Israeli filmmaker Oren Carmi’s debut feature Goldberg & Eisenberg is a promising dark comedy with shades of horror lurking beneath the surface. It’s an unsettling movie about a stalker, but the film avoids any of the trappings associated with a traditional stalker movie. Motive, for instance, seems to be completely absent, which is one of the reasons the film is so damn interesting. Even if it is a bit uneven towards the end.
Goldberg (Yitzhak Laor) is a lonely freelance computer programmer who is desperate for a woman. In between walking his dog, he tenaciously uses various online dating services looking for that special someone. While waiting in a park for a rendezvous arranged online, he’s approached by Eisenberg (Yahav Gal), a slovenly, outspoken brute who offers up a dirty joke for Goldberg to tell his date. He politely shrugs him off, but for some baffling reason, Eisenberg starts showing up wherever Goldberg goes.
At first his pestering of Goldberg seems innocent enough. Maybe he’s just lonely, like Goldberg, and wants to bro-down? At times he genuinely seems interested in becoming his friend. But then his efforts become much more uncomfortable and confrontational. He’s disturbed bu Goldberg’s lack of manners and social pleasantries. Several times he infers that Goldberg is gay, which makes Goldberg think that Eisenberg is insinuating that he wants to bang. It’s all rather confusing for him and his aggressiveness only escalates from there. What is this slob’s problem, anyway?
Thematically Goldberg & Eisenberg is an extremely dark film. This grim subject matter bleeds over into the visuals as well. Some moments are nearly pitch black, increasing the tension to an impossible degree. This anxiety is eased by some hilarious moments. Carmi’s blending of dark themes, violence, and humor has brought on comparisons to the Coen Brothers, and I’d have to agree. The sudden bursts of violence particularly kick, although dog lovers should be warned. There are a couple of disturbing bits concerning our four-legged friends.
The dark humor and grim tone remain consistent until the end, when the film nearly goes off the rails. It’s a slow burn, one that feels like it’s building up to a bigger and more satisfying ending than the one Carmi delivers. That doesn’t make the ride getting there any less enjoyable though. Goldberg & Eisenberg is a wholly original thriller that’s as unsettling as it is funny. The film has been tearing it up on the festival circuit, so keep your eyes peeled for an official release hopefully sooner than later.