When “Nightcrawler” was released in 2014, it seemed to be a high point in the careers of its star and its writer/director; Jake Gyllenhaal offered a career-best performance as a creepy news cameraman who goes to incredible lengths to get the footage he needs, and Dan Gilroy finally broke through to the mainstream after decades of writing obscurity, even picking up an Oscar nod for Best Original Screenplay.
READ MORE: ‘Velvet Buzzsaw’ & the 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2019
Since then, though, Gilroy’s second feature, the law drama “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” was a critical and commercial flop (despite a Best Actor nomination for Denzel Washington), so it seems he’s returning to his roots with another thriller starring Gyllenhaal, this time for Netflix: “Velvet Buzzsaw,” which is having its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and has a new trailer out.
Set in the Los Angeles art world, the film sees Gyllenhaal taking on the role of esteemed artist Mort Wanderwalf alongside a large ensemble cast, including his “Nightcrawler” costar (and Dan Gilroy’s wife) Rene Russo, John Malkovich, Natalia Dyer, Daveed Diggs, Toni Collette, Billy Magnussen, and Zawe Ashton. Gilroy even described the influence of Robert Altman, citing “The Player” to Business Insider as inspiration for the film:
“It’s set in the world of contemporary art in Los Angeles, and its got a Robert Altman-like large ensemble cast. It’s got a The Player vibe to it. There’s a large cast and we’re moving around from person to person as we move through this world. The story is being told through these different characters.”
Here’s the official synopsis which isn’t much different:
Velvet Buzzsaw is a thriller set in the contemporary art world scene of Los Angeles where big money artists and mega-collectors pay a high price when art collides with commerce. Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Toni Collette, Zawe Ashton, Tom Sturridge, Natalia Dyer, Daveed Diggs, Billy Magnussen, and John Malkovich star in the new mind-bending film written and directed by Dan Gilroy.
It seems as though the film will deviate heavily from Altman’s formula, especially with regards to the “supernatural force” that the film’s synopsis establishes will “enact revenge on those who have allowed their greed to get in the way of art” (well, at least the one on IMDB). After “Bird Box” and “Bandersnatch,” Netflix is surely hoping this film will be another crossover horror hit, and its huge cast shouldn’t hurt in that regard. In case you’re wondering, yes, “Nightcrawler” and “Roman J. Israel, Esq” cinematographer Robert Elswit (“Inherent Vice“) is back once more too.
“Velvet Buzzsaw” premieres at Sundance on January 27 and will be released on Netflix and in select theaters on February 1. You can watch the trailer below.