Runtime: 65 minutes
Directed by: Roger Corman
Starring: Dick Miller, Barboura Morris, Antony Carbone, Julian Burton, Ed Nelson
From: AIP
I’m usually down for an evisceration of the pretentious art scene. I can’t say “always” because while I’ve never seen Velvet Buzzsaw, the reviews plus the lead character’s name MORF VANDEWALT… no thank you, I’ll pass. On the other hand, a Roger Corman film that plenty say is among his best, has a rare starring role for the legendary Dick Miller and is only barely an hour long: yes please. It shouldn’t have taken until late 2024 to tackle this but better late than never.
Specifically, this takes the piss out of beatniks. Miller is Walter, a square busboy in a cafĂ© where bizarre paintings and even more bizarre beat poetry is heard. He attempts to create sculptures of his own, chiefly to impress an attractive regular. Then, a cat enters the scene… yes, a feline death occurs. It does kick-start the plot; Walter’s “art” becomes increasingly macabre and he’s copping a bit to impress those hipsters.
For a horror-comedy that’s a satire, it’s key that a movie delivers plenty of laughs; thankfully, this did just that. The skewering of those ostentatious fools was successful. It was well-directed for a shoot that only lasted 5 days in length and appropriately for the setting, contained a jazz soundtrack worthy of going ape for. However, Miller as the cool cat is for certain the standout. He’s always sympathetic even when he’s committing some rather dark acts. Oh yes, A Bucket of Blood becomes grim at times.
If you aren’t a jive fool and think that life is more than an obscure hobo, the movie’s worthy of viewing on YouTube.
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