Repo! The Genetic Opera – DVD Review

Film, Reviews

repo

Ahhh, the art of the musical and the always intrusive question as to whether it can make it in today’s modern times. This is no longer the time of days gone by when Hello, Dolly and Meet Me In St. Louis would be common place musicals that weren’t totally unexpected for movie-goers. If a musical makes any waves in theatres or on DVD nowadays then it usually gets a lot more attention because they are so rare. Sweeney Todd came in with a vengeance and garnered a lot of attention around the world because it was labeled as “very good” by the few that had seen it. Go back further and Moulin Rouge achieved the same popularity. Now it’s time for another underrated musical that so far has not gotten the spotlight it strives for and that is quite a shame. Maybe it’s because this isn’t your grandmother’s musical and we won’t see Judy Garland singing in hope of heading to the state fair this evening.

The future has arrived and the world is overrun by destitution and violence thanks to a series of horrible diseases causing organ failure in people daily. Research and scientific experimentation has been done by a company though and GENECO has become the savior of so many by providing organ transplants for those whoever may need them. People are now able to live their lives and not worry about dying at an early age, but there is a greater cause for stress and concern since receiving their new chances at life. GENECO is run by the sinister Rotti Largo and his equally evil children Luigi, Pavi, and Amber Sweet. They know of the world’s needs, but are also in this for the money and have no desire to lose out on what they are owed. So the people they help have to make payments on their new organs, but if they don’t, then there is hell to pay. That hell is in the form of a legalized repo man that takes back what people don’t pay for. And that means internal organs.

Meanwhile a young girl named Shilo is dealing with being held captive in her home by her father Dr. Nathan Wallace. The thing is is that he lets her know he’s doing it for her own good since she is incredibly sick and must stay inside so that her life can continue. Dr. Nathan doesn’t allow Shilo to know the other reason he keeps her under lock and key is because he doesn’t want her to know the evil secret he’s kept from her for so long. Dr. Wallace is actually the torturous Repo Man for the Largo family and must continue to do so as part of a bargain made with Rotti so long ago. Little does everyone involved know that many more secrets are being withheld and eventually everyone has a breaking point so the truth shall set them free. Or at least that’s what they hope happens.

One of my favorite people in the world is Darren Lynn Bousman because of the brilliance he brought to me in the Saw franchise and here he has done it again with the musical stylings of Repo! Things were a little shaky at first – at least the opening twenty minutes – because confusion set in heavily and I was wondering where exactly they were going with this whole thing. Shortly thereafter, things really begin coming together and it is almost as if they want you to be confused so that you can start piecing everything into place later on. It makes for an enjoyable trek through the lives of all the different characters and being able to connect them all through multiple storylines merging into one.

The obviously greatest part of Repo! is the music and songs for they are just phenomenal. It’s amazing listening to some of the actors belt out their parts when I’ve watched them so many times before and never had a single clue that they could sing. Everyone was just great in the ballads, rock songs, pop songs, and even the operatic pieces shouted out by Rotti Largo. Those that impressed me the most though were Shilo (Alexa Vega) and Dr. Nathan (Anthony Head). Their voices are just music to my ears and my favorite songs included the multiple numbers they performed together. I found myself going to the scene selection time and time again after watching the film all the way through just so that I could hear them together. Repo! The Genetic Opera is a fun-filled ride of dementia and song that will have you hoping you never miss a payment on your replacement liver, but if you do at least there’s a chance the last thing you hear will be a great song.

Oh, and I’ve got to throw credit Bousman’s way for one more thing that I never imagined possible. Not only did he somehow get me to enjoy the performance and presence of Paris Hilton, but he actually got me to find her attractive for the first time ever. Well done sir.

Repo! is shown in a 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen format that shines through with beautiful color and wonderful darks and purples that accentuate the beautiful sets and surroundings. Upon doing some research and stumbling across another review of the film where the reviewer had the same inquiry, I learned something rather interesting. While watching the film, it was evident that a few of the comic book panel views had dialogue bubbles that were sometimes half cut off by the screen and not everything could be read easily. Luckily someone else had this same boggle in their head and found out that it is totally intentional. Weird, but to each their own.

Luckily we have this wonderful sounding film in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and presented as it should be. The music is fantastic and booming around the room as the lyrics fill your ears and have you moving along with the beats. I found no problems here at all.

Audio Commentaries – There are two tracks here and you won’t find them in the Special Features section, which almost made me miss them in the Setup menu. The first track includes director Darren Lynn Bousman sitting with actors Bill Moseley, Nivek Ogre, and Alexa Vega in what is my favorite of the two commentaries. It is rather light-hearted and there is even a good bit of singing along with the songs throughout the film. Bousman gives a lot of good information as well when things quiet down a bit showing many hidden things and numerous tidbits you wouldn’t know by watching the film before.

The second track also includes Bousman, but now he is with music producer Joseph Bishara and the co-creators of Repo, Terrance Zdunich and Darren Smith. Things take a tad more serious turn for this commentary as they talk a lot more about the songs, the sets, and anything else you’d like to know. It is amazing listening to how things came together and how everything made its way into the film because it almost seems as if the minds of these people are just not normal.

From Stage To Screen – You pretty much have your run-of-the-mill making-of featurette here that truly gives a lot of good information. It’s a shame it isn’t longer and more time is spent on some of the tidbits we’re given, but the commentary tracks help fill in those gaps. (10:52)

Legal Assassin: A Repo Man On The Edge – This is a casting featurette that doesn’t really give all that much. (3:53)

Theatrical Trailer

TrailersA Haunting In Connecticut, Saw V, Saw IV, The Doors, and Prey For Rock & Roll


Sometimes there is nothing better than a good horror film to get you all disturbed and confused. But throw some really good character actors, awesome music, and fun songs into the mix and that horror film just got taken to a new level way beyond good. That is where Repo! fits in because there is just so much to love about it. The songs are excellent and slip into the plot and flow of the film so perfectly that you almost forget you’re watching a musical and just get sucked into a storyline that is insanely good. Repo! is a fun and fantastic ride through a futuristic world that is something I hope never ends up coming to fruition. Sadly this wonderful film doesn’t get the DVD treatment it deserves as the special features leave so much to be desired. The commentary tracks are both excellent but then things peter out into nothing because the featurettes are good but far too short to be worth yammering about. I’m expecting it and am sure the “special edition” will find its way to stores within the year, and as much as that bugs me, I’ll pick it up anyway. So for now enjoy the film and watch it repeatedly to learn the great songs before I shoot you in the face.

………………………………………




Lionsgate presents Repo! The Genetic Opera. Directed by: Darren Lynn Bousman. Starring: Alexa Vega, Anthony Stewart Head, Sarah Brightman, Paris Hilton, Bill Moseley, Paul Sorvino, Ogre, Terrance Zdunich. Written by: Darren Smith & Terrance Zdunich. Running time: 98 minutes. Rating: R. Released on DVD: January 20, 2009. Available at Amazon.com