Gory. Original. Goth fable. Absorbing. Gutsy. Horror musical.
These are just a few critics’ words used to attempt to describe the cinematic anomaly recently released on DVD. Blockbuster workers probably scratched their heads as they shelved the copies- put it in “Horror” since it came from the makers of the gory Saw movies? Put it in “Musicals” since Broadway’s Christine (Sarah Brightman) from Phantom of the Opera sings in it? Luckily, Blockbuster shelves their films alphabetically, so all they had to do was put it under “R.” Which is also its rating, and the film pushes the envelope in that department as well.
What is Repo About?
The plot is best described during the film itself by one of its main characters, Graverobber, played by one of the film’s masterminds, Terrance Zdunich. Graverobber is the Rocky Horror-esque musical narrator throughout the movie. It’s the typical Hollywood tale of a young rare blood-diseased girl living in a Tim Burton-like world where everyone’s organs failed and a villainous company called GeneCo charges them an arm and a leg (ahem) to put in new organs and if you don’t pay, Repo (a total Creepo) comes and repossesses organs in a quite bloody way; the girl’s mom is mysteriously dead, oh- and everyone (especially Paris Hilton) is addicted to plastic surgery and a blue drug called Zydrate, which must be harvested from corpses. If we had a dime every time we heard that story, huh?
Repo Reviews
Repo is not a mainstream media-type of movie that would get reviewed on the cover of a family newspaper’s Entertainment section. However, many independent publications (though some as large as Variety) and cutting-edge websites have reviewed the film. It gets relatively good reviews, particularly heralding performances by Zdunich, Paul Sorvino (who knew he was an opera singer?), Buffy’s Anthony Head, Sarah (the former Mrs. Andrew Lloyd Weber ) Brightman, and an impressive lead, Spy Kids’ Alexa Vega. Reviewers acknowledge the film’s goth cult appeal, adding that live tours with midnight performances have added to the Repo following. The main complaint about the movie is that the music is weak, with no show-stopping memorable musical numbers. (Perhaps Brightman’s ex could have helped with this?)
Repo’s Appeal
Repo! The Genetic Opera started in tiny clubs with ten-minute, original musical operas, but has quickly grown into national craze, particularly with goth teens.
If you have the ‘guts’ to handle the blood and gore that come with a horror musical focusing on inner human anatomy, then your intestinal fortitude will come in handy as you experience a surprisingly suspenseful, well-written, unique artistic endeavor.
At the very least, its artsy, mournful appeal makes Repo! The Genetic Opera a Halloween party movie rental to die for.
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