Vehicle 19 [Blu-Ray]
Director: Mukunda Michael Dewil
Cast: Paul Walker, Naima McLean, Gys de Villiers
Release Date: Available on Blu-Ray & DVD July 23
A Review By: Kevin Lovell
Film Rating: 6/10
Disc Rating: 7/10
Plot Summary:
A foreign traveler unknowingly picks up a rental car that will tie him to a web of corrupt local police.
‘Vehicle 19’ is the story of a man who goes to a foreign country, risking going back to prison by leaving the country without the approval of the parole board just to see the woman he loves. This is a man who has done many wrongs, and for the first time in his life is serious about changing his ways and getting his life on track, but of course that’s when he gets the wrong rental car by accident and his world is turned upside down as a result.
Paul Walker does an impressive job in the lead role and is pretty much the entire carrying force of the film. I don’t believe there is more than one scene (if even that) in the entire length of the movie that does not revolve around Paul Walker in this car or standing directly next to it. You would be hard pressed to find even one scene without the car and himself in sight. I stress that fact not because it is a hindrance to the effect or enjoyment of the film, but because it expresses how much effort must be put in on Walkers part to pull off such a task. There are other cast members involved in the film, but most all of them have very little time actually on screen, especially when compared with Walker.
‘Vehicle 19’ is an entertaining and well done thriller that may not be as impressive as some others that come to mind as being somewhat similar such as ‘Buried’, but it’s a 
competent and enjoyable thriller nonetheless. The cast is composed of all unknowns aside from Walker for the most part but they are nonetheless decent performances given all around. I will not insist everyone rush out and pick this one up immediately, but if you come across it, or are looking for a good one to rent or order on VOD/PPV and enjoy these types of thrillers, you are likely to enjoy it, just don’t go in expecting an Oscar contender.
VIDEO:
The Blu-Ray release of ‘Vehicle 19’ features a full 1080p High Definition presentation featuring a 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio. The video looks quite nice, and the detail of fast moving
objects, down the close-ups of stubble on characters faces is detailed, sharp and all looks well done and should keep most happy in regard to video quality. Imdb and a few other places list different Aspect Ratio’s such as 1.85:1 for this title so I’m not certain if anything has been cropped or is off on this release or if that info is simply incorrect. Everything looked fine as far as nothing being stretched and nothing seems to be noticeably missing which often happens when something is altered from the source, but I felt it something that should be noted just in case.
AUDIO:
The Blu-Ray features a lossless 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack which is not one of the most impressive lossless soundtracks I have heard lately but also far from 
the worst. It is not necessarily a bad soundtrack, it just feels that sometimes certain details can be a little muffled or dull. I have a feeling that this is not a result of bad mastering of the soundtrack, but more a result of a low budget film in which almost the entirety is filmed inside of a car. All other aspects of the soundtrack are well done; cars zooming by to helicopters flying overhead are all correctly placed and sound great.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
The special features on this release are quite light, but one always has to appreciate them bothering to include features at all as many releases these days don’t. The special features include a trailer and a making of featurette. While I’m sure the trailer won’t be too exciting for most, one always has to appreciate a proper extra such as the making of/behind the scenes featurettes.
Film Rating: 6/10
Disc Rating: 7/10
‘Vehicle 19’ will be available to own on Blu-Ray & DVD on Tuesday, July 23 From Ketchup Entertainment.
