Review: ‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’

Travis:

Attention, everyone! The Rocky Horror Picture Show of the 21st century is here! No, it’s not a remake, a reboot or a sequel. It’s ‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’ and it’s totally friggin’ awesome! I know there are many of you out there that have already taken part in the theatrical experience, some of you multiple times, but for those who haven’t and won’t be able to, you really need to go out and rent (or buy) the DVD, which released on Tuesday, January 20. ‘Repo!’ is more than a musical. It’s a futuristic Goth rock opera for the 21st century, complete with costumes, gore, violence, drugs, greed, scandal, conspiracy, sex appeal and a damn good soundtrack. ‘Repo!’ is written by Terrence Zdunich and Darren Smith, based on their original stage play and directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II-IV).

If you pay attention to what’s hot and what’s not in the movie world, you may have noticed that ‘Repo!’ is getting torn limb from limb by some of the “major” critics out there. Don’t listen to them! I’ll admit this movie is not going to be for everyone, but it’s a movie you MUST see for yourself and make your own decision. I truly believe anyone who liked ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ will like this movie and I loved Rocky Horror. I confess, I’m not amidst that infamous fan base that goes in costume, singing along and throwing toast, but it doesn’t mean I don’t love the movie just as much as anyone else. Same goes for ‘Repo!’ as the film’s already garnered a loyal and rapidly growing fan base, many of whom have shown up at the very limited theatrical tour dates in full costume with Zydrate viles in hand, prepared to belt out their favorite rock opera tunes. This is how ‘Repo!’ is truly meant to be experienced and the creators fully encourage it at the screenings.

In my opinion, there have been only three musicals that have had this captivating effect on the audience and can be called true cult classics. The first, of course, is Rocky Horror. The second would by Little Shop of Horrors and the third being ‘Repo!’ (although, I would add an amendment for Cannibal! The Musical, but it never really caught on). ‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’ takes place in the not-so-distant future after a global epidemic of organ failures devastates the population. Just in the nick of time, Rotti Largo (Paul Sorvino) comes to the rescue with his company called GeneCo, specializing in organ transplants and various cures for various diseases and conditions. The only hitch is that these are expensive transactions. In response, GeneCo offers organ financing on strict payment plans. For the recipient, everything is hunky-dory so long as they keep up on paying their debt, but if they fall behind… beware! Miss a payment and GeneCo sends out the Repo Man to collect the unpaid property.

Largo has three grown children, all of whom have their own unique flaws. Luigi (Bill Mosley) has the worst of violent tempers, Pavi (Nivek Ogre) is obsessed with facial replacement and Amber Sweet (Paris Hilton) is addicted to surgery and Zydrate. The three of them are each vying for control of GeneCo once their father passes from his terminal condition that even he can’t cure. Rotti, on the other hand, can’t stand the sight of his kids and devises a plan of revenge against the Repo Man (Anthony Head) who happens to be Shiloh Wallace’s (Alexa Vega) father. Rotti wants to give full control of GeneCo to Shiloh because he feels she is the child he was meant to have with the Repo Man’s late wife, before she left Rotti. There is much more to the plot, but you’ll just have to watch the movie and experience it for yourself. The cast also includes Terrence Zdunich as Grave Robber, a sort of narrator in the film and vocalist Sarah Brightman as Blind Mag, an operatic singer with cybernetic cornea transplants that has a tumultuous business relationship with Rotti Largo.

‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’ is loads of fun and is an experience for the ages. Despite only having an $8.5 million budget, the filmmakers were able to pull off a visually arresting, perfectly paced orgasm of the senses. The special effects for the futuristic city are great and the costumes are fantastic. The special effects for the gory scenes involving the Repo Man are perfectly rendered and none of the movie feels amateurish or cheesy. Bill Mosely and Anthony Head are an absolute blast on screen to watch. Sarah Brightman is also fantastic, both as an actress and as a mesmerizing voice in the soundtrack. Which brings me to one of the most successful elements of this experience, the music. The Saint Louis screening was introduced by Bill Mosley, writer Terrence Zdunich and director Darren Lynn Bousman. They had some interesting stories about the process of making this movie, as well as creating the soundtrack. The music of ‘Repo!’ includes performances by Richard Patrick (Filter), Steven Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), Clown (Slipknot), Ray Luzier (Army of Anyone), Brian Young (David Lee Roth’s band), Richard Fortus (Guns & Roses), Sonny Moore (First to Last), David J (Bauhaus/Love & Rockets), Daniel Ash (Love & Rockets), Blasko (Ozzy Osborne), Tommy Clefetus (Rob Zombie’s band), Melora Creager (Rasputina) and of course, Sarah Brightman. The original cast recording soundtrack is now available on CD, so you can run out and own the movie and the music!

On an important side note, ‘Repo!: The Genetic Opera’ has experienced a loss of love from the studio who feels the movie is a failure based on it’s box office numbers, but the catch is that the filmmakers had to fight tooth and nail just to get the extremely limited theatrical screenings they’ve had. So, naturally the box office numbers wouldn’t be stellar without a decent number of screens playing the movie. The filmmakers stayed for a question and answer session after the film and also asked for the support of it’s fans to help get word out to others. Bousman said that there are a total of 12 prints of ‘Repo!’ and only six of them are circulating to theaters. Therefore, that means there are still six prints just sitting in a warehouse collecting dust. Bousman said the only thing keeping them from making runs in theaters is that no one has contacted the studio requesting them. With that said, anyone who wishes to have a run of this movie in their city now has a mission to work with their local theatre(s) and the distributor of the prints. Bousman made it clear that there is an audience for this film, we just need to make it known to the studio by requesting the prints, buying the CD Soundtrack and buying and/or renting the DVD.

[Overall: 4 stars out of 5]