‘Song of Parkland’ focuses on reaction
The old adage “the show must go on” takes on special resonance in the case of the 2018 documentary “Song of Parkland” (7 p.m., HBO). Drama teacher Melody Herzfeld and her students were preparing their annual children’s pageant when alarm bells rang last Valentine’s Day. She quickly hurried her 65 students into a storage closet as a gunman killed 17 teachers and students at Parkland, Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
“Song” does not dwell on that horrific act but in the reaction to it by Herzfeld and her cast of young performers, as they returned to school determined to persevere with their production. The weight of tragedy on the cast cannot be ignored, as Herzfeld tells them, “This is the most important show you’re going to do, ever.”
› Viewers searching for a smart horror film that also offers dumb fun could do worse than “Velvet Buzzsaw,” the art world satire/slasher hybrid streaming on Netflix since Feb. 1.
Its superb cast suggests an elite arthouse effort. But it also delivers the bloody goods with absurd gusto.
Josephina (Zawe Ashton) is a lowly receptionist at a gallery run by Rhodora Haze (Rene Russo), a former punk rocker whose old band gives the movie its name. She’s abandoned her grungy ways to cater to a glitzy clientele and suck up to Morf Vandewalt (Jake Gyllenhaal), a pretentious critic whose word can make or break an aspiring artist.
Their world is upended when Josephina discovers the abandoned work of a nameless genius, conveniently dead. The newness and audacity of his work sparks a bidding frenzy, sparking manic interest from a ruthless curator (Toni Collette) and jealousy from a washed-up painter (John Malkovich).
We only slowly discover that the artist gave even more than blood, sweat and tears to his oeuvre and that each painting is cursed. I particularly liked the way Josephina slowly evolves from humble gofer to an imperious art scene monster in each successive scene, slowly earning her the hideous comeuppance that only an over-the-top splatter/horror movie can deliver.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
› Ben and Bailey reach a breaking point on “Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. ABC, TV-14).
› Ryn finds her motives questioned on “Siren” (8 p.m., Freeform, TV-14).
› A theme emerges as Hallmark presents “Valentine in the Vineyard” (8 p.m.) and “All Things Valentine” (10 p.m.).
› Kelly has news for Ed on “The Orville” (9 p.m., Fox, repeat, TV-14).
› Regina’s past resurfaces on “A Million Little Things” (9 p.m. ABC, TV-14).
Contact Kevin McDonough at kevin .tvguy@gmail.com.