Repo! The Genetic
Opera
Opera
Studio: Twisted Pictures, Lionsgate
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Writer: Darren Smith, Terrance Zdunich
Release date: July 18th 2008 CA
Staring: Alexa Vega, Paul Sorvino,
Anthony Head, Sarah Brightman, Paris
Hilton, Bill Moseley, Terrance Zdunich
Running Time: 98 minutes
Rated: R
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Writer: Darren Smith, Terrance Zdunich
Release date: July 18th 2008 CA
Staring: Alexa Vega, Paul Sorvino,
Anthony Head, Sarah Brightman, Paris
Hilton, Bill Moseley, Terrance Zdunich
Running Time: 98 minutes
Rated: R
Back of the box:
In the near future, a biotech company saves mankind with synthetic
replacements for failed organs. But those who default on their new liver or
heart are subject to repossession. Shilo (Alexa Vega) navigates this
dystopia while searching for a cure for her rare illness. Her odyssey is set to
a number of catchy songs in this tongue-in-cheek opera. Paris Hilton, Paul
Sorvino, Anthony Head and Sarah Brightman round out the deliciously
diverse cast.
In the near future, a biotech company saves mankind with synthetic
replacements for failed organs. But those who default on their new liver or
heart are subject to repossession. Shilo (Alexa Vega) navigates this
dystopia while searching for a cure for her rare illness. Her odyssey is set to
a number of catchy songs in this tongue-in-cheek opera. Paris Hilton, Paul
Sorvino, Anthony Head and Sarah Brightman round out the deliciously
diverse cast.
The Bloody Truth:
Just what horror fans have been waiting for, a futuristic, highly stylized
dramatic horror rock opera! Thank you Repo!
The bloody truth is Repo offers us a purely hit and miss, though thoroughly
interesting film of love, betrayal and organ harvesting. Some songs in the
film stand out while others are nearly silly. Some actors have fantastic
performances (Anthony Head of Buffy and Tasters Choice fame, for
example) while others struggle to give stage worthy performances.
If you’re looking for something different and don’t mind your films being more
song than action then check Repo out.
Fans of films like The Rocky Horror Picture show and Moulin Rouge might
find something to like in this bloody rock musical.
Just what horror fans have been waiting for, a futuristic, highly stylized
dramatic horror rock opera! Thank you Repo!
The bloody truth is Repo offers us a purely hit and miss, though thoroughly
interesting film of love, betrayal and organ harvesting. Some songs in the
film stand out while others are nearly silly. Some actors have fantastic
performances (Anthony Head of Buffy and Tasters Choice fame, for
example) while others struggle to give stage worthy performances.
If you’re looking for something different and don’t mind your films being more
song than action then check Repo out.
Fans of films like The Rocky Horror Picture show and Moulin Rouge might
find something to like in this bloody rock musical.
And the rest..... 1 to 5
Acting - 3 Cinematography - 3
Sound - 3 Music - 4
Story - 3 Reality - 2
Acting - 3 Cinematography - 3
Sound - 3 Music - 4
Story - 3 Reality - 2
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4
7
3
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DVD
Let's play a game. Let's imagine we're at a party. Now let's imagine the very exclusive guest list of said party is made up of the following
"cult classics" ... The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Blade Runner, Sin City and Sweeney Todd. Now let's say that Rocky, Blade and Sin
have a three way in the back bedroom and invite Mr. Todd to capture their dirty deeds on camera and see how it's done. Afterward,
once everyone has their own keys back and goes their separate ways (off to wherever cult classics hang out during their down time),
you're left with two things. One - an enormous mess to clean up and Two, Repo! The Genetic Opera - The slick, sleazy, sublimely
sadistic love child of a naughty night that never should have happened. The world at large might view this child as not right or retarded
or simply silly but to those who can appreciate its finer and more bizarre qualities it is the idiot savant of Rock Operas.
For those of you who don't jive with the metaphors I'll put it another way. Repo is not for everyone, but for the audience it plays to, it's
fabulous.
Set in the "just close enough to be plausibly scary" year 2056 the planet revolves around a dystopian society where organ failure and
harvesting is as common as botox and hair dye is today. Financed by the uber corporation GeneCo (a biotech company that offers
organ transplants for a price) anybody and everybody can now get that new heart they've always wanted or sidestep that pesky alcohol
problem with the latest in livers. The catch? Miss a payment, and GeneCo sends out the Repo Man. There's also a few subplots
involving parent/child issues and lost loves and such, but I don't want to give away the whole movie.
