Editor Stephen Berger, whose work spans commercials, music videos and short films, has come aboard the roster of bicoastal Cosmo Street. He is based in the company’s Santa Monica studio.
Berger’s credits include Spike Jonze’s short film I’m Here and Herve de Crecy and Francois Alaux’s Logorama, which opened the 2010 Sundance Festival and went on to win the Best Animated Short Oscar that same year. The editor’s body of work also includes Cannes Lion, AICP Show and D&AD award-winning spots and music videos. Burger has worked with A- List directors such as Jonze, David Fincher, Spike Lee, Craig Gillespie, Noam Murro, Paul Hunter, Filip Engstrom and Reynald Gresset for brands like XBOX, Activision, EA, Samsung, Miller, Lincoln, BMW, Starbucks, Farmers, Intel, Sony, Disney and Verizon. Prior to joining Cosmo Street, Berger was with Cut+Run.
Berger recently edited his first feature film, The Nine directed by notable photographer Katy Grannan.
Review: Director James Watkins’ “Speak No Evil”
Quick. Has there ever been a horror film set in a country home with a decent cell signal?
Nope, and there's no signal at Paddy and Ciara's house, either, deep in the English countryside. Soon, that land line will be cut, too, but we're getting ahead of ourselves.
Paddy and Ciara are that fun-but-somewhat-odd British couple whom Louise and Ben, early in "Speak No Evil," meet on their idyllic Tuscan family holiday. Americans based in London, Louise and Ben are at loose ends, with both job and relationship issues. And so, when the new acquaintances write to invite them for a country weekend, they decide to go.
After all, how bad could it be?
Don't answer that. There are many such moments in the first two-thirds of "Speak No Evil," a Hollywood remake of the 2022 Danish film, here starring a deeply menacing James McAvoy. Moments where Louise and Ben, out of mere politeness and social convention, act against their instincts, which tell them something is wrong – very wrong.
Director James Watkins and especially his excellent troupe of actors, adult and children alike, do a nice job of building the tension, slowly but surely. Until all bloody hell breaks loose, of course. And then, in its third act, "Speak No Evil" becomes an entertaining but routine horror flick, with predictable results.
But for a while, it's a way more intelligent film. And the jumpy moments work — I'll confess to literally springing out of my seat when someone uneventfully turned on a power drill.
We begin in stunning Tuscany, where Louise (Mackenzie Davis, in the film's most accessible and empathetic performance) and Ben (Scoot McNairy, all nerves and insecurity) are vacationing with 11-year-old daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler). At the pool, they... Read More