To be completely honest with you, I hadn't even heard of writer/director Oren Carmi's Hebrew Horror tale GOLDBERG & EISENBERG until earlier this morning when I saw that it was part of the second wave of announcements for this years Screamfest, but now that it is on my radar I am most certainly interested in checking this one out. On top of the films Screamfest announcement comes the word that Jinga Films has acquired world rights to the darkly comedic thriller about a lonely IT worker who becomes the victim of a psychopathic stalker.
The film saw Carmi win the Next Wave Award for Best Director at Fantastic Fest in Austin, where it was one of three Israeli genre features and is part of a new wave of ‘Hebrew Horror’ that began with Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado’s RABIES in 2011. Check out the films rather lengthy synopsis below.
Goldberg is short and thin. He wears glasses. He's lonely. He's a mediocre computer programmer that lives in Tel Aviv and spends most of his energy searching online for a girlfriend. His only friend is Audrey, his beloved female dog.
Eisenberg is a thug. Tall, fat, approaching middle age and not completely sane. He spends his days slouching around Meir Park, harassing innocent bystanders and doing business with petty thieves and small-time criminals.
Unfortunately the two cross paths, and Eisenberg decides that they should start hanging out. But something in his demeanor says that he wants to be much more than just friends…
Goldberg tries to avoid him, but Eisenberg's presence is everywhere: his apartment, his dating life, even his nightmares. When Eisenberg threatens Goldberg's beloved dog he realizes he must leave his manners behind, but his actions back-fire and events spin out of control. Goldberg is unwillingly drawn into Eisenberg's bizarre world, a world of petty thieves, Russian neo-Nazi punk rockers and Israeli "redneck" farmers…
And the story gradually becomes darker and darker… This is a story about random meetings with strangers that lead to anxiety and paranoia. About lonely people in the big city. About losing control.
OK, color me intrigued. This one sounds like it could be quite unsettling. Hopefully we'll be hearing more about GOLDBERG & EISENBERG very soon.