Berberian Sound Studio 2013

British sound engineer Gilderoy (Toby Jones) finds himself transported to the Berberian film studio in Italy, where he’s tasked with working on what he initially believes is a tranquil equestrian film. However, his world is soon turned upside down during a peculiar meeting with Francesco, the producer, who reveals that they’re actually creating an Italian giallo film, The Equestrian Vortex. Undeterred by this unexpected twist, Gilderoy throws himself into the project, utilizing his skills to craft eerie sound effects using vegetables and manipulate voiceovers from session artists Silvia and Claudia to heighten the tension.

As the days pass, Gilderoy’s sense of detachment grows, fueled by a growing disconnection from his mother back home. His colleagues seem increasingly hostile towards each other and themselves, while the on-screen horror sequences escalate in brutality. Director Santini refuses to acknowledge the true nature of their project, leaving Gilderoy feeling adrift. The cherry on top of this surreal experience is the bureaucratic nightmare he faces when attempting to process a refund for a non-existent flight, a cruel reminder that his reality is slowly unraveling.

As the narrative careens out of control, Gilderoy begins to experience strange and unsettling events in the dead of night. He uncovers a dark secret: Silvia, one of the voiceover artists, was preyed upon by Santini, leading her to abandon the project and destroy their work. In response, Gilderoy is forced to re-record the dialogue with a new actress, Elisa. However, as he delves deeper into this macabre world, the lines between the giallo thriller and reality grow increasingly blurred. Gilderoy finds himself imagining that his life has become a film, with him at its center – suddenly fluent in Italian and growing more detached and ruthless by the day.

The tension builds as Gilderoy volunteers to torment Elisa during a recording session, subjecting her to jarring sounds in an effort to elicit the perfect scream. Instead, she walks out, leaving it ambiguous whether his actions were motivated by malice or a subconscious desire to protect her from a repeat of Silvia’s trauma. In the film’s final moments, as the power flickers and the projector roars to life, Gilderoy appears to dissolve into its radiant light, disappearing into the very world he once inhabited.