Masking Threshold (film)

Masking Threshold
Directed byJohannes Grenzfurthner
Written by
  • Johannes Grenzfurthner
  • Samantha Lienhard
Produced by
StarringEthan Haslam
CinematographyFlorian Hofer
Music by
  • Tina "Tina 303" Gruensteidl
  • Mathias Augdoppler
Production
company
Distributed byDrafthouse Films (United States)
Release dates
  • September 2021 (2021-09) (Fantastic Fest)
  • 30 September 2022 (2022-09-30) (United States)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryAustria
LanguageEnglish

Masking Threshold is a 2021 English-language Austrian horror film[1] directed by Johannes Grenzfurthner, and produced by art group monochrom.

Sound plays an essential role in the film. Grenzfurthner says that Masking Threshold forms a trilogy with Razzennest and Solvent.[2][3][4]

Premise

An IT worker tries to cure his harrowing hearing impairment by conducting a series of experiments in his makeshift home lab.[5][6]

Cast

  • Ethan Haslam as the protagonist (voice)
  • Johannes Grenzfurthner as the protagonist (corporeal)
  • Katharina Rose as Dana

All other cast members are but images on the protagonist's cellphone or on photographs and printouts.

Production

The film was shot in the fall of 2019 on a microbudget of 25,000 euros in Grenzfurthner’s apartment in Vienna.[7]

Release

Masking Threshold premiered at Fantastic Fest 2021 in Austin, Texas.[8]

Other festivals, including Molins Horror (2021),[9][10] A Night of Horror (2021),[11] Nightmares (2021),[12] Feratum (2021),[13] South African Horrorfest (2021),[14] Cucalorus,[15] Saskatoon,[16] Slick 'n' Wrong, Shockfest, Sicilia Queer Film Fest Masking Threshold, Film Maudit 2.0, Central Florida, Unnamed Footage[17] in San Francisco, Offscreen[18] in Brussels, Diagonale 2022 in Graz, Panic Fest 2022,[19] and Fantaspoa 2022[20] screened the film.

Reception

Critical response

Critical response has been positive. The film holds a 100% approval rating on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, with a weighted average of 8.2/10.[21] Jen Yamato of the Los Angeles Times writes: "Utilizing macro photography and ASMR-esque sound design, the immersive, experimental horror Masking Threshold pulls you down a rabbit hole where Reddit theorizing meets Lovecraftian fixation, paranoia bubbling over into a disturbing sensory experience."[22] Erik Piepenburg of The New York Times says: "2022 was a stellar year for experimental horror. I'm adding Johannes Grenzfurthner's brazen and deeply disturbing film to the year's best formbusters."[23]

Awards

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gingold, Michael. "Exclusive teaser, photos, comments: The existential unease of "MASKING THRESHOLD"". Rue Morgue. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  2. ↑ "Sound ist das Wichtigste beim Film!" (in German). 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "Kino-Zeit: Razzennest" (in German). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  4. ↑ "Fandor Keyframe: Razzennest". 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  5. ↑ Dax, Patrick. "Die dunkle Seite des Nerds". Futurezone. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "Converting Sound into Dangerous Visions". SavagePlanets. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  7. ↑ Hörmann, Selma (30 September 2025). "»Missing Middle« – Offener Brief zu Defizit in der Filmförderung". The Gap. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "Fantastic Fest 2021 Final Final Wave" in: Collider, 9 September 2021.
  9. ↑ "La edición más ambiciosa de TerrorMolins contará con 200 títulos y 60 invitados" (in Spanish). 28 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "Primeros títulos de la 40ª edición del TerrorMolins - Terror Molins". 15 September 2021.
  11. ↑ "A Night of Horror International Film Festival confirms virtual platform and teases films ahead of program launch". A Night of Horror International Film Festival. 14 September 2021.
  12. ↑ Nightmarish Conjurings, "Nightmares Film Festival unveils full 2021 program"; 27 September 2021
  13. ↑ "Feratum Film Fest 2021; Masking Threshold (Spanish: Umbral de Enmascarado)". Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  14. ↑ "SA Horrorfest 2021: Festival Kicks Off Today, Full Lineup Revealed And More". ScreenAnarchy. 27 October 2021.
  15. ↑ "Cucalorus Film Festival Fosters Beautiful, Diverse Community of Art Lovers through Four Days of Movies, Music, & Dance"; in: CVNC, 14 November 2021
  16. ↑ Short, Amanda (18 November 2021). "Saskatoon Fantastic Film Fest returns with a focus on folk horror".
  17. ↑ "Unnamed Footage Festival Announces Full Line-Up for 2022 Edition!". Dread Central. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  18. ↑ "Offscreen Film Festival onthult openingsfilm en programma 2022-editie". 9 February 2022.
  19. ↑ "Nightmare on Film Street - Horror Movie Podcast, Horror Movie Reviews, Horror Movie Recommendations, and More!". nofspodcast.com. 9 February 2023.
  20. ↑ "Fantaspoa 2022 Announces Full Lineup, Nishimura's HOLY MOTHER Will Premiere There!". ScreenAnarchy. 1 April 2022.
  21. ↑ "Masking Threshold Movie Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  22. ↑ "A horror buff picks the 10 best new scary movies to stream this Halloween". Los Angeles Times. 27 October 2022.
  23. ↑ Piepenburg, Erik (9 December 2022). "Five Horror Movies to Stream Now" – via NYTimes.com.
  24. ↑ "British Horror Film Festival 2021". Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
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