Repo! The Genetic Opera
posted November 7, 2008 8:58 AM
Gag me—it’s Glam Guignol
Without question, Repo! The Genetic Opera will pop up on worst-movies-of-the-year lists. More appropriately subtitled The Generic Opera, this adaptation of a stage musical by Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich is a mangy mutt of a motion picture. A derivative concept, a screechy blend of musical styles, a mediocre book and lyrics, borderline production values and barely competent performances make for an excruciating experience. While it may aspire to cult status, the odds are not good that it will gain a loyal following, let alone make a killing.
All you need to know about Repo! is that Paris Hilton has a prominent role and that she’s the best thing in it. Sarcasm aside, the fact she was cast tells you where the movie’s head is at: namely, in the amateurish clouds where a celebrity connection might ensure much-needed attention—who cares if it’s for the wrong reasons?
In the year 2056, organ failures are rampant on planet Earth and a biotech company GeneCo is selling transplants. Buyer beware! If you miss a payment, scalpel-wielding repo men take back your organs. Infirm teenager Shilo (Alexa Vega) suffers from a blood disease and is quarantined by her doctor father (Anthony Stewart Head), who works on the sly for GeneCo as a masked harvester. GeneCo’s villainous CEO Rotti Largo (Paul Sorvino) was once romantically involved with her deceased mother and he’s got something on Daddy. Shilo is desperate to be cured of her disease and learn more about her mother, whose close friend Blind Mag (Sarah Brightman) is a singer with ties to Largo. Meanwhile, Largo’s three children, including the chameleon Amber Sweet (Hilton), are addicted to cosmetic surgery and chomping at the bit to take over the company when he kicks it. In addition, a grave robber goes around siphoning off a synthetic painkiller called Zydrate from dead bodies. Much of the world’s population is addicted to the drug and it’s a pity no Zydrate will be available for those unfortunate enough to find themselves in theaters where Repo! is unreeling.
Twenty musical numbers build to the climactic staging of (what else?) The Genetic Opera. The eclectic score eviscerates every style it tries to emulate—Goth, Punk, Disco, Acid Rock, Hip Hop, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Stephen Sondheim and Kurt Weill. Visual progenitors include Tim Burton’s oeuvre, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the Saw franchise. Parts II, III, and IV of the aforementioned torture porn series were helmed by Repo!’s director Darren Lynn Bousman.
The gore isn’t a problem, unless you fail to see the humor in a repo man pulling out a man’s intestines and stomach, inserting his hand in the cavity and moving his lips as if the corpse were a ventriloquist’s dummy. In any case, the caterwauling that passes for singing is much more nauseating than the bloody violence. Sorvino, supposedly an accomplished opera singer, resorts to speaking his songs the way Rex Harrison did in My Fair Lady. Only Brightman’s solo number toward the end sounds particularly musical, or at the very least like it’s being sung on key. During the scene, Blind Mag plucks her eyes out and is impaled on an iron fence. If the alternative is being forced to watch and listen to Repo! The Genetic Opera again, hers isn’t such a bad fate.
Distributor: Lionsgate
Cast: Alexa Vega, Anthony Steward Head, Sarah Brightman, Paris Hilton, Ogre, Terrance Zdunich, Bill Moseley and Paul Sorvino
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Screenwriters: Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich
Producers: Daniel Jason Heffner, Carl Mazzocone, Oren Koules and Mark Burg
Genre: Musical/Horror
Rating: R for strong bloody violence and gore, language, some drug and sexual content
Running time: 97 min.
Release date: November 7 ltd.
18 Comments
Leave a comment





Brian said:
i thought the movie was great! it was better than i expected... i know this movie is not for everyone but totally great in my opinion.
November 8, 2008 2:33 AM
Nick said:
This movie is simply perfect! The music is hilarious and it's sound very industrial and futuristic. The story is very sad but not a tragedy, it mixes some genres and it work together very well.
November 8, 2008 10:51 AM
AMAZING!!! said:
i loved it! wow how good was that!!!!
November 8, 2008 2:51 PM
Really? said:
That was a terrible, terrible review.
November 8, 2008 5:32 PM
Alex said:
It's clear here that this critic is only interested in the tripe that Hollywood tries to pass off as entertainment these days.
I had the pleasure and the privelege of seeing Repo! at the Toronto After Dark film festival earlier this year and was blown away. This is definitely worth seeing for yourself.
November 9, 2008 8:58 AM
JM said:
I understand that this movie is the type where people will either hate it or love it, and it is obvious which side this review skews upon, but I hate how it insinuates how the movie is terrible.
I saw Repo at the Montreal Fantasia Film festival, and I greatly enjoyed it. I understand that it is different in terms of what is considered "normal" from Hollywood, but it is at least trying to be original, and it succeeds at that with flying colours. It may not be the movie of the year, but I am sure many people would enjoy it if they actually saw it.
If you have any penchant towards musicals, or if you want to see something new and unique, go check it out and judge it for yourself.
November 10, 2008 7:38 AM
give it a chance! said:
One thing I would just like to mention:
Paris Hilton was cast because she was actually good. She wasn't even going to be given an audition, but they let her and apparently she rocked it. THAT is why they gave her the role. Not simply to have a "celebrity connection".
