Velvet Buzzsaw (2019) **1/2
I have yet to see Dan Gilroy 's second feature, Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017) (it seems like it didn't have any buzz, as I wasn't even aware of it until yesterday), but after his stellar 2014 directorial debut, Nightcrawler , I've had high hopes for subsequent work by him. Which is why Velvet Buzzsaw (2019) is all the more frustrating. The basic premise is that when paintings by an unknown artist are discovered after his death, those that attempt to profit from them are killed off by a supernatural force. The art world is a novel setting for a horror film, but the scattershot pacing and atmosphere derail the more unique qualities. Despite a good cast, I had trouble connecting with the vapid characters. The lack of focus on particular characters, along with lack of development for all of them left me not caring who died. I found the acting mostly poor as well (though Gyllenhaal is great in an over the top/ Nic Cage ian way) and there's some pretty eye-rolling ...
