Review of Berberian Sound Studio (2012) by Gabe L — 10 Jul 2013

Both bonkers and mesmerizing. The go-to imp of British film, Toby Jones, is extraordinary as Gilderoy, an expert sound technician, employed to provide the sound effects and dubbing on a '70s-era Italian horror flick (think Argento).

The film plays homage to that genre and more. For example, there is a Bunuelian bit of business with Gilderoy trying to get paid for his flight to Italy and being constantly thwarted. There are lots of (maybe) red herrings.

The movie subtlety suggests a) Gilderoy is himself some sort of predator-criminal (sheds are never a good sign in horror movies), b) he's dead and this is some form or Hell for him, c) he is the victim of a conspiracy (for unknown reasons) to drive him mad and film it.

Oh, it's wildly, wildly open-ended. But the craft of film-making in the analog era is lovingly recreated and a pleasure to watch.