Velvet Buzzsaw First Reviews: Dan Gilroy's Horror-Satire Kills at Sundance (2024)

DirectorDan Gilroy re-teams with his Nightcrawler stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo for another twisted movie, this time mixing together horror with satire for a gory takedown of the art world. Velvet Buzzsaw, which arrives soon on Netflix, debuted this weekend at Sundance to mostly favorable reviews, which celebrate the camp performances and the execution of a wild premise involving deadly paintings.

Here’s what the critics are saying about Velvet Buzzsaw:

How would one describe Velvet Buzzsaw?

A high-endFinal Destination… best viewed as pure horror camp.
– Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics

A slasher movie with something to say.
– Matt Goldberg, Collider

A tarted-up throwback to a certain kind of trashy ’70s horror movie — a la Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? or Theater of Blood.
– Peter Debruge, Variety

It’s like Bret Easton Ellis meeting John Carpenter in the bathroom at Art Basel.
– Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly

A work of art in its own right. You’ve never seen anything quite likeVelvet Buzzsaw.
– Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm

Nothing if not unique, it’s an utterly bizarre film that could only have ever been made for a streamer like Netflix.
– Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Emporium

Velvet Buzzsaw is certainly unlike anything else you’re going to see this year on Netflix or any other streaming service.
– Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com

This is a film that can’t be described. It simply has to be experienced for all the senses.
– Karen M. Peterson, AwardsCircuit.com

(Photo by Netflix)

But is it any good?

Velvet Buzzsawis a blast from start to finish.
– Matt Goldberg, Collider

This movie is so preposterous, so profoundly weird, just hilarious and merciless and black-hearted from beginning to end.
– Meredith Borders, Bloody Disgusting

Velvetis fun and silly and enjoyably outrageous.
– Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly

The sillier and bloodier it gets, the better.
– Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics

There’s some kind of poetry to [what] he’s made here: a trashy thriller set in the world of high art.
– Dan Mecca, The Film Stage

See Also

Velvet Buzzsaw | Rotten Tomatoes‘Velvet Buzzsaw’ Review: Art Snobs Get a Gory Comeuppance (Published 2019)Velvet Buzzsaw (Film, 2019) - MovieMeter.nlVelvet Buzzsaw movie review & film summary (2019) | Roger Ebert

Every element combines to make this a polished, glossy film that feels as expensive as the creations within it.
– Karen M. Peterson, AwardsCircuit.com

Even ifVelvet Buzzsawstarts to sputter slightly after it’s made its point, it’s plenty exciting to witness the incredibly specific madness they whip up together.
– Emily Yoshida, Vulture

It’s all somewhat amusing but rather arch.
– Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter

Gilroy’s film needed to be 60% better or 20% worse in order to transcend the forgettable silliness of its existence.
– Dave Ehrlich, IndieWire

For lack of a better descriptor, the whole thing is a mess.
– Gregory Ellwood, The Playlist

(Photo by Netflix)

How does it compare to Nightcrawler?

[It’s] a fitting companion piece to Nightcrawler.
– Peter Debruge, Variety

It’s missing the weight ofNightcrawler, but that feels right.
– Meredith Borders, Bloody Disgusting

Velvet Buzzsaw, as gleaming and sun-drenched asNightcrawleris dark, is even more of an invective, and even more operatically heightened.
– Emily Yoshida, Vulture

Velvet Buzzsawis worlds removed fromNightcrawler. WhileNightcrawlerwas going for cerebral thrills,Velvet Buzzsawis trafficking in gore-soaked comedy.
– Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm

How is Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance?

There’s never a moment when he’s not chewing scenery, but it works for the vibe of the film.
– Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Emporium

[He’s] relishing another of those cartoonishly camp performances he’s increasingly drawn to in his middle age.
– Peter Debruge, Variety

Gyllenhaal, who continues his transformation into full-blown quirky character actor, is a hoot.
– Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm

[It’s ] a performance so big that it might not be able to fit on the screen of your iPhone.
– Dave Ehrlich, IndieWire

Does anyone else stand out?

Every single performance is hilarious and memorable.
– Meredith Borders, Bloody Disgusting

John Malkovich also shows up in an enjoyable cameo.
– Anthony Kaufman, Screen International

(Photo by Netflix)

What else can we look forward to?

Velvet Buzzsawis a terrific-looking film, with striking interiors and city vistas.
– Meredith Borders, Bloody Disgusting

The costumes are delightful and come to life in Robert Elswit’s art pop light.
– Dave Ehrlich, IndieWire

Costume designersTrish SummervilleandIsis Mussendenprovide some inspired ensembles.
– Gregory Ellwood, The Playlist

Isis Mussenden and Trish Summerville’s nouveau-fashion costumes and James D. Bissell’s elaborate production design also help to create a full-scale and highly detailed send-up of the film’s high-brow milieu.
– Anthony Kaufman, Screen International

It’s also an ambitious piece of work with unforgettable imagery and an ace ensemble.
– Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com

Gyllenhaal’s Morf enters some kind of pantheon of quotably absurd characters alongside, say, Christopher Guest inWaiting for Guffmanand all theHeathers.
– Emily Yoshida, Vulture

Is the satire effective?

I would’ve preferred a much stronger take from Gilroy than what we get here.
– Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics

Velvet Buzzsaw would have been more effective as pure satire, as Gilroy doesn’t seem to have an affinity for the [horror] genre.
– Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Emporium

It’s all very low common denominator humor centered on art world cliches.
– Gregory Ellwood, The Playlist

There’s nothing lampooned here that we haven’t already seen before.
– Anthony Kaufman, Screen International

If this movie tried to carry itself as a highbrow critique, it would be far more difficult to appreciate Gilroy’s point of view.
– Matt Goldberg, Collider

Such fangless satire suggests that Gilroy is either unfamiliar with the art world, or loves it too much to dig any deeper.
– Dave Ehrlich, IndieWire

Would a smarter film with more of a message be better? Maybe, but it probably wouldn’t be this off-the-wall, and what a tragedy that would be.
– Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm

Is it still a good horror movie?

[There’s] insane gore and even supernatural horror… once his paintings start, well, literally killing people, it becomes a full-blown riot.
– Meredith Borders, Bloody Disgusting

Velvet Buzzsaw is unabashedly supernatural in its horror, with mixed results.
– Emily Yoshida, Vulture

It’s a horror show that lacks broader social commentary; a handful of bloody murders and occasional jump-scares, with the occasional astute one-liner.
– Anthony Kaufman, Screen International

Velvet Buzzsawstreams on Netflix beginning on February 1.