‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’ combines music, gore

    Staff writer Cody Arant writes the movie reviews.

    An epidemic of organ failures sweeps the earth. Millions die. When the world is at its darkest, a hero emerges. He has found a way to provide clean organs to the people of the world. He even works out payment plans with people who can’t afford organs. The hero’s company develops a new drug that helps people cope with post-surgical pain. Free from the pain of surgery, the world is caught in a tempest of elective surgical procedures.
    However, people soon start falling behind on their payments. The hero lobbies Congress to pass a bill. Organ repossessions are legalized. Every day people who are living beyond their means are found and a stoic surgeon forcibly removes their new organs.
    This is the world of “Repo! The Genetic Opera.”
    Never heard of it? That’s not surprising. “Repo!” was originally a stage production called “The Necromerchant’s Debt.” After the stage version became a surprise hit, the creators — Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich — decided to expand the core story. They developed a 10-minute film to pitch the idea to movie studios. Lionsgate Films picked up the project and filming began in September 2007.
    The film saw an incredibly limited release in the United States and Canada with very little promotion by Lionsgate. The movie became somewhat of a phenomenon on the Web when Smith and Zdunich launched an aggressive viral campaign, including fake MySpace accounts for all of the main characters. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on Jan. 20.
    The film centers on Rotti Largo (Paul Sorvino), the president of GeneCo — the company that provides the organs and the painkillers — as he tries to destroy his former romantic rival before his imminent death. As he does so, he  finds a worthy heir to the GeneCo empire in his rival’s daughter, Shiloh (Alexa Vega, “Spy Kids”). As in any good opera, the plot gets fairly convoluted from there, with crosses, double-crosses, lifelong vendettas and the like.
    The movie is a musical, but it isn’t easily classified beyond that. It isn’t exactly a rock opera, but it isn’t exactly “Cats” either. The best I can explain it, it’s sort of like if Rob Zombie smoked “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” and fell into a fever dream. This movie would be what his mind produced.
    Smith and Zdunich composed 64 songs for the film. With such variety, there is little repetition. As a result, the film manages to almost completely avoid usual musical trappings, such as leitmotifs -– short musical themes used to identify characters, places or emotions.     Some view this as a bonus, because the film isn’t forcing itself into the mold of traditional musicals. However, unifying music generally guides the audience along so the lack of it in “Repo!” leaves the film feeling a little disconnected.
    The movie presents exposition incredibly well. The universe of the movie has a detailed history. When something requires explanation, the backstory is provided in short sequences of animation. They look like classic comic strips. Some of the more confusing plot elements are presented in this easily digestible format.
    Those who don’t enjoy gory films should take note: “Repo!” contains strong gore. One of the main characters is an organ Repo Man and the director is Darren Bousman, who directed “Saw” three and four. Sequences where the Repo Man is taking back organs are graphic and gory.
    Slightly confusing plot and sometimes needlessly graphic violence aside, “Repo!” is a good movie. It’s funny and the character Grave-Robber’s keen understanding of economics and market forces is highly educational. The writing is fairly solid and the songs are catchy. The movie is destined to become a cult classic.
    “Repo! The Genetic Opera” has a runtime of 98 minutes. It is rated R for strong bloody violence and gore, language and some drug and sexual content.
    Cody Arant can be reached at cody.arant@murraystate.edu.