“Critique is so limiting and emotionally draining” says art critic, Morf (Jake Gyllenhaal).
At times, when a movie is painful to watch and even more painful to write about in an positive, analytical light, it’s easy to agree with that comment. Velvet Buzzsaw isn’t one of those times.
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Velvet Buzzsaw follows the L.A. art industry’s elite – critic Morf (Gyllenhaal), gallery owner Rhodora Haze (Rene Russo), and assistant Josephina (Zawe Ashton) – as they discover and exploit a series of paintings by an unknown artist, ultimately learning the dire consequences of their greed.
Gyllenhaal plays the camp, egotistical, and massively influential art critic, Morf Vandewalt, fascinated by the mysterious Vetril Dease, who realises his true calling is to write a biographical book on the unknown artist, ditching his miserable critic career. Rhodora’s past was very different to her present, as former member of DIY punk band Velvet Buzzsaw, she now does whatever it takes to ensure she has the best pieces in her gallery, even if that means betraying so-called friends. Josephina, unreliable assistant to Rhodora, proves to be just as fickle, but asserts her self-importance as the owner (read: thief) of the late artist’s sudden-hit paintings. Curator, Gretchen (Toni Collette), is equally as shallow as her associates, playing her acquaintances off against each other to get what she wants.
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Reuniting Gyllenhaal and Russo with Nightcrawler director, Dan Gilroy, a dark, creepy and twisted movie was undoubtedly expected. Fortunately, Velvet Buzzsaw delivers on all accounts. These volatile individuals all get their comeuppance in their own unique ways, with the suspense-based horror pulling you in, leaving you teetering on the edge of your seat before making you squirm when it eventually strikes.
The movie has both parallels and similarities to Nightcrawler, as its predecessor was more dark and gritty, Velvet Buzzsaw is shiny and slick, but both ultimately have the same message of the consequences of letting morals take a backseat.
The direction and editing of this movie are what allows it to pull off such a ridiculous plot. It features beautiful sets and perfect wardrobes, which make the graphic, gory horror such a shock when it happens.
A great cast of seasoned actors means that each character is brought to life perfectly, making you despise them and wish you were them in equal measure. The only break in this is Josephina, whose constantly worried/scared look just gets annoying, distracting from what’s actually going on in her scenes.
Velvet Buzzsaw is an intelligent movie. The satire at the art world’s expense might go over some of the audience’s heads, thus losing some of its impact. Even for those viewers, they still have a visually slick movie with brilliant acting, stunning direction and editing, and a gorgeous wardrobe to enjoy until the old-school horror element gets into full swing.
It might not be to everyone’s tastes – what in art is? – but if you can get your head around the supernatural arthouse satire horror genre it creates, you will find yourself enjoying a great movie.
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