Reviews: Art of the Dead (2019) Movie Review
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Our honest review of Art of the Dead (2019) breaks down its scares, pacing, and whether this horror movie truly stands the test of time.
Art of the Dead presents a unique concept in the horror genre—a cursed set of paintings that corrupt their owners, leading to nightmarish consequences. When a wealthy family acquires the seven deadly sins-themed artworks, they unknowingly invite dark supernatural forces into their home. As each family member succumbs to their respective sin, the paintings’ power intensifies, trapping them in a cycle of madness and destruction.
Art of the Dead (2019) – A Stylish but Shallow Horror Attempt
Plot, Themes, and Character Development
While the premise has potential, the execution falters. The film leans into B-movie horror tropes, and the characters feel one-dimensional. The family members serve as predictable archetypes, and their descent into sin lacks emotional depth. The script struggles to develop compelling relationships, making it difficult to invest in their fates.
Acting and Cinematography
The performances are a mixed bag. Richard Grieco brings a certain campy energy to his role, which suits the film’s exaggerated tone. However, the rest of the cast delivers stilted, over-the-top performances that border on unintentional comedy. The dialogue is clunky, making it harder for the actors to deliver convincing interactions.
Visually, Art of the Dead has aesthetic appeal. The cinematography employs vivid colors and stylized imagery, creating a surreal, dreamlike horror atmosphere. The practical effects and grotesque visuals enhance the film’s eerie tone, even if some of the CGI elements look cheap. Despite the limited budget, the film commits to its artistic theme, crafting some memorable hallucinatory horror sequences.
Directing Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Rolfe Kanefsky, known for low-budget horror and exploitation films, directs Art of the Dead with a clear love for cult horror aesthetics. He embraces the campy, over-the-top nature of the film, making it feel like a throwback to ‘80s horror. The pacing is inconsistent, with some segments dragging, while others rush through key moments, reducing their impact.
The biggest flaw is the lack of narrative depth. The film never fully explores the mythology behind the cursed paintings, leaving many plot points underdeveloped. It relies heavily on shock value and visual spectacle, but without strong character development or suspense, the horror elements feel surface-level rather than truly disturbing.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
Visually striking – The film uses bold colors and surreal imagery to create a distinct horror aesthetic.
Interesting concept – A cursed art collection tied to the seven deadly sins is a fresh take on supernatural horror.
Campy horror appeal – Fans of cheesy, over-the-top horror films may appreciate the B-movie charm.
Weaknesses:
Weak character development – The family members are shallow and underwritten, making it difficult to care about their fates.
Inconsistent acting – Some performances veer into unintentional comedy, diminishing the film’s horror potential.
Lack of suspense – The film prioritizes shock visuals over genuine tension, making the horror feel style over substance.
Missed potential – The seven deadly sins concept could have been explored more deeply, instead of relying on predictable horror clichés.
Final Verdict & Score: 4/10
Art of the Dead is a visually engaging but ultimately shallow horror film that struggles with weak writing, inconsistent acting, and a lack of true scares. While it has moments of imaginative horror and surreal visual sequences, the underdeveloped characters and thin narrative prevent it from being truly memorable. It’s best suited for fans of campy, low-budget horror who enjoy style-driven supernatural tales.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- Art of the Dead Rating Scores
- Our Score: 4/10
- Overall Score: 4.65/10
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