but also there is
good direction, cinematography and editing that doesn't
have to rely on gimmickry. Overall 2 tumbs up!"
- Check it out: ILMfan.com
4 out of 5 STARS. " This was by far the
most professional FX shorts I've ever seen. I
found the story line to be twisted enough to keep my
interest until the end. It's seldom that you can incorperate
guns and psychology, bravo! I still find it hard
to believe it was done on such a small budget,
but never the less, this is obviously a well thought
out short with more rollercoaster twists than a ride
at Cedar Point. " - Check out
the rest: MixMedia
"The
mind-bending premise of
Broken seems fit for a big-budget Hollywood feature,
so it's surprising to see it unfold in a mere nineteen
minutes of screen time...a twist ending that outdoes
most Hollywood twists by actually meaningfully redefining
everything that has transpired beforehand. This is a
credit to first-time director and writer Alex Ferrari,
a talented and capable young independent filmmaker,
who along with co-writer Jorge
F. Rodriguez. In twenty minutes Ferrari delivers
his treatise on the human condition and it becomes clear
that no amount of splashy action scenes or superfluous
story elements would obfuscate the point he's trying
to make about free will, predestination, and the existence
of a higher power. If a person may be said to have a
broken psyche or spirit, then what does that say about
the metaphysical nature of the human soul? Ferrari believes
he has the answer." - Check it out:
Erudite
Film Critic
"Broken is...great story telling.
What makes Broken work is the superb visual style...strong
camera work, art design and lighting/cinematography.
I recommend viewing Broken to anyone interested in high
production values / low budget film work. The short
is inspiring and proof that you can make a great looking
movie on a limited budget. In short Broken is beautiful
and effective; a craftwork of loving artistry."
- Film Roar
Click here to read the review: Film
Roar
"One of ScreamFest's big winners was Broken, a 20-minute
film made by Alex Ferrari and Jorge Flores Rodriguez.
The film was made for $8,000, looks like a million,
and has found a champion in Hollywood to expand it into
a feature-length movie. If they can sell "Broken DVDs
for $20.00, as their sign read, then these guys can
do anything." Check out his website and TV show at:
http://www.cinemainsomnia.com
"If there's one thing
Broken has it's suspense. The intensity never lets up
for a moment and the acting is overall excellent...much
attention was paid to the production design, which I
loved. If you have the means check this short out."
- Read the entire review at: Movie
Marketing Madness
"BROKEN ends up on the opposite side of the spectrum
from the usual low-budget independent films. ...an interesting
story, well shot, and offers interesting visual effects
for such a low budget film. If they can accomplish so
much with a little budget, I can only imagine what they
can do once their talent is unleashed on a full film."
- CinemaBlend. Click here for the full review: CinemaBlend
"The camera work, editing, restrained
writing and likewise performances bring it all across
wonderfully. What does strike you throughout the movie
are the high production values. The lighting is superb,
dark, tight and claustrophobic. The effects are very
visual and don't fail to impress ... you would never
have realized it wasn't a full budget Hollywood short.
Ferrari and his team are definitely people to look out
for." - The Movie Blog Click here
to read the review: The
Movie Blog
"Broken" is violent,
gritty, and entertaining as hell. Proof-positive
that Hollywood doesn't have it made when it comes to
telling high-production-value thrillers. The film was
shot with a Panasonic DVX100a and many of the VFX were
done in Shake, Apple's high end compositing software.
And it's incredibly impressive. Broken" is being
released on special edition DVD's which should be out
in early August and will feature extensive behind the
scenes footage as well as break downs of the many VFX
used throughout the film."
Check out the whole story: Filmmaking.com
"Stylish, noirish and edgy, Broken
engages from the start; a wheelchair bound, lightly
clad and gagged young female surely one of the most
effective images of vulnerability is wheeled into a
dark basement peopled by menacing men . and one other,
predatory female. Tension is well maintained in this
often inventive short thriller, and the payoff twist
is as unexpected as it is disturbing. Performances are
well controlled and the action scenes near then end
are surprisingly sophisticated. Visual effects shots
included, Broken is a terrific calling card for Ferrari.
If this is what he can do for $8,000, he has a Robert
Rordriguez-style future ahead of him."
- Andrew L. Urban - urbancinefile.com.au
"...it brings cool action to the screen,
also throws in cool little head twists and mind f@*ks
for the ride. There were scenes in Broken that just
blew my mind and made me wonder how they were able to
do it with a budget under $10K. In the end, Broken is
a wonderful short action film that strives to throw
good action and great cinematography right in our faces."
- The CAN Magazine. Click here for the full review:
The
CAN Magazine
"I
wish all action movies were this cool. The only eight-thousand
dollar budget is used with utmost resourcefulness as
the movie's one locale makes for a very tense production.
