"ART OF A HIT" (2024) Examines The Psychological Terror Of Art, Fame, And Industry (REVIEW)
The pursuit of happiness is a subjective journey, and for many creatives, it also presents a significant conflict. The foundation of the creator’s struggle is the inherent tension between art and money, and how to balance the two without neglecting one’s creativity while also finding ways to financially survive in a capitalist economy. No matter the industry be it film, television, theater, or music, the desire to create often comes at the cost of livelihood and comfort. It is almost an expected sacrifice that artists have to make to pursue their life’s work, hence the stereotype of the struggling artist often seen lurking in spacious lofts with only the bare necessities to live. This pursuit sometimes pays off when a film, song, or piece of art captures a wide enough audience to turn dollops of praise into cold hard dollars of cash (figuratively speaking). The fear of losing one’s “chance” or having the “moment” pass one by haunts every creator out there, as does the societal pressure to pivot and abandon your passions for the pursuit of economic satisfaction. These heady questions are at the heart of Art of a Hit, the newest feature film from Giant Pictures detailing the horrors of irrelevance and chasing a potentially lost cause. Is this truly the artist's worst nightmare manifest, or is it something much more meaningful?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
With their careers on the line, a late-90s rock band journeys to a French chateau to record with an elusive super-producer. But as tensions rise and tempers flare, they realize they're up against more than just the pressure to succeed.
HOW IS IT?
Rock and roll can be hell or at least the business side of the music industry. This is not unique to music, but entertainment as a whole as it pits artists and art against labels/studios and profits. This tension between creativity and generating revenue often places artists against their labels, and when performers give in they run the risk of being branded a “sellout”. “Art of a Hit” tackles this tension head-on with a narrative that is character-driven and engrossing, even if it eschews some beats of a more traditional “horror” movie. With stellar performances, a hypnotic location, and a more subtle sense of terror, “Art of a Hit” is the worst nightmare of an artist on the brink of, or having experienced some success.
The setup for “Art of a Hit” is a band that peaked in 1996 and hasn’t been able to recover since. As a last-ditch effort to see if they can make another hit record, the remaining members retreat to the chateau of an eccentric music guru known for being difficult, but effective. From the jump, it is obvious that while everyone is there for the ride, our main character Ryan (RYAN DONOWHO) carries the brunt of wanting to make a comeback. What “Art of a Hit” does extremely well throughout is demonstrate the growing resentment that everyone begins to feel for Ryan who is trying to forget their past success out of spite for one of their band members who “made it” after their hit record. It’s such a uniquely human story about how the past can both hold us back and set us free once we come to terms with it, but also how emotional it is to feel like progress is glacial or even non-existent when you’re trying to be famous in the entertainment industry. The cast is relatively small, but that intimacy works in service of the film as throughout the 93-minute runtime we begin to understand the different opinions and beliefs of the band members at play and a question that permeates the whole film; how and when does the art of entertainment and the business of entertainment overlap, and is that good or bad in the long run? The film provides a perspective on this, especially with a cheeky little twist at the end that serves as the punctuation point on the film’s overall thesis. “Art of a Hit” also presents the affluent absurdity of music gurus, slyly nodding at inspirations like Rick Rubin by way of Charlie Dupont (CHARLIE SAXTON) to demonstrate how ridiculous the music industry can be. It all comes to a hilarious head when we learn that Charlie Dupont, producer extraordinaire, doesn’t play any instruments. A fun and hilarious dig at the ease with which music production, particularly pop music and TikTok trends, can lose its sense of artistry.
The lingering question one may have after watching “Art of a Hit” is, is it a horror movie? The emphasis on interpersonal relationships and the overwhelming sense of paranoia exhibited by Ryan may leave some viewers wondering how to classify “Art of a Hit”, but it is fair to say that from where we stand this is full-on existential horror for the artist class. The musings on the vapidity and soullessness that plague the entertainment industry combined with the genuine fear of missing one’s chance and those that mean the most to you all combine to create a cacophony of terror that is more real than any ghost or vampire. The horror beats are here to accentuate the internal struggles, confusion, and overall dwindling sense of self of our main character as well as those around him who struggle to maintain their enthusiasm for what feels like a pipe dream. “Art of a Hit” uses horror in a novel way by not making it the punchline for the action, but rather the personification of internal struggles with pride, creativity, and reality. All of this works in service of creating a wholly unique experience that defies easy classification because of how elegantly so many styles are weaved together narratively and on film. From the sweeping shots of the beautiful French countryside and chateau to the use of sound and music, compliments of Jets From Brazil truly immerse the viewer in this strange and tense world. For fans of early indie and alternative rock, there are heaps of little easter eggs to complement the storytelling that are perfectly subtle in their delivery to avoid “winking” right at you. It is fair to say that those looking for a total bloodbath may be disappointed in “Art of a Hit”, but if you’re willing to go along with its gnarly rhythm you’ll be delighted at how captivating and personal it all feels.
LAST RITES
“Art of a Hit” is a gripping and emotional character-driven drama that conservatively deploys some horror tropes to elevate the intensity of the paranoia and mental anguish on-screen. Using horror in a more metaphorical sense, “Art of a Hit” elevates its deeply personal and unique story to become something captivating, funny, tragic, and beautifully real all at once.
THE GORY DETAILS
Directed By
Written By
Starring
Where can you watch it?
ART OF A HIT, coming to digital and on-demand platforms on August 20th, 2024 from Giant Pictures!
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