Stereo is a startling, cerebral thriller about crime, punishment, and the voices in our head. Written and directed by German filmmaker Maximilian Erlenwein, the film also looks slick as hell and is expertly crafted, so it’s easy to get drawn into right off the bat. Being unfamiliar with Erlenwein’s first film, 2009’s Gravity, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But holy hell, Stereo is one cynical, unpredictable genre mash-up that goes right for the gut.
Eric (Juergen Vogel) lives a simple life and he likes it that way. He owns his own motorcycle repair workshop out in the country and has a loving girlfriend, Julie (Petra Schmidt-Schaller). He even gets along with her young daughter, Linda, who affectionately refers to him as “Top Lion.”
His idyllic life starts to crumble, however, when an enigmatic man starts appearing on Eric’s peripheral vision, then gradually comes closer until he’s intruding wherever he goes. But no one else seems to see the man except Eric. Cinematographer “The Chau Ngo” deftly utilizes the widescreen landscape to put the mysterious man on our own peripheral, establishing a creepy atmosphere early on where nothing is as it seems.
And then there’s the band of gypsies that set up camp next to his shop. They act like they know him, though Eric has no clue who they are or what they want. Their leader, a tough-looking bastard named Gaspar (Mark Zak) insists that Eric owes him a favor. Soon enough, Eric’s thrown into a mystery that takes him into the heart of the sinister underworld and puts everything he loves on the chopping block, including his sanity.
The narrative also includes a spiritual healer, a paraplegic psychic, and a crippled mob boss. It’s a genuine genre wrecking ball. These elements might sound silly on paper, but in the hands of Erlenwein they’re menacing, beautiful creations. The crippled boss, played with wickedness to spare by Georg Friedrich, made my skin crawl.
The story does become highly convoluted during the third act, but by that point, I was so immersed in Stereo‘s dark, volatile world I couldn’t have cared less. They could’ve thrown in a random zeppelin chase and I would’ve still been into it. Everything does come together nicely during that third act, with Eric being hit full on in the face with an impossibly dark and fascinating revelation. The unrestrained violence and suspense build up heavy at this point, culminating in a final shot that I can only describe as triumphantly heartbreaking.
The intriguing plot, colorful cast of characters, and slick look make Stereo one serious joy to watch. Genre fans will not want to miss this one. It’s one that will stay with viewers for a while too. That final shot isn’t easy to shrug off.
Stereo kicked the Berlin Film Festival’s ass a few months ago and will be playing at the Kino! Festival of German Films in New York on June 18 and 19. Beyond that, there’s no official release set for the States yet, but keep your eyes peeled because this is not one to miss.