Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Berberian Sound Studio Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 28, 2012

Winner of four British Independent Film Awards, including Best Director and Best Actor, Peter Strickland's "Berberian Sound Studio" (2012) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Artificial Eye. The supplemental features on the disc include original trailer for the film; audio commentary by director Peter Strickland; deleted scenes; production design gallery; video interview with director Peter Strickland; and more. In English and Italian, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Bloody business

The main protagonist in Peter Strickland’s second feature film is a British sound engineer who has been hired to mix an Italian film. His name is Gilderoy (Toby Jones, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Rite) and he is in his early 40s. He does not speak Italian and has absolutely no idea what type of a film he will be working on.

Once in Italy, Gilderoy is introduced to Francesco (Cosimo Fusco, Angels & Demons), the man in charge with Berberian Studio, where the film is being finished. Francesco quickly shows him around and then they begin working. The first footage Gilderoy is asked to mix genuinely surprises him as he realizes that the film is about witches and sadistic killers. Soon after, he meets the director (Antonio Mancino), an extravagant character convinced that he has created a masterpiece.

The more time Gilderoy spends in the studio, however, the more everyone becomes frustrated with his work. He tries all sorts of different tricks to get the type of sounds and noises he believes are needed in the film, but Francesco repeatedly criticizes him. Eventually, the pressure gets to him and he begins having nightmares. In some of the more intense ones, someone tries to kill him.

Berberian Sound Studio is a fascinating hybrid of a film. Portions of it remind a lot about Helene Cattet and Bruno Forzani's Amer, which pays tribute to the classic Italian giallo films from the ‘70s – the unique use of light and shadow is very effective in creating and sustaining a type of atmosphere which many of the giallo films popularized. The middle section of the film, in particular, has some phenomenal sequences with mini climaxes that easily could have been used in a variety of genre films.

Berberian Sound Studio also has some of the DNA found in David Lynch’s early films - it is very tense but also loaded with dark humor film which repeatedly surprises with strange twists. Strickland also treats sound with the same care and attention Lynch does.

The finale probably isn’t going to work for viewers who like clear-cut resolutions, but those who appreciate unconventional storytelling will be pleased with it. I personally think that some of the film’s magic comes precisely from the ambiguity that is intentionally introduced during its final moments. (I would say that there are at least three different scenarios that could tie the loose ends of this fascinating film).

Jones is sensational as the shy sound engineer. As he tries to get used to life in Italy, he often looks as desperate and totally helpless as Bill Murray’s character in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation. His Best Actor Award at the British Independent Film Awards is well deserved.

Strickland and cinematographer Nicholas D. Knowland also deserve a lot of credit for the film’s chic retro look - with very little a lot was accomplished. But this should not be surprising considering the fact that Knowland has worked with the Quay Brothers (Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life) and Tony Palmer (Testimony).

Berberian Sound Studio Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Peter Strickland's Berberian Sound Studio arrive son Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Artificial Eye.

Shot with the Arri Alexa camera, Berberian Sound Studio looks fantastic on Blu-ray. There is a wide range of very interesting close-ups of faces and objects in the film that boasts terrific depth and excellent definition. Clarity is also impressive, despite the fact that light is often subdued. Excluding the nightmares, contrast levels are also stable. Color reproduction does not disappoint either, though I must point out that some minor manipulations have been performed to give the film an appropriate period look (in this case, capturing and blending colors in a manner observed in some Italian giallo and psychedelic films - see screencapture #5). Finally, there are no purely transfer specific anomalies to report in this review. All in all, this is a fantastic presentation of Berberian Sound Studio that is guaranteed to impress its fans as well as those viewers who are going to see it for the first time on Blu-ray. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

Berberian Sound Studio Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English LPCM 2.0. (with portions in Italian). For the record, Artificial Eye have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they appear only when Italian is spoken.

The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track opens up the film exceptionally well. It has excellent depth and outstanding fluidity. There are also some very original sound effects throughout the entire film that benefit greatly from the improved audio resolution. In fact, I would say that this film actually has the most impressive range of sound effects I've encountered in quite some time, despite the fact that surround activity is not maximized. The dialog is crisp, clean, stable, and easy to follow.

Berberian Sound Studio Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview - in this video interview, director Peter Strickland discusses the production history of Berberian Sound Studio, the importance of sound in the Italian genre films from the '70s, the impact music has had on his work, etc. In English, not subtitled. (33 min, 1080/50i).

• Trailer - original trailer for Berberian Sound Studio. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).

• Berberian Sound Studio Short - the original short film by Peter Strickland starring The Bohemian Brothers. In English, not subtitled. (1 min, 1080/50i).

• Extended Box Hill Documentary - a short documentary film from 1976. In English, not subtitled. (6 min, 1080p).

• Production Design Gallery - a look at the dubbing charts used for Berberian Sound Studio with detailed explanations from director Peter Strickland. In English, not subtitled. (21 min, 1080p).

• Deleted Scenes - a collection of deleted scenes with text descriptions and commentary by director Peter Strickland. In Italian and English, with optional English subtitles where necessary. (20 min, 1080p).

• The Making of Berberian Sound Studio - in this long featurette, director Peter Strickland explains how Berberian Sound Studio came to exist and discusses its unique style, Toby Jones' protagonist, the film's sound design, etc. Also included are short interviews with producers Keith Griffiths and Mary Burke, Toby Jones, cinematographer Nicholas D. Knowland, Antonio Mancino, and Fatma Mohamed, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. In English, not subtitled. (47 min, 1080/50i).

• Commentary - a very informative audio commentary with director Peter Strickland who spends a great deal of time commenting on the production designs, the editing (with some interesting info about the various references in the film), the sound effects, etc.

Berberian Sound Studio Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Peter Strickland's Berberian Sound Studio is easily one of the year's most atmospheric and devilishly funny films. It pays tribute to the Italian genre films from the '70s but it definitely has an identity of its own. Portions of it reminded me a lot of two other very good recent films, Amer and Pontypool, so if these are films you've also seen and enjoyed, do not miss it. As expected, Artificial Eye's presentation of Berberian Sound Studio is very impressive. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.