Nigel P Sound effects technician Gilderoy travels to Italy to work on what appears to be a horror film. Revered producer Giancarlo Santini (Antonio Mancino) waves a dismissive hand at the term: "It isn't a horror film, it is a Santini film." Although the credit titles to this unspecified film actually form what appear to be the titles to 'Berberian Sound Studio', we never really know how the lurid sound effects are used.There are plenty of close-ups on ravaged vegetables, cut, splattered and sliced to emulate brutal sounds. Toby Jones' sensitive and insular Gilderoy is subject to increasing rudeness as the film progresses, from just about everyone around him. He speaks softly. He writes and received affectionate letters to his mother back home.Silvia (the terrific Fatma Mohamed) warns Gilderoy about Santini, who has apparently molested her. His missives to his mother become less affectionate, the body of the text concentrating on local mishaps and animal killings rather than loving pleasantries. Strangest of all, relentlessly seeking a ticket refund for his flight to Italy from disinterested staff, Gilderoy is told that the flight never really existed.Music (and some of the sonic effects, I imagine) is by Birmingham band Broadcast, who have added the soundtrack to this stylised film to their growing discography. Vocalist Trish Keenan sadly died suddenly whilst working on the album.Towards the end, the film seems to wilfully impenetrable, projecting weirdness for the sake of it - possibly echoing Gilderoy's addled mind, who knows? And to be honest, who cares? 'Berberian Sound Studio' starts off in an unorthodox way, which is promising, and seems to be going in an assured direction – but just ends up getting more strange, promising to deliver something, but never actually doing so. Only the relentless bullying of Jones' well-played character makes any real impact, because he is (mostly) so impassive and the perpetrators of such ill-manners are so complacent in their behaviour. Other than that, as Gilderoy becomes more integrated in what is going on around him, we lose any connection with him. And then the film ends, leaving the audience wondering what they have just watched, despite the obvious talent on display.

Moviesssathome Was all excited after watching the trailer but the movie turned out to be a piece of art . I guess I lacked the intelligence or patience to enjoy it. Kept on waiting till something will happen and the god damn movie ended!!!! Have created the account just to write review for this movie.. Please avoid.. If you are looking for a horror movie then this movie is not.. If you are looking for a thriller this movie is not.. The only positive is the sound of this movie..A pretty decent sound director..I must write ten lines..looks like writing a review here is also equally exciting as the movie was..may be this is my last and first review..So dear future readers please avoid this movie..watching a news channel with weather discussion will give u the same thrill.Avoidddddd

Michael Radny The film is extremely eerie, and beyond that, one of the more surreal films that I have ever seen. Whilst nowhere near mainstream, Berberian Sound Studio proves to be something very grand, but also unbelievably weird. There's no clear cut storyline, nor is there your traditional horror, but the atmosphere of this film is more than enough to propel the story into something truly scary. It's a film about sound, the manipulation of sound in films and whether what you see and hear in film is really there or not. I think people will dislike this film for being deep and metaphoric, but that's why I like it. Nothing in this film feels out of place and a sudden change in how the story plays out towards the end creates something really fantastic.

scarletpumpernickel and Imaginary Spoiler Alert... because I foolishly imagined I knew what the end was going to be (thinking Wicker Man) and was disappointed when I didn't get it. I promoted my theory to an expectation when Sylvia asked Gilderoy if he ever wondered why they chose him... in proximity to musings about the script's need to include some sort of human sacrifice. Clearly Santini, a director so intent on realistic performances, would naturally have stumbled on the idea of putting actual people (our docile and unwitting hero perhaps) thru actual tortures for the sake of a more fantastico soundtrack. Given all the hints and innuendo pointing toward the sordid demise of their patient and long-suffering English visitor, I think filmmaker Strickland realized he was perilously close to making a snuff film, and backed off under pressure from the Italian Board of Tourism.