Tuner is a strange concoction which gives off low-key indie vibes but still possesses the potential to become mainstream. Writer-director Daniel Roher has crafted a film that slots so effortlessly into countless genres, that audiences will walk away satisfied regardless. Leo Woodall might have made his name in high end Apple thrillers like Prime Target, before being immortalised in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, but Tuner shows yet another side to him.
As an introspective piano tuner with a hearing condition Niki is the most laid back person in any room, and Woodall makes this performance look easy. Alongside screen veteran Dustin Hoffman as his mentor and confidant Harry, writer-director Daniel Roher takes his time letting audiences get comfortable. Letting them into his world with subtle yet effective sound design cues and elevating the drama in subtle ways.
Although Tuner leans into convention to introduce genuine threat and a life-threatening sub-plot, Roher’s film never feels mediocre. Lior Raz might feel like a convenient plot device playing Uri, but the way this actor fleshes out his portrayal gives this two-dimensional heavy some real substance. Havana Rose Liu might also come across as a traditional love interest element early on, but she still manages to make Ruthie feel unique.
Image Courtesy of Black Bear
The key thing about Tuner, no pun intended, is that these characters are people audiences will end up caring about. The premise might not be original, but it feels fresh, while the naturalism of this ensemble cast is intoxicating. It contains curveballs and tonal shifts that people will never see coming, and a brutality in those final moments that manages to feel poignant. Alongside that is a low temperature cameo from Jean Reno that ensures Tuner sticks the landing.
Right now, there are a lot of fresh faces turning out horror films that signal a shift in the cinematic landscape. Movies that have bypassed traditional marketing campaigns and taken matters into their own hands. Tuner maybe a Black Bear production but stands alongside them as an equal regardless. Not because it has anything particularly horrific in it, but because this is an original film which feels more in line with that ethos, with some serious Whiplash vibes and safe cracking elements thrown in.
In many regards Tuner has sleeper hit written all over it with potential ‘cult classic’ on the horizon. There is such self-assurance from Oscar winning writer-director Daniel Roher, that anything less than a masterclass in grounded melodrama would be a disappointment. Thankfully, this jazz infused flash of brilliance is sure to enthral audiences and turn Leo Woodall into the marquee player he deserves to be.
Tuner is now on release in selected UK cinemas.