Gilderoy, a British sound technician, is brought to Italy to work on the sound effects of an Italian horror film. From dealing with the language barrier to some not-so-cooperative members of the crew, Gilderoy's task is not exactly easy, particularly factoring in the fact that this is his first horror film. The combination of these variables begins to influence Gilderoy's psyche, treading closer and closer to the nightmarish scenario in which life imitates art. Peter Strickland's Berberian Sound Studio is a beautifully crafted film which attempts to deconstruct not only the Horror genre, but fear in general. There have been many films that attempt to deconstruct the horror genre but while Joss Whedon's Cabin in the Woods merely deconstructs the tropes of the horror genre, Strickland's film is much more ambitious in its deconstruction. Berberian Sound Studio ultimately tapes into the human psyche of being afraid, capturing how ones imagination is what ultimately dictates fear. It is clear that Gilderoy is uncomfortable making this Gore-infused horror film and as the film progresses we slowly and pragmatically see the effects on his mind. He is a man whose job is a primary part of the filmmaking process - exposed to the mechanics of how films are made and yet his own imagination and past drive his fear and paranoia. My favorite aspect of Berberian Sound Studio has to be the craftsmanship of the film. From the audio design to the editing, everything is really top notch. The cinematography features an abundance of close-ups which are used very effectively to put the viewer into the headspace of Gilderoy, really capturing his growing fear and paranoia in interesting ways. Anyone who goes into Berberian Sound Studio expecting a typically horror film is bound to be disappointed as Strickland's film relies heavily on atmosphere and a great performance by Toby Jones, to create this interesting and unique deconstruction. 8/10
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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