Review of Velvet Buzzsaw (2019) by Davrosdaleks1 — 02 Feb 2019

Netflix original Velvet Buzzsaw is an interesting combination of a supernatural horror movie and a biting critique of the business side of the art world. In it, an employee of an art studio finds out her recently deceased neighbor had tons of paintings in his apartment. There's a lot of publicity in an unknown artist who only becomes famous after death and the studio starts selling his work. Soon terrible fates fall upon those involved. Overall, I found this to be an interesting film that could've been better if the run time was cut down a bit.

I've got no complaints on the horror aspect. The deadly curse mostly operates through works of art. There are some of the most visually impressive and creative deaths I have seen in a while. The background of the artist, though maybe not the most original backstory, also manages.

The art world side however is hit and miss. The unscrupulous side of the business is interesting and at times the script and dialogue work. However, other parts are rather dry and at times dull. The film is longer and has more cast members than needed.

Director/writer Dan Gilroy, who also did Nightcrawler, has a pretty good sense of style, especially the aforementioned killings. The movie even has the dying breed that is the opening credits sequence. However, some parts don't quite work. In fairness, I think the film may have been hampered by the budget a little. (I think the brunt of the money went into getting Jake Gyllenhaal, Renee Russo, Toni Colette, and John Malkovich.) The lighting is lifeless and there is a a segue involving a champagne glass that seems unnecessary and poorly edited and rendered.

Good cast. Gylenhaal, the lead, proves he has versatility by doing a swell job as a cynical, effete art critic.

I feel the choice of recommending this or not is difficult. This movie's mixing of genres makes it a rather subjective affair.