Velvet Buzzsaw: Satire and Horror in the Art World
Jake Gyllenhaal blew audiences away with his performance in Nightcrawler. He introduced the world toward his creepy side and in this 2019 Netflix thriller, Velvet Buzzsaw, he reunites with the director of Nightcrawler and plays opposite Rene Russo. It’s a cynical, horror film that is different from a lot of the original content found on the streaming service. It fits well on the service because it is such a bizarre movie that is not made for a massive theatrical release for audiences.
I wasn't expecting the supernatural feel of this film that revolves around the art world. It gives off satirical vibes and such a risk that only Netflix would take it on its platform. Velvet Buzzsaw is an enjoyable mess with many plot twists I wasn't expecting. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Morf, the most respected art critic in Los Angeles, who develops a bond with Josephine who works for Rhodora, a gallery owner. Josephine discovers an apartment with art from another world when a neighbor dies. It becomes the buzz around town.
The film starts off at Art Basel Miami with the introduction of art elites. The director uses this to start off a satire on the art world and the people found in it. He creates a believable, normal world that they live in that makes audiences think this is a normal film about art and that is it. During my first watch I thought it was about art and took place in a normal setting but was wrong when the supernatural aspects and weirdness took effect. He creates a fully, well thought out art world for his film while blending it with a fully thought out horror aspect. His mixture of art and horror doesn't fully play out or seem effective. The horror begins to ramp up during the film's second act.
It is evident Gyllenhaal is having the time of his life as the fluid art critic. He constantly questions his place in the art community. Russo also fully embodies her monster role with toxicity as she rampages through the galleries and parties with no looking back or regret.
We are introduced to interesting parties that then turn into the artist's background. The dangerous territory is full of restrained death scenes and a lack of genuine suspense that is filled with gory shock. The film is a lesson in showing the consequences of people who profit off exploiting the work of dead artists. They end up paying the price in this thriller. Gilroy also explores the act of artists uncompromising their work for it to get bought at art events like Art Basel.
Velvet Buzzsaw is weird and Dan Gilroy the director-writer attempts to squeeze so much into the film. He explores the idea of selling out in this satirical horror film about the art world. It is unique but at times feels like too much.