Art of a Hit

I found it through my library on Hoopla, which I think is really cool and notable-it's great when smaller films are accessible like that. The concept of "Art of a Hit" is intriguing: a quirky producer, a band hoping for their big break, and a mysterious castle setting. There are moments of suspense, with the producer delivering surprise appearances that add a bit of fun to the story.

Though the pacing felt a bit slow for my taste and I found myself getting bored, it's evident that a lot of effort went into bringing this idea to life. The film has unique quirks that make it charming in its own way, even if it didn't quite keep me fully engaged throughout. For those who appreciate unconventional storytelling and distinct atmospheres, it could be a hidden gem. While I personally didn't connect with it as much as others seem to, I recognize that this film may resonate more with certain audiences. It serves as a reminder that film ratings are subjective, and what might not click for one person can be a rewarding experience for another.

Let's bring the reviews back to reality.

This is a low-budget rock and roll drama with a flimsy, forgettable plot and weak writing.

I had to watch it over three nights because it didn't hold my interest. I didn't want to give up on it.

It starts out with a grand vision of a washed up band attempting a comeback in a foreign castle somewhere. It never develops into a story with momentum. Theres lots of rock jargon and posturing, but thats it. Its definitely not a horror movie, and not much of a band story either. The band memebers have no depth. There's odd dreams indicating murder or horror, but these never result in anything.

The lead singer is so depressive and flat throughout the movie I wanted to end it for him. Actually, none of this cast is likeable.

The actors portraying the band come off as stereotypes. Its a dull, directionless film.

The high ratings are over- the-top and a perfect demonstration of insiders inflating the ratings for their movies.

"As an artist, what are you most afraid of?"

This is a question posed by record producer extraordinaire Charlie (Charlie Saxton) in Art of a Hit, a movie that explores the emotional dark side of staying true to one's personal artistic vision. For Ryan (Ryan Donowho), the lead singer of a once-famous rock band, the fear of becoming irrelevant is his greatest concern.

The story takes place mostly in the early 2000's right before social media would take over the world and how we think about producing art. Before the days of producing "content". The movie evokes nostalgia for a time when the concept of 'selling out' was still relevant. Today, this idea seems quaint, as artists are now celebrated for landing sponsorships and brand deals, even if it means selling a most personal, heartfelt song to a Taco Bell commercial.

Excelsis, the fictional alt-rock band in Art of a Hit, had a smash hit in the late '90s and even performed at the 1996 Video Music Awards, but success can be fleeting, especially in the music industry. It's eight years later, and we're with the band as they are trying to record a comeback album. Their record label has sent them to a sprawling, frigid castle in France, owned by Charlie, one of the industry's best producers. He has a proven history as a guru capable of producing hits and platinum albums. Local folklore has it that people go insane in that castle.

The bulk of the movie takes place in this one location, exploring the band members' shifting motivations and their conflict with Charlie, who is a complete dick. But hey, if he can produce a hit, it's worth putting up with his eccentricities. This tension is heightened by a handheld camera that gives the movie the feel of a documentary. It feels as though we are witnessing an actual band trying to get together in one last effort to make art together.

Most of the band members have no qualms about just following Ryan's direction and recording a song that will become super popular and make them rich. Maybe even put Excelsis back in the limelight. But to Ryan, the band's leader and songwriter, this means selling out, recording bland music he doesn't care about. How far is he willing to bend his integrity for relevancy?

While the struggle to maintain artistic integrity isn't a groundbreaking topic in rock movies, Art of a Hit makes it the central theme and explores it in depth. Ryan is not opposed to conventional success and he's willing to work with the band and Charlie to compromise his vision to a point. He's the only person in the band who seems to be desperately clinging to maintaining a tiny bit of the spark he once had to create music. The new songs he has written are dismissed as being out of touch with the current sound and commercial death. There's a nice moment when he talks to his drummer Cristin (Allie Macdonald) and they reminisce about why they formed a band in the first place: mostly to rebel against their parents. But as we grow older and begin to struggle, we realize that being broke sucks. Why not just record crap that people want to hear?

Art of a Hit is marketed as a horror film, but it is most certainly not. There are some creepy scenes, mostly within Ryan's imagination, and some very tense moments, but the vibe is much more psychological. It's all about how far you are willing to go to make art, and then how far you are willing to compromise it. There's a beautiful scene in a pub where the band is watching a local, elderly performer playing guitar and singing his heart out to an empty room. "He's enjoying himself. I feel bad for him."

Art of a Hit is an art movie for artists. Any artist, not just musicians. Is art meaningful if no one sees or hears it? Would you rather have millions of people love something you created that you personally hate? The movie has no clear answers and ends on a somber note that hit me in the gut.

In a passionate conversation with Ryan, Cristin poses the film's most pragmatic opinion: "Success is just so random. It doesn't matter if we die famous or no one knows who we are because we all end up in a pile of dirt in the ground. It's just art. It's not that big of a deal."

To be upfront I reviewed this film for a podcast I run and to prepare for an interview with Gaelan and Charlie, the producers/director. I was so blown away by the film after watching it three times, that I dedicated myself to doing a 9 episode series. It's one of the smartest layered film I've seen in years. If you are a fan of music or horror in general you will love this film. It's the kind of film you can watch multiple times and keep getting more and more out of it. I feel weird plugging my podcast in a review but if you search you will find it. It's best to purchase it as you'll want to watch it more than once.

Art of a Hit is a tone-deaf and off-key indie drama that, much like its band, has no direction or rhythm. Art of a hit is something Gaelan Connell should've studied prior to making this film, because pretty soon it's becoming apparent nothing seems to work: actors have zero chemistry and watching them pretend to be band mates and lifelong friends is a dull experience, the music isn't good enough to be featured in a daytime show, and the horror elements are scarce and unnecessary. Ryan Donowho's best days are long gone, James Earl is apparently supposed to be a comic relief but fails miserably thanks to the impotent script, Allie MacDonald and the rest also seem to have no idea what are they supposed to do. In lieu of wasting time on this roadkill, listen to your favorite rock songs and have a great time.