I thought she did well, and I'm not usually a big Paris fan. I actually didn't think she played a huge part in it though. You didn't see her that much in the film.
Personally, I absolutely loved this movie. It was something very new and original, which is very hard to find these days. I would definitely recommend it to people.
This is obviously not everybody's type of movie, but I think people would be surprised and find themselves liking this, even if it doesn't really seem like their thing. I think if people just gave this film a chance, they might be pleasantly surprised. =)
Oh, and way to ruin the surprise ending with what happens to Mag! Good one.
November 11, 2008 5:04 PM
dominic said:
the movie wasn't the best !!!! but is not as bad as the critics says i just feel like some cast members werent used to theur potentials!!!
one moore questions who are thoses hotties valets?? with paris???
November 12, 2008 10:13 AM
AJ said:
I don't know what the critic was talking about, he/ she made it sound so bad when it honestly wasn't. Go and see it, and this critic sucks, I'm guessing he/she doesn't like this type of movie but WE DO, so listen to us...
December 1, 2008 2:16 PM
Crystal said:
This stupid critic obviously wouldn't know a good movie if it jumped up and bit him! There is almost no originality in movies anymore, and this movie was definately original, it's a kind of movie I have never seen before. That's what makes it so great! This is why I hate movie critics, they take a great movie and say it's the worst film ever made, then they take a weird piece of crap movie and say it's an Oscar winner! What the deuce?! See Repo, you will NOT regret it!!!
December 1, 2008 10:02 PM
Joshua Barber said:
This is a horrible review. I Love how you spoiled part of the ending! God, where's an editor when you need them?
And I actually enjoyed this movie a lot. Once you realize this is a sci-fi rock opera made by the guys behind Saw, you know what you are getting into. And it was a damn good movie. It was original and different. It didn't recycle plots that have already been tossed around for years and years. It was fresh and inventive.
December 8, 2008 10:08 PM
twhite said:
horrible movie. trying WAY too hard. suck it, fangirls.
December 19, 2008 4:52 PM
Daniel said:
I loved this movie.
This critic needs to take himself less seriously.
I agree probably you will either love or hate this movie, but chances are you will probably enjoy it just like I did.
We need to see more great original movies in theater like this, that give the audience a different experience from all the crap that they are used to.
January 12, 2009 10:23 PM
Bob said:
This movie was the most amateurish effort I have ever seen. A revoltingly sick premise, poorly acted with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Those who enjoyed it should seek psychiatric help.
January 18, 2009 10:39 PM
Maria said:
I went out and bought the DvD for this movie being a saw fan and shizz. I absolutely fell in love with it! It is a mastermind combination of Rock (and
all other types of music) and opera. They didn't need Paris Hilton just for star quality. They got her because they were blown away with her audition. As far as just needing her for the 'star connection' They have Sarah Brightman! The number 1 selling soprano! They has a wonderful cast. And the fact that Paris is the only thing you have against this movie is sad. I loved it. It was a perfect story for a bloody and
heartwrenching story of loss, lies, redemption, choice and love beyond
measure. It's DEFINITELY not for everyone, but it's most definitely not as bad as this critic made it sound.
Go see for yourself.
January 29, 2009 2:35 PM
George said:
THANKS FOR SPOILING THE ENDING TO ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF ALL TIME! I loved this movie, it pulled at the heartstrings and even made me get to the verge of tears at one point. I wish you people would open your eyes and take off your blinders. This movie may not be a masterpiece in itself, but the fact that EVERY ACTOR DID THEIR ROLE FOR FREE MUST SAY SOMETHING. Also, as said before, Darren Lynn Bousman didn't WANT Paris Hilton. He refused to give her an audition but she bugged him enough, got one and got through. That destroys your argument doesn't it. These people believed in the project enough and because of that it was made.
February 2, 2009 12:40 AM
Joce said:
I thought it was a great movie! Just think of how Rocky Horror Picture Show was treated at the begining.. it just needs some help to get the success it deserves!!
Well, I fell in love with it!! Too bad there are so many bad reviews. People juge too fast!
February 27, 2009 6:27 AM
monique said:
Obviously you have been brainwashed by Hollywood and it's mind-numbingly unoriginal sequels, remakes, and comic/book to film adaptations. You fail to see the originality and creativity in this movie. I thought it was amazing, the best thing I've ever seen. The music was not only well sung but catchy as hell. The movie was appropriately bleak and at the same time comical (as it was meant to be) And since you don't think that it will ever get a cult following you have obviously not seen the repo-opera.com message boards, or been to the screenings. I was at Wicked Faire, a convention where Repo! was headlining, and not only were there plenty of people dressed up as their favorite characters, but the auditorium was packed with hundreds of people watching the show/shadowcast and singing along. REPO! will be around long after most other movies that got good reviews fade into obscurity. It is more amazing that the fan base has grown basically on word of mouth alone. Imagine the fan base if it could break into theaters all over the country so that more people could see it as it was meant to be seen rather than just buying a dvd. Long Live REPO!
March 10, 2009 11:56 AM