Movie Review: Velvet Buzzsaw by Dan Gilroy

Coming from the director of Nightcrawler, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo, Velvet Buzzsaw is an art-house horror that would have never made its way to a theater release. It's probably due to the behemoth of Netflix distribution that people can get together to build cinematic experiments like these. Which, of course, brings a fresh breath of air for those who have not subscribed to Mubi yet.

It takes a view of the high dollar industry of modern art business where gallery owners, private collectors, art advisors and art critics have evolved an eco-system where the actual process and purpose of making and indulging in art sometimes takes the backseat, overpowered by the dollar buzz. The movie follows several characters as they treat each other and the artists for the sake of making margins while gradually derailing the intrinsic purpose of the art itself. They end up getting their hands on a cache of evocative artworks by a recently deceased unknown artist and try to make big bucks ignoring the ethical ground which leads to supernatural consequences rolling the dice and sealing each of their fates.

Velvet Buzzsaw satirizes the money-rolling side of the art world and represents the work of art review and exhibition as a pretentious and frothy layer that lacks the depth of appreciation and sincerity towards understanding the art. Paying homage to a cliched social narrative of vilifying money as the root of all evil, notwithstanding, the movie explores the element of horror through a kaleidoscope of beautiful artworks, pastel shades of colors and high-flying fashion that’s quite uncommon for standard horror template. The narrative is gripping, with equally captivating set design, evocative use of color and of course excellent performance by the underrated actors within the cast along with big stars like Jake Gyllenhaal, John Malkovich, Toni Collette & Rene Russo.