BALLiSTIC is an exciting film from start to finish. The action scenes are well directed and full of fantastic stunt work and visual effects. The visual and practical effects are fantastic especially in the junkyard scenes. The score is incredible and fits in well with the film. Sound design was fantastic and the acting was superb. Whilst the main theatrics of the film were centred around the junkyard story, I felt I enjoyed the story being developed in the flashback scenes a lot more.
My only real negative of the film was I failed to understand how the current story and flashback story relate at all. I thought they would relate in a more meaningful way but maybe a rewatch is in order, which is defiantly a good idea cause this film is definitely re-watchable.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this film and would love to see a feature length version of it on the big screen someday.
13 Reviews
Ambitious short
alleadbetter29 June 2018
BALLiSTIC is a fun ride, but can be confusing. It was cool to see the nods to other shorts in the "i" universe from Ryan Connolly. Stunt work, editing, and cinematography were next to none. I didn't really see he relevance of the flashback sequences or why they were important to what was happening in present day, besides filling in some backstory. Overall, I really like this film. I wanted to love it, but after a few viewings, the more I see its flaws. I was left puzzled at the end. I didn't really understand what had happened or why it was happening. From a technical aspect, fantastic work.
surprisingly dull
cyturnerthebest15 August 2018
Mind. Blown.
axlem200028 June 2018
Let me just say that as a filmmaker, I'm always blown away by Ryan Connolly's short films that he makes.
When this released, I had high expectations, and within the first 3minutes it exceeded the expectations!
Writing and directing was brilliant, the acting was excellent, the cinematography was well shot and each frame looked beautiful, the editing was well done, the score was awesome and the pacing was just incredible!
When this released, I had high expectations, and within the first 3minutes it exceeded the expectations!
Writing and directing was brilliant, the acting was excellent, the cinematography was well shot and each frame looked beautiful, the editing was well done, the score was awesome and the pacing was just incredible!
Ballistic, Indeed!
sign543-6-32021729 June 2018
I am continually amazed at Connolly's work, and this film delivers on all counts. The production value, the cast (SUPERB), the camera work, special effects, script...I have no complaints. I am in awe of how they accomplish what it takes major studios millions of dollars to accomplish. Ryan Connolly will one day soon grace the silver screen with his work...and after years of following his journey as spokesperson, host, entertainer, comedian, instructor, and filmmaker, I think it will be well earned. Great job, guys. Fantastic work. If I could offer one thing that I don't quite understand is...exactly what she is after, and what the digital countdown device (and corresponding arm numbers) mean. Maybe that will come out with the extensive behind-the-scenes that are forthcoming. LOVED it.
Visually fresh
samuelthomas199512 July 2018
I know the idea was to make a Hollywood level short, and the stunts and effects go a long way to selling that. But I can honestly say the think that I enjoyed the most was that it really had its own visual style which is really hard come by! I've never seen anything that looks like this. From the colour palette to the unique look of the lenses. Nothing I've ever seen looks like this film. Really ties together the post apocalyptic world with the grime and grit of the grade and lenses, but also pulls a sci-fi feel with the uncharacteristically blue lens flares.
The protagonist's stunning looks cannot really make up for the weaknesses in story-telling
Horst_In_Translation2 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
"Ballistic" is an American 17.5-minute live action short film from 2018, so a really new release still from June apparently and this is another effort by writer an director Ryan Connolly whos eshort film works have made so many waves in recent years that it seems only a matter of time till he gets piced to direct a big full feature Hollywood movie. But we'll see about that later. As for this one here, while I like some of Connolly's other stuff, I was not too impressed. It's the story of Dana (played by Hannah Ward) and it is split into two time zones, then then when she had a traumatic event in her childhood and the now, when she has an almost equally traumatic event as a grown-up. I struggled a bit with the editing between these and also the flashbacks did not impress me as much as I hoped they would in terms of the impact they have on Dana as an adult woman now. The action and fight sequences are pretty good as always with Connolly, but in terms of the plot I hoped for more, for better. The film could have fit in nicely into a movie, as part of a film, especially the now, and I thought that already before the ending which clearly indicates that there may be a sequel, maybe even a full feature film dealing with the character of Dana who certainly seems interesting enough for 90-100 minutes. I liked the counter inside her wirst for example. There is decent attention to detail, but the grean plot at the center just did not fit too well together. The childhood scenes need too long to deliver and when they do, namely the escalation with the gun and explosion, they do not deliver as much as they could/should have. So yeah, there was not one component in this short film that was really a failure or disappointing, but all in all it was too mediocre for my liking and there is also nothing that stands out too much apart from what I mentioned in the title of my review. So a thumbs-down all in all and I suggest you skip this one and go for one of Connolly's superior works. There's some.
Ryan does it again!
rterry130925 March 2020
Interesting and Epic
jpeburrus3 January 2020
What else would you except?
hpstudios-purequality9 July 2018
A Masterpiece Worth Watching.
cjwoods-3318028 June 2018
BALLiSTIC is a heart-pounding, edge of your seat, exhilarating ride from start to finish. Ryan Connolly has outdone himself with this production, and it sure as hell blurred the lines between independent and Hollywood. From BALLiSTIC's amazing stunts to its incredible high end visual effects, this short film is something to just sit back and "Awe" too. Even the comedy at the very end of the film's credits was genius, incredible work from Ryan and his team. The way Ryan can manipulate a story to the point were you feel glued to your seat begging for more is amazing. After this spectacle I feel It's right that the entire Film Riot team get prepared for that feature film everyone has been waiting for *Hint* *Hint*. Well Done Film Riot, well done.
Small Budget Spectacle
omersaleemarts3 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Ballistic is a great movie that keeps you interested from start of the end. I have been following Ryan Connolly for his Film Riot series. This movie's storues ties to other movie stories from him that are Sentinel and Proximity
Fantastic
personwhosginger22 April 2019
I very much enjoyed this short. Theres a grey area between Hollywood and Indie shorts where this sits. It's action and pyrotechnics are done to perfection, and with the fantastic performances by the actors and surprisingly good editing, it had me sitting on the edge of my seat.
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