This is one for all of you indie film fans out there! Repo! The Genetic Opera was a film/musical that came out way back in 2008 but with a very limited release. It's set in the future in a time when a worldwide epidemic has caused organ failure to spread like wild fire. But alas there was a company who came about that was able to replace your organs and provide you with the financing you needed to pay for it! But the downside that was pretty hard to ignore was that once you were unable to pay back this loan the company had the right to repossess the very organs they put inside of you.
The star of the film is a character named Shilo (Alexa Vega) who is a young teen sick with a blood disease. Her whole life she has been afflicted with the disease and imprisoned by a plastic wall around her bed, not allowed to leave her room. Her father (Anthony Head) is a doctor who lost his wife to the same disease and now treats his daughter everyday to keep her alive until a cure is found. The antagonist in the movie is of course the president and founder of the evil company GeneCo, Rotti Largo (Paul Sorvino) and his three children/heirs to the company: Amber Sweet (Paris Hilton), Pavi Largo (Nivek Ogre), and Luigi Largo (Bill Moseley).
Wait did I really just type that? Paris Hilton!? Yes she is in this film but don't run away scared just yet! I know your probably thinking I've already seen "House of Wax" and "The Simple Life" I don't need that torture again! But I too have seen those horrible insults to film and I tell you this is not anything like them! Her performance fit this movie perfectly as it is a very unique film full of unique characters both main and supporting.
I can't really review this movie without reviewing the musical side of it. And that's a very tough task to do. The songs aren't by any means catchy or really good for that matter. They are really more of a means to talk and make the film a little more odd. Some songs (mainly those performed by Graverobber [Terrance Zdunich]) were very good and well done, but I can't say that for most. This film isn't really a traditional musical by any means, so if you enjoyed "Sound of Music" or "Phantom of the Opera" don't watch this expecting anything of the sort. This is really more a nitty gritty new age musical that you need to watch with an open mind. The cinematography, lighting, and makeup are really what make the movie along with the very different story line.
Overall if you watch this film in the right mindset with no expectations or comparisons to anything you've seen before you will more than likely enjoy it. But if you sit down thinking about "Sweeney Todd" or "Phantom" I promise there is a good chance you will be let down. I would recommend this to any film-goer who is sick of the norm and wants to be entertained by something different. I also want to give kudos to the director (Darren Lynn Bousman) for not being afraid to try a film like this. Also rumor has it that they are going to try a re-release for this film soon so if you see it coming to a theater near you go check it out!
