Berberian Sound Studio

Having read such a rave review about Berberian Sound Studio, I came to the movie with high hopes and a four star review already half penned. And while there is no doubt that in its 92 minutes there are some moments of outright genius, the rest becomes such an absolute mind fuck of a film that nothing less than 110% of your concentration is likely to elicit the kind of response that I just know it is capable of. Don't get me wrong, I still think this is a four star film, but it just requires such a specific mood to truly enjoy, which I simply wasn't in at the time. A horror story of sorts, Toby Jones is fantastic as the altogether too British sound engineer Gilderoy, thrust into unfamiliar surroundings with rather dark consequences. The film is an absolute masterclass in generating atmosphere through sound (rather apt given its subject matter), and including some unexpected local colour in the form of Dorking and Box Hill, and the added excitement of being able put some of my offensive Italian into practice, it does have enough in its favour to mean that it should at least be attempted. Just take my lead on this one; draw the curtains, turn the phone and laptop off and just stick with it.

You just might be looking at the very first radish ever to win an Oscar...