Berberian Sound Studio 2012
Far from Home, lonely sound engineer Gilderoy finds himself shooting a horror film Equestria Vortex in Italy that resembles Suspiria. The atmosphere surrounding the film (and the film within the film) is not only reminiscent of the giallo genre. The characters we encounter are just as strange: mocking, manipulative producer Francesco, actresses who unexpectedly scream opera at times, and the film’s never-ending post-production. Despite all this, Gilderoy does not give up his English purity and politeness. The film, shot by cinematographer Nick Knowland (The Institute Benjamenta, 1995) and produced by Keith Griffiths (My Uncle Remembers His Past Lives, 2010), captivates with its soundtrack and Toby Jones’s stunning performance. In his second film, Peter Strickland not only pays homage to Italian giallo films, but also subtly criticizes cinema itself.
