Velvet Buzzsaw: Horror Film Satirizing the Art World Premieres on Netflix

The horror genre finally takes on the contemporary art world with 'Velvet Buzzsaw', a film directed by Dan Gilroy that premiered on Netflix on February 1, 2019. Set in Los Angeles, the movie follows art critic Morf Wandevalt (Jake Gyllenhaal) and gallerist Rhodora Haze (Rene Russo) as they investigate a deceased mysterious painter whose works depict a dark and violent universe. The narrative shifts from a satire of the art market to an ironic splatter horror-thriller, featuring installations attacking visitors, crime scenes, and gruesome deaths. The film fills a gap left by previous satires like Paolo Sorrentino's 'La Grande Bellezza' and Ruben Östlund's 'The Square', which focused on performance art and institutional dynamics respectively.