Repo has a lot of elements that I think make it work. It's stylish, sophisticated and visually stunning; the sound effects are second to
none; the music is well paced and perfectly pitched and the actors themselves all give note worthy performances (yes, I'm sad to say it,
even Paris Hilton). Sarah Brightman is gorgeous and haunting as Blind Mag, Anthony Stewart Head walks a brilliantly fine line between
sympathetic and psycho, Paul Sorvino and his three children (Paris, Bill Moseley and Nivek Ogre) put the fun in dysfunctional and Alexa
Vega plays woe is me, teen angst with surprising sincerity considering her big number "Seventeen" is probably the worst song in the
entire film. All did credible jobs, but the real standout of the film is Terrance Zdunich as The Graverobber. A macabre narrator and
intriguing character, The Graverobber serves as a guide through the twisted world he lives in and seems to thoroughly enjoy every step
he takes you on.
As for Repo's Gore Score here's how I see it. It's bloody and graphic enough to keep the gorehounds out there from getting bored, but
interesting and well put together enough to keep it justifiably watchable for those of us who are generally a tad more squeamish. A
perfect combination really.
Bottom line, Repo is definitely not for everybody. Critics of the film will tell you that it's nothing more than an overlong music video and I
can't really fault them for that because it's not far from the truth. It is a Rock Opera after all. I don't see that as a bad thing. If you do,
then avoid this film at all costs. But if you like the music, if you like the style, if you like your horror a little off beat and want a truly
unique experience in movie watching then Repo! The Genetic Opera is easily the coolest movie and the most fun you could possibly
have - you know, unless you managed to wrangle an invite to that party up there ...
"cult classics" ... The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Blade Runner, Sin City and Sweeney Todd. Now let's say that Rocky, Blade and Sin
have a three way in the back bedroom and invite Mr. Todd to capture their dirty deeds on camera and see how it's done. Afterward,
once everyone has their own keys back and goes their separate ways (off to wherever cult classics hang out during their down time),
you're left with two things. One - an enormous mess to clean up and Two, Repo! The Genetic Opera - The slick, sleazy, sublimely
sadistic love child of a naughty night that never should have happened. The world at large might view this child as not right or retarded
or simply silly but to those who can appreciate its finer and more bizarre qualities it is the idiot savant of Rock Operas.
For those of you who don't jive with the metaphors I'll put it another way. Repo is not for everyone, but for the audience it plays to, it's
fabulous.
Set in the "just close enough to be plausibly scary" year 2056 the planet revolves around a dystopian society where organ failure and
harvesting is as common as botox and hair dye is today. Financed by the uber corporation GeneCo (a biotech company that offers
organ transplants for a price) anybody and everybody can now get that new heart they've always wanted or sidestep that pesky alcohol
problem with the latest in livers. The catch? Miss a payment, and GeneCo sends out the Repo Man. There's also a few subplots
involving parent/child issues and lost loves and such, but I don't want to give away the whole movie.
Repo has a lot of elements that I think make it work. It's stylish, sophisticated and visually stunning; the sound effects are second to
none; the music is well paced and perfectly pitched and the actors themselves all give note worthy performances (yes, I'm sad to say it,
even Paris Hilton). Sarah Brightman is gorgeous and haunting as Blind Mag, Anthony Stewart Head walks a brilliantly fine line between
sympathetic and psycho, Paul Sorvino and his three children (Paris, Bill Moseley and Nivek Ogre) put the fun in dysfunctional and Alexa
Vega plays woe is me, teen angst with surprising sincerity considering her big number "Seventeen" is probably the worst song in the
entire film. All did credible jobs, but the real standout of the film is Terrance Zdunich as The Graverobber. A macabre narrator and
intriguing character, The Graverobber serves as a guide through the twisted world he lives in and seems to thoroughly enjoy every step
he takes you on.
As for Repo's Gore Score here's how I see it. It's bloody and graphic enough to keep the gorehounds out there from getting bored, but
interesting and well put together enough to keep it justifiably watchable for those of us who are generally a tad more squeamish. A
perfect combination really.
Bottom line, Repo is definitely not for everybody. Critics of the film will tell you that it's nothing more than an overlong music video and I
can't really fault them for that because it's not far from the truth. It is a Rock Opera after all. I don't see that as a bad thing. If you do,
then avoid this film at all costs. But if you like the music, if you like the style, if you like your horror a little off beat and want a truly
unique experience in movie watching then Repo! The Genetic Opera is easily the coolest movie and the most fun you could possibly
have - you know, unless you managed to wrangle an invite to that party up there ...
