Berberian Sound Studio (2012)
 

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.

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! ;)

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.

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

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)

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

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.

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 :woot:

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

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

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

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/images-1.jpg

Berberian Sound Studio is just fantastic. One of my films of the year in fact. It's beautifully directed, indeed celebrating the sensory excesses of Italian horror/giallo cinema as Sam points out. I too loved Strickland's Katalin Varga, and like that film Strickland hints at something very, very sinister, just lurking off screen in the shadows, amidst the fetishistic confines of the sound studio where Toby Jones' wispy sound engineer toils away. And it's incredible how much violence is conjured up through the sound of squishing vegetables (it was no surprise to find that Strickland's a veggie.) Other than the impressive credit sequence, we never do get to see the film footage - incredible.

Less abstract than the (also terrific) Amer, but equally sensory, genre fans should love it.

Summed it up brilliantly, thanks for that.

Amer was great, I think this is more accessible though.

The Title sequence is a real standout.

Yes!

So glad Cult Labs are promoting this. I saw this at the cinema and although I am still slightly undecided on it as I feel that I kind of got away from the film as it approached the ending I really want to see it again, in the same way I needed to see Mulholland Drive again after watching it for the first time.


There was definitely a lot in the film that made me want to watch it a second time anyway especially the use of sound and the opening sequence of The Equestrian Vortex

The film almost demands repeated viewing. I'm sure I'll see it a few more times while I'm working with it.

The kind of movie that makes the job feel worthwhile.

Yeah.

I really like your point about it being a companion piece of sorts to Amer which, while still used existing gialli soundtracks, was very much a visual film in the same way that BSS is an aural one. Would make an interesting double bill for gialli aficionados.

...And finish off with the recent Mark Gatiss' Euro Horror doc for a fine evening.

I have Katalin Varga on my rental list. I've been meaning to check it out for a while.

I'm fairly sure you will like it.

Was really hoping to see this in the cinema as it sounds fantastic unfortunately things got in the way. Well not long until its out now.

Something to look forward to. It's just a real shame the release date is set for Dec 31st, as I would have loved to watch this over Christmas. No matter, not long to wait, and it's an end of year 'must purchase'.

I totally agree with everything that's been said on this thread. Berberian Sound Studio is a phenomenal film! A love letter to Italian horror, it's not only incredibly enjoyable and intense but fascinating too.

Here's the trailer for your viewing pleasures...

Berberian Sound Studio: Official Trailer - YouTube

I loved this film. I saw it at the Renoir and the sound was fantastic - will definitely buy the Blu-ray. I have no idea what the extras are, I was hoping one would be a round table discussion with people who actually did over-dubbing and sound effects in the 70s.
...Just looked on Amazon - looks like my dream extra is not on the disc.
This is a pretty trippy film, especially towards the end - it was nice to see Nurse With Wound's Steven Stapleton was involved, with a couple of bits in the soundtrack, and a credit as 'sound consultant', or something similar.

On on Monday...

Berberian Sound Studio: Gilderoy's Introduction - YouTube

Arcane secrets of the mysterious 'Foley Artist'....

Berberian Sound Studio: Vegetable Hacker - YouTube

My mate picked this up in an HMV yesterday, just FYI. Mine was dispatched from HMV last week and it's yet to arrive. I really cannot wait to see this one.

My amazon order has dispatched, I'm going into this totally blind, apart from the forum buzz across the Internet, and now just popped my cherry watching that clip, I'm really looking forward to watching this movie once it arrives, looks like it'll be awesome on blu and sound amazing.

Its the best film I have seen all year.

Glad people are excited about this leftfield and original movie.

Like I've said previously, it's for lovers of horror films and the process of making them. Fans of watching ever extra feature on DVDs will be in their element.

It's out today, when you've had a chance to watch it, you're opinions are very welcome, here's another great clip...

Berberian Sound Studio: Scream Queen - YouTube

I ordered his last night. I saw it at the cinema but felt slightly cold about the ending although I was in an odd mood at the time. All I could think was "I don't know if I enjoyed that or not but really want to see it again"

I'm gonna pick this up in store next time I'm out shopping. Not only do I have a major interest in this subject, but next year I'll be learning all about it as part of my degree in Sound & Music for New Media, can't wait!

Picked it up today - in an actual shop too, madness.
Seeing as everyone is out celebrating New Year's and I'm ill, I'm going to watch this in bed tonight with the surround sound on 11.

heard great things about this, was going to pick this up off amazon but hmv have it at same price so used click and collected and will pick it when i finish work today.:)

I'm just about to pop this one in, don't know what to expect but have heard overwhelmingly positive things, especially on here.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Mine's on it's way from Amazon, really hope it comes tomorrow

Sold out at HMV shop, ordered at Amazon.:)

Same for me

HMV told me they were getting no more in unless ordered.:confused:

I never bothered asking. Incidently, the same store had zero Arrow titles apart from one copy of Vamp on DVD, and only 3 or 4 Shameless titles, hence the reason why I do most of my cult film buying online

Me to..........mind you HMV here always have a good stock of Shamless DVD's.