Industrial rock musical numbers, gothic costumes, full frontal disembowelment and… Paul Sorvino? What madness could this be other than, “Repo! The Genetic Opera”. The 2008 musical film based on the stage show of the same name comes to Blu-ray from Lionsgate and the sick bastards at Twisted Pictures, produces of the, “SAW” franchise, and director Darren Lynn Bousman.
It’s easy to see what would attract this screwy lot to a project like this. In the future, the world has succumbed to a deadly epidemic of organ failures. When all hope has been lost, in steps Rotti Largo (Sorvino) and his compay GeneCo to save the day! GeneCo offers organ replacements for all those in need and, in time, build an empire on offering body upgrades; for a price. In a story element that sends current events through a mirror darkly, those who can’t afford the avant-garde in organ couture can finance their new bodies. Just make sure you pay the check, cause if you fall behind, the Repo man will come to re-claim GeneCo’s property. Whether or not you survive is your own issue.
The story revolves around the unresolved issues between Largo and his three children (featuring Paris Hilton in a surprisingly strong performance), his rival Nathan Wallace (Buffy’s Anthony Head) and his daughter Shilo (Alex Vega), and the Grande Damme of the Genetic Opera, Blind Mag (Broadway legend Sarah Brightman). Nathan is searching for a cure to save his daughter from the same blood disease that claimed his wife Marni, a woman who left Largo at the alter to be with Nathan. A dying Largo never forgave Nathan or his wife for their betrayal, and punishes them by poisoning the medicine intended to save a pregnant Marni. Believing he had killed his wife, Nathan makes a deal to hide the truth from the daughter he saved. He steps down from his position as a doctor and becomes a sort of boogeyman to surgery addicts; the Repo Man. While carrying out the dirty business for GeneCo, Nathan works tirelessly to protect his daughter from the horrors of the outside world.
After a slow and somewhat unevenly paced introduction to this frightening new world of the future, the picture cranks up the melodrama and turns the volume way up on this stage show turned film. While the show doesn’t have any hummable songs, it does boast engrossing pieces of music that serve to tell the story the way a musical should; by delivering emotions to the back wall. The cast, even Hilton, are much more than capable of delivering solid vocal performances and character through the haze of stylized lighting. Anthony Head in particular gives strong and moving performances which showcase his frame of mind both as doting father and hideous fiend. The only bump in the performance path comes from young Alex Vega and the character of Shiloh, whose emotional states seem to gravitate between whiny and mopey most of the time. Vega gives an uneven performance as her voice, while still maturing, lacks power when she isn’t belting out vocals. Her nasally, pop-punk delivery does not serve the material and more than once took me out of the film as I just wanted someone to shut her up. Even with that little hiccup, “Repo!” delivers an entertaining and tragic tale that will have you coming back for multiple viewings.
P.Q. 4.0
Shot in HD for a measly $8.5 million, “Repo!” sports a stylized image that is hard to gauge. The director frequently uses a blur effect that smears detail while at the same time boosting the saturation of colors past the point of reality. I suspect this was an attempt to give some kind of look to a film that just couldn’t afford to buy one. Black levels are good, but a bit crushed, again owing to the stylization look of the image. There are a few scenes that provide some strong small object detail and contrast is generally good if not a bit pushed in some scenes. There are some digitally rendered comic book panel scenes that are rock solid in their black levels, and some 16mm flashback footage that shows good fine grain and detail for their appropriately weathered state. While I really wish the overall detail level was higher and the contrast more consistent, this is the intended look of the film and not a fault of the transfer. I didn’t notice any offensive compression or processing artifacts. Overall the film has a pleasing image that may rankle some, but most viewers will find plenty to be happy with.
A.Q. 4.5
Being a musical, if the film had a weak soundtrack it would have been lights out for this disc. Luckily, the DTS-HDMA encoded lossless track really delivers. Surrounds are surprisingly active in that they are used to carry individual instruments and background vocals instead of just ambient and directional effects. This has the effect of really putting you in the middle of the music, as if the world itself was providing the track and singing your thoughts was a natural occurrence. Dialogue and vocals are easy to understand and appropriately centered and separated from the backing track. The recordings sound very live and you can tell great care was taken to preserve the natural sound of voices. Instruments are well defined and spaced all around the sound field. I found myself wishing for more work from the LFE channel, but recorded normally doesn’t have as much low end as people often think it should. As it stands the bass is very present while never being overpowering or drawing too much attention to it’s self. I didn’t notice any distortion from the track and there is plenty of headroom available for those who really want to burn some wattage without fear of melting their speakers.
EXTRAS
First and foremost there are two commentary tracks; one with Director Darren Bousman, the co-creators of the piece Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich, and music producer Joseph Bishara, and one with the director and actors Bill Mosley, Alex Vega andSkinny Puppy’s Ogre. I haven’t had a chance to go through them yet, but they are on my to-do list. There are also scene specific commentaries with director Bousman and Paris Hilton. Why her? Your guess is as good as mine. Apparently it must be nice to be an heiress with nothing else to do. Some of gotta work, god damnit!
There are a couple of deleted scenes presented in standard def. These are made up of two songs taken out of the film that still appear on the soundtrack. They aren’t great, but they’re kind of fun. There’s commentary for them but I doubt there is anything said in them that’s all that important.
Next you get the videos featured on the website as promo for the film. These webisodes are not of a quality particular fans will enjoy, but they do their job. There’s a history of the project and a discussion of key songs/ characters, but nothing really meaty. No behind the scenes footage, no recording session video, no design featurette.. it really feels like Lionsgate went out on the cheap here.
Last of the major features are three Sing-A-Long videos that pop the lyrics of the song on the screen karaoke style. The menu touts this feature as being in HD, and that’s true.. for the video. Sadly, the audio is presented in DTS stereo instead of the films glorious lossless track. I would have given it higher marks for being in PCM stereo, but it is what it is.
You also get the pre-requisite theatrical trailer and the Lionsgate “coming soon” reel.
FINAL THOUGHTS
“Repo! The Genetic Opera” is not for everyone. It’s a somewhat over the top, somewhat campy low budget musical that relies on a heavy amount of audience lenience to tell it’s story of betrayal, conceit, vanity and death. It boasts some surprisingly strong performances reinforced by the Blu-ray’s excellent audio track and clean video. It would have been nice to see Lionsgate give this film a little more support theatrically as I think it would be a blast to see in a theatre. As my girlfriend said, this generation doesn’t have a “Rocky Horror Picture Show” of its own and this could very well have been it. My suggestion is, as the disc is wonderful in it’s presentation, check out the soundtrack or the website for the film and try to get a gauge as to where you fall along the “Repo!” scale. If you find yourself digging the music and feel of the show then you should definitely go out and buy this disc. If you just can’t seem to make the leap then best let it sit on the shelf. For those that do, you won’t be disappointed. This is the kind of film that you’ll want your friends to watch with you and, who knows; maybe someday you’ll be sitting in full “Repo!” gear at some midnight show waiting to throw food at the screen and sing along till your hoarse. You could do that now, but it’s always more fun to let someone else clean up after you.
Repo is amazing. I was lucky enough to get to see it in the theater and could not wait for it on Blu. I director is also very nice and is from a school in my area. Deffently check it out.
Vwry good review. However, the part about "