Production Obstacles for Repo! The Genetic Opera
Lionsgate Gives Low Rating but Fans Give Their Support
Feb 22, 2009
Repo! hit several independent theatres big, with packed and sold-out venues in California, Florida, New York, Maryland, Texas, and even Canada. But why so few? Why not open up the film to the obviously huge fan base it has accrued? Zdunich gave the story at a Q&A session at the P&G Old Greenbelt Theater in Maryland on a packed midnight showing.
Difficulties Getting Repo! Started
As it turns out, Lionsgate estimated the film to be poor and have no audience. The estimation could be argued as valid, as in a test-screening, about 6% of the audience gave positive feedback. However, the test-screen was advertised “the new horror flick from the directors of the Saw movies.” While it is true that Darren Lynn Bousman did direct both the Saw movies and Repo!, it should be noted that the genres are entirely different. The Saw movies are serious, suspenseful, and horrifying, where Repo! is ridiculous, gory, musical, and scene-oriented. There is an incredibly large fan base for such a style; it simply was not reached out to during the test screenings.
Zdunich and Smith admit that they have been working on Repo! for the past ten years, and that the project has evolved from live skits, to a longer story, to a script, to a rock opera.
Support for Repo!
Because they have been limited to independent theatres all over the country, Zdunich and Smith urge all of their fans to buy the DVD, order the soundtrack, buy merchandise, and keep coming to the shows and giving support. Commented Zdunich, “the idea and the story are ours by definition, but Repo! belongs to the fans. They own it now.”
Repo! has a lot in common with Rocky Horror Picture Show in delivery, low-budget, dependence upon the fans because of little support from the top, the concentration of goth/rock/industrial/alternative/fetish subculture, and the very bizarreness of it. Few people who thoroughly enjoy Rocky would disapprove of Repo!. The fans have even continued the Rocky tradition of lovingly heckling the film during its showing. Fans have called out lines such as “Mapquest!” in response to Shilo’s line, “I’m lost and I don’t know my way home,” and “It’s Brittany, b****!” in response to seeing Shilo bald in one of the scenes. Fans also show up in goth-wear to both shows, and often have costume contests for whoever has the best character costume.
Though Repo! was sold initially to the wrong crowd, the internet has come to the rescue for Zdunich and Smith and has made their 10-year dream a reality. With the help of scene internet “nerds,” Repo! has become the subculture anthem of the generation.
