Though in the movie business for some time, Dan Gilroy really hit it big with NIGHTCRAWLER (2014). Discussed on episode 161 of Dark Discussions, the film was rated the best genre film by our podcast that year. Now back with his new film, VELVET BUZZSAW (2019), this one debuted on the streaming service Netflix and has received very mixed opinions from critics and audiences alike.
When a mysterious man dies in the hall of his large apartment complex, an art dealer finds his body and calls the police. When she is told that he was an eccentric artist and all his paintings would simply be disposed of, she sneaks into the apartment and steals them prior to their removal. During her pilfering, she discovers that the man had been trying to destroy his work prior to his passing. Rather than fulfill the artist’s wishes, she begins selling them and all involved are now beginning to die mysteriously.
The large ensemble cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Toni Collette, John Malkovich, Billy Magnussen, among many others. Rather than focusing on a true lead, the movie moves about between characters not much unlike a Michael Crichton novel. Dark Discussions takes a look at this very unique film and gives their very varied thoughts on the movie.