Berberian Sound Studio (2012)

[Sam@Cult Labs]

Something unusual, a love letter to the sounds of Italian horror cinema. One for curious and open minded cult movie fans who like a bit of art on the side and all the Shameless/Arrow collectors, who can enjoy a tribute to the Giallo and pasta horror they love so much...

“One of the year’s very best films, a great, rumbling thunderclap of genius.”

★★★★★ Robbie Collin, The Telegraph

On DVD & Blu-Ray 31 Dec 2012

Dazzling Argento style and haunting Lynchian atmosphere are combined in Peter Strickland’s brilliantly original and hugely acclaimed homage to 1970s Italian horror.

Writer-director Peter Strickland (Katalin Varga) and stars Toby Jones (The Girl; Snow White And The Huntsman; The Hunger Games; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Tonia Sotiropoulou (Skyfall) and Cosimo Fusco (Angels And Demons; The Card Player).

It’s 1976 and timid, Dorking-based sound engineer, Gilderoy, has been transplanted to Italy’s run-down Berberian Sound Studio to work on “The Equestrian Vortex”, the latest low-budget horror movie by notorious exploitation maestro Giancarlo Santini. Gilderoy’s task is a seemingly simple one: to create, record and mix the sounds of bloodcurdling screams, limbs being severed and the insertion of red hot pokers into human orifices, mostly using a variety of everyday household items such as old vegetables and a hammer. But Gilderoy is totally unprepared for the graphically grotesque images on show, the effect they have on him and for the unusual working practices of his employers. As he becomes more deeply involved in his work, the line between fantasy and reality becomes blurred and, very subtly, Gilderoy’s life begins to imitate art in a nightmare scenario from which he may never escape.

Winner of the Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor awards at the 2012 Film 4 Frightfest, Peter Strickland’s disturbing, eerie chiller is a must-see for fans of the work of Dario Argento, Roman Polanski and David Lynch and features a revelatory central performance by Toby Jones and a superb soundtrack by British indie electronic band, Broadcast.

[bizarre_eye@Cult Labs]

I'm really looking forward to seeing this. Unfortunately, it's not released until after Christmas, otherwise I'd be hinting like mad to Santa!

[Sam@Cult Labs]

Having seen it, I can recommend it highly to any forum members who love classic 70s horror and watch the extra features on their discs, because this isn't a horror film, more a love letter to a classic horror era.

So you don't see any of the film within the film - aside from a pitch perfect seventies style animated title sequence that would sit comfortably at the start of any movie of the era from Hammer, Tigon or Amicus - just actresses screaming or a foley artist hacking up cabbages with a machete.

If you love analogue music and old pre-digital equipment, this is virtually pornography. Lots of loving shots of dials, knobs and meter readings.

In fact, if you're in a horror cul-de-sac, this is the ideal way to stretch your viewing tastes into the art movie world without leaping in feet first.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

This is a definite purchase for me.

I thought Strickland's Katalin Varga was a beautiful film, a revenge drama, but oh so much more than that. If Strickland can do with music what he did with the Transylvanian countryside in Katalin Varga then Berbarian Sound Studio should be something to behold.

I wrote a little on that film here. http://www.cult-labs.com/forums/memb...tml#post234055

[Sam@Cult Labs]

Speaking of music, want to draw your attention to the fantastic soundtrack by Broadcast.

A fascinating music project - a little tragic as the singer passed away too young quite recently - here's the Wiki page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcast_(band)

[Sobral]

This sounds very interesting.
Is this in any way similar to Amer?

[Sam@Cult Labs]

Actually, it's kind of like a companion piece in that Amer was a celebration of the visual excesses and stylistic tropes of the Giallo movie while BSS is focused on the sound.

Having said that, Amer I liked, but it was an art exercise in playing with repetition and mood, rather than presenting a movie.

BSS has more to grab onto basically. If you loved Amer you'll love this, if you didn't, don't be put off by the art tag.

[Slippery Jack]

My second favourite film of the year so far. Beautiful film!!! Totally lived up to my high expectations after Katalin Varga, and from reading the initial synopsis a couple of years ago! This and Holy Motors can't arrive on Blu soon enough for me

Anyone with a tenner to spare can currently view both films online through the nifty Curzon-On-Demand site . . .

[Slippery Jack]

...loving the Four Flies on Grey Velvet homage in the poster art btw . . .

[Sam@Cult Labs]

Some vegetables that won't survive till the final reel...