For a film about instruments being fine-tuned, it’s a shame this doesn’t manage to strike a chord. Sorry if that’s not the cleverest lede for this type of film. Alas, I played brass in high school.
Anyway, “Tuner” is a film that, unsurprisingly, centers on a piano tuner. More specifically, a tuner’s apprentice named Niki (Leo Woodall), who works for his boss Harry (Dustin Hoffman). Niki was once a promising pianist himself, but had to shift to being a tuner when he began to suffer from hyperacusis, an increased sensitivity to sound.
That sensitivity also means he can pick up subtle noises, such as the gears in a safe mechanism. Once he demonstrates that he can crack a safe thanks to this, he’s recruited by a trio of thieves. At first, his life starts to turn positive with the new gig, as he’s able to support his sick mentor and he gains more confidence to start a relationship. However, things later take a turn for the worse.
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