I see your point. But why bother when there's no actual subtext about horror films, just about art vs art criticism vs selling art
I think Dan Gilroy got ushered in to the big leagues without any robust filmmaking chops
Pure overly critical theory here from me; but looking at Metanarratives as an attempt to balance postmodern self-awareness with appreciation for modernist tropes you get a postmodern satire of the artworld invaded by a completely straight take on horror. The satire is completely aware of how insane and exploitative the artworld can be whereas adding in the possessed artwork attacking the exploiters adds a subtext that art and creativity should still be taken seriously. Thanks to how ambiguous the kill selection is, it's tough to put anything certain on it but my take on the kills plays into this. The people who really see the art get inspired, go back to their roots and survive (Malkovich for example). The people who only see the art for monetary gain are the ones who get literally consumed by it (becoming part of the art that kills them). That also doubles for how the artworld has already consumed them and taken away their original creativity/passion. So we get the two clashing genres to express to separate messages that could easily be confused or conflated.
Satire: The artworld has taken objectivity out of art and replaced it with profit motives and narcissism.
Horror: Art and the passion to create should be taken seriously.
So basically; the horror elements are used to make sure we don't mistake jokes about the world of art trading with the actual art being created.
Some supporting elements:
- The Morf (the critic) literally gets his eyes checked because his attack on his GF's ex exposed to everybody that he's not an objective viewer of art.
- Damrish (Daveed Diggs character) notices the art moves while josephina doesn't take him seriously.
- Running eye motifs before characters die...I think that leans in to seeing someone (or something) for what they truly are.
- The satire is really on the nose but characters are consistently offended when Gretchen (toni collette) tries to set up blatant grifts. While they're all completely oblivious Rhodora's (renee russo) more sneaky grifts.
- Everyone that dies is in some way shape or form trying hide, distract from or destroy the possessed art.
There's more, I'm tryna piece it together to write something on it and kick off some horror reviewing to stack on my medium account. I figure this one's a good place to start because it's really divisive on opinions but I can build a decent case around the plot.
available to watch.
) but i watched this goofy ass movie called Deadly Dolls -Deeper Cuts.
