When aspiring art dealer Josephina (Zawe Ashton) discovers a dead neighbour in her apartment building she discovers a vast collection of his art. Seeing an opportunity for fame and fortune she steals it. When her employer, Rhodora Haze (Rene Russo) and her boyfriend and art critic Morf Vandewalt (Jake Gyllenhaal) lay eyes on it they become obsessed with it. Whilst one looks to monetise through sales the other looks to write a book. But the artwork has a power of its own and those who look to profit from it find themselves at risk.

Written and directed by Dan Gilroy, Velvet Buzzsaw is another Netflix original that has some really interesting credentials. Gilroy previously wrote and directed the exceptional Nightcrawler starring Gyllenhaal and Russo (also Gilroy’s wife). Here he has amassed a very interesting cast that also features Toni Collette and John Malkovich in a feature that is part satirical, part thriller, part comedy and has a tinge of horror. At times it’s over the top but that feels like what it’s aiming for with its moral about those exploiting art should pay.

It does have some bumpy moments. There are moments where it feels as though we are missing a scene or two as the story moves forward with a jolt on a couple of occasions. And for a film reliant on art it’s interesting to see the artwork that is supposed to inspire such obsession appears to my untrained eye as slightly creepy and dark. But of course I’m not seeing the hidden power within.

Performance wise Gyllenhaal steals the show with his bisexual critic that borders on parody, but as with his crazy performance in Okja he pulls it off. And it’s good to see Zawe Ashton, best known for Channel 4’s Fresh Meat hold her own against the likes of Russo and Gyllenhaal.

Another interesting Netflix original film that doesn’t quite soar.