The films also has some beautiful direction; Ferrari's
got the chops of a pro, and the clean editing and hyper
action scenes make this a lot of fun. BROKEN has some
above par production values like a wicked score, beautiful
choreography, and some action that made me wide-eyed.
Twenty minutes well spent...this is one of the coolest
action films I've seen in a while!" -
Click here to read the whole interview: Cinema
Crazed
"There are those who will do whatever
it takes to get something done and there are those that
do whatever it takes and then step it up a notch or
two. This trailer shows you the eagerness of a filmmaker
who really wants to create something special with effects
in a way that eschews modernist ideas that a first movie
should mean something, on a deep level, but instead
takes the tack that a good shoot-em-up is a road less
traveled by first time directors. This has to be one
of the better made action trailers I’ve seen..."
- Movie Poop Shoot
Click here to check out the entire review: MoviePoopShoot.com
"To say that of an $8,000 short, it
really hits home. Its main draw is an action sequence,
effectively directed, gunfire, a little hand-to-hand
combat, and some fantastic gore separate it a little...the
budget hardly seems to constrain the vision at all.
Broken is worth tracking down." Matt
Paprocki (Blog Critics)
Click here for the full review: Blogcritics.org
"An action short which goes a long
way to prove that you do not need a multi-million dollar
budget to craft an exciting action sequence. This is
a very impressive piece of work. Crafted on the miniscule
budget of $8000, we get an entire set piece of near
feature quality. If you like action, check this out."
- Chris Beaumont (Blog Critics) Click
here for the full review: Blogcritics.org
"BROKEN secludes your mind, ties you
down, gives yah a bit of a tickle and then slaps you
in the face. What is not broken is; Directors Vision,
Amazing cinematography, precise post production, Immersive
story and certainly the devotion and creative fire that
this film possesses." - CG Underground
Click here for the rest of the review - CG
Underground
"Director Alex Ferrari and producer
Jorge F. Rodriguez have produced a film that brings
independent filmmaking to a whole new level. Independent
filmmaking has never been this good. Low budget doesn't
always equal low quality as Broken firmly demonstrates.
If this is what these guys can do with $8000; I can
only imagine what they could do with $60 million and
a very much hope I get to see that one day."
- Entertainmentopia. Click here for the rest of the
review: Entertainmentopia
"For a brief no-budget film with amateur
actors, I dug Broken quite a bit."
- Chud.com
To read the entire review go to: CHUD.com
"
An excellent first film, this short breaks down the
barriers of what can be accomplished in the realm of
action and suspense at the micro-budget level. As other
filmmakers build on the work of Mr. Ferrari, Mr. Rodriguez,
Mr. Falcon, and all the other folks that made this film
possible, this may prove to be one of the most inspirational
short films for our cause in quite some time! I've seen
this short over ten times and I notice something new
each time. While it does not answer almost any of the
questions it raises, it definitely makes you appreciate
what these young filmmakers accomplished for our art
and makes you look forward to seeing a full-length feature."
- Check out the whole story: MicroFilmmaker.com
"Director Alex Ferrari put together
this short film on an extremely limited budget in a
virtuoso demonstration of his and his team's exceptional
visual talents. The feel for low key textural lighting
and effects derived from editing and digital technique
are consistent and original, especially as these elements
convey the theme of brokenness. It's enough to make
you wonder what they could put out there with a well-written
feature length film and an ample budget. It won't surprise
me if this serious little effort leads to that larger
opportunity." - Click here to read
the review: Varigate
Movie Reviews
"Let’s just say that if The Matrix
was a darker movie, it would be BROKEN’s bigger
brother. BROKEN definitely represents a victory for
low budget cinema. With its hundred impeccable special
effects, its twisted characters and its many twists,
BROKEN is one of the best shorts I have had the chance
to view. The visual quality of the film will charm you
from the get go. More importantly, BROKEN never slows
down or bores the viewer. The pace is ideal!"
- Check it out: Shade.ca
(ENGLISH) - Shade.ca
(FRENCH)
Film Critic Thomas Lundmark from the Swedish film site
MovieMix.nu has done a killer review
of BROKEN. He gave us a 5 out 6 stars.
Now the review is in Swedish so I have to take his word
on it. He said that he would send an English version
soon. Click here for the full Swedish review: MovieMix.nu
"It's clear that we are in action territory
in this pristine DV short. It looks good and is a new
benchmark for other short film makers to aspire to visually.
They certainly have the chops and have an eye on a much
bigger prize and I see no reason why they shouldn’t
get it. I definitely think we will be hearing about
these guys in the future." - Rumour
Machine. Click here for the full review: Rumour
Machine.com
"BROKEN has a slick look that rivals
a studio film. It’s lit that well. The set design
is creepy and malformed, reminiscent of the look of
“Saw”. We have director Ferrari and his
partner Jorge Rodriguez did an excellent job creating
mood with a mixture of production design and visual
effects. The filmmakers know what they’re doing
from a technical standpoint. the micro-budget, effects-heavy
short film “Broken” gives us a lot more...I’m
eager to see where it goes." - 7M
Pictures. Click here for the full review: 7M
Pictures
"The art direction, special effects
and production are top notch. Visually, Broken is every
bit as good as most Hollywood releases and insanely
better than most television shows or made for television
movies. To achieve this level visual quality in a short
film costing a mere $8,000 is an achievement onto itself.
If you're a movie going fan/visual effects nut like
me, I cannot recommend Broken enough. Broken has gone
and set the bar a bit higher for all other fan made
films out there. If you're planning on filming your
own short movie anytime in the future you'd be well
advised to check out Broken to see how to make a short
movie right!" - Check out the whole
review: DangerousUniverse.com
"I don’t remember when a short
film whet my appetite for a longer version as much as
BROKEN, an action-packed thriller directed by Alex Ferrari.
With only a 20-minute viewing time and an $8,000 budget,
this little gem managed to draw me into the main character’s
frightening plight, present a villain I loved to hate,
and offer such professional visual
effects I thought I was seeing a sequence out of a new
full-length feature with similar quality to Once Upon
a Time in Mexico, one of my favorite Robert Rodriguez
films. This short film not only boasts first-rate production
values, it also features excellent acting by the key
players, especially Paul Gordon. Congratulations to
Ferrari and his colleagues for proving that quality
filmmaking needn’t cost millions of dollars."
- Check it out: Reel
Talk Reviews
"WE
got your first look at the Broken
DVD Artwork and let me tell you yes it just like the
short film kicks ass. This movie is easily the
coolest damn home made short I have ever seen. Now before
you go "shut up this movie is crap". Keep
2 things in mind. Number 1, your an idiot, Number 2
they made it for $8k with a MAC and everyone knows MACS
ROCK! Seriously though this movie is the best short
film I have ever seen in my life. If you dont want to
win this dvd thats cool just see Number 1 above. :)
The packaging on this is outstanding for an indie, and
I am not surprised. This whole movie is kick ass and
despite some short falls which the team recognized and
fixed it is smoking. This movie is a prime example of
what an indie can be. So next time you pop your un-labelled
dvd into the mail to me, remember there is stuff like
this, done on next to nothing and it sells... Put in
an extra 5mins will yuh?" - Check
it out: MoviesOnline.ca
"The film had a budget of just $8000
and with its many visual effects, it really shows what
you can accomplish with a little bit of cash and a lot
of talent. The short is being released on special edition
DVD's which should be out in early July and will feature
extensive behind the scenes footage as well as break
downs of the many VFX used throughout the film...definitely
worth a watch." -
Check out the entire feature: DVGuru.com
"...great visual effects and good acting.
I was quickly wrapped up and vested in all of the characters
and the story. By the time the film was wrapping up
and I shook of the notion that this movie wasn’t
going to continue, I wanted more. I could not recommend
it enough." - Film Bomb. Click here
for the rest - Film
Bomb
"It's slick with fast paced editing
and plenty of style to boot...the trailer flies by and
leaves you thirsty for more." - Movie
Blog. Click here for the whole trailer review: The
Movie Blog
"I must say I was honestly blown away,
very impressive work. The gun play & effects were
topnotch, nicely done. The cinematography and direction
were also very impressive. The production design is
where this film sells it self...I really enjoyed it,
it was a very tight 20 mins. ...by far one of the slickest
short films I've seen in a long while."
- Superherohype!
"...amazing shots, fine
compositing and special effects that certainly mount
most of those that you'll see on television. If anything,
it goes to show that with some forethought, a few resources
and time, you're able to create nearly anything that
your mind sees fit. The look of the short is well done
- with the green-gray tones of Fincher and other grungy
visionaries present. As directed by Alex Ferrari, the
film moves quickly, has cool stuff and is entertaining
in the few minutes that it has your attention. Really
everything that a short film film should be."
- Check it out: Lights
Out Films
"Ferrari's direction
is actually quite good...Part David Fincher, part The
Matrix...the gun battle is exciting, and the choreography
is quite good. The first thing that strikes you about
the short is how sophisticated and impressive its opening
credits are. The movie proper retains much of the visual
feel of the credits...BROKEN certainly impresses."
- BeyondHollywood.com
"Broken has a lot of
kick-ass things going for it. For an indie short film,
the production values are downright impressive...as
for the direction, the set designs, visual and audio
quality and special effects, they are all top notch.
Broken features tons of special effects shots crammed
into a measly five minute action sequence that literally
overflows with bullets, brains and blood…Sam
Raimi would be proud. Visual quality of the letterbox
transfer is reasonable enough — downright impressive
considering the budget — and captures the eerie
atmosphere of industrial basements, flickering lights
and ricocheting bullets with ease. Shot on digital video,
the film does a good job of low-light shooting, which
constitutes the majority of the film, keeping the grain
controlled and black levels respectable. The level of
detail is impressive, especially considering the entire
film was constructed for the cost of the catering bill
on a major motion picture shoot."
- Check it out: DVD
Verdict
"...it proves that with the right script and director,
even the smallest of productions can make it big. The
direction, special effects and screenplay are also well
done, resulting in a production that looks much more
expensive than it actually cost. BROKEN is an excellent
short film with some exciting moments" - Movie-Source.
Click here for the full review: Movie-Source
"Perhaps the most impressive thing about BROKEN
is the fact that it was realized on a budget of $8000.
The shootout is exciting and well-choreographed...BROKEN
is a short-but-sweet action fan's fix...you won't have
to wait long for the bullets to fly." -
Brian McKay - Click here for the full review: HollywoodBitchslap
"You
can tell when someone knows what they are doing and
has taken the time to do it right. In fact, the DVD
is a film school for those interested in how to put
together a good film with little money. Machine gun
fire, thrown knives, fight scenes..it's amazing. The
choreography was storyboarded and executed perfectly.I
can't wait to see the Full-Length"
Check it out: Hollywood
is Talking.com
"...the sweetest indie trailer this
side of the Matrix. This is the first indie action film
I can honestly say "gimme". -
MoviesOnline. Click here for the rest of the trailer
review - MovieOnline.ca
"B R O K E N may have started as a
independent project but Hollywood is definitely going
to take notice." - The MovieReporter.
To read the entire review go to: The
Movie Reporter
"Filmfanzine
has taken a look at independent short film Broken. The
production design, the images, the lightning and the
movements of the camera works really good, and we actually
had to read the production note on the DVD to understand
that it is a no-budget film. The music, the sound design,
the special effects and the editing also works great.
It´s a brilliant visual film, and there is no
doubt that writer/director Alex Ferrari and his team
are very talented."
- Check
out the whole review here: Filmfanzine
"Ultimately,
Broken is interesting and I could certainly see Ferarri
doing more with this world he has created. Normally,
I do my best to try to document and comment on all of
the special features on a disc. Usually this isn't a
problem, but on Broken, it's simply impossible. There
is just a ton of material here. Alex Ferrari documented
everything and anything that went into producing and
marketing his film, and he's made a great deal of it
available here on this disc. The result is, quite literally,
a lesson in guerilla filmmaking. Check
out the whole story: DVDDUDE.net
"BROKEN pushes the envelope with what
is possible with a low-budget Indie film. These guys
poured their heart and soul into making this film and
the results show. The production values rival
any big-budget film out there." -
Invisibleman Online - Click here for the full review:
Invisiblemanonline.com
German Indie Film Site,
Hackermovies.com gave
us a killer review, it's in German though but they told
us it was cool: "Broken" Ein erfolgreicher
amerikanischer No Budget Indie Genrefilm!"
- Check it out: Hackermovies.com
"Very impressive! The effects were VERY cool and
looked like they were done by seasoned pros with a major
bankroll behind them. VERY well done!" - Supercalafragalistic.com
"...really damn impressive for only
$8000. Kinda struck me as a cross between the Twilight
Zone, Saw, and a Hong Kong action film."
- Horrorchannel.com
"The action/death sequences were top
notch. The cinematographer needs to be congratulated
on a fine job. And the visual effects and titles were
impressive." - Movieforguys.com
"It's an action/thriller shot for only
$8000 - this thing looks fantastic."
- TwitchFilm
"An amazing little head trip!"
- Christopher Null, filmcritic.com
"B R O K E N looks like a helluva lot
of movie for $8000 bucks." - GreenCine
Daily
"B R O K E N is violent, gritty, and
entertaining as hell" - VFXSoup
"With over 100 visual effects, BROKEN
is tour de force." - Inkietos.com
"I'm blown away the budget was only $8000!! The
trailer did it's job.. i dug it...Amazing Work!"
- BHive TV
"This movie is f-ing awesome and deserves
to be played on a big BIG screen."
- REwindvideo.com
"Kick ass trailer! Seriously, for $8K,
I want to see more. Very cool!" -
Metacritic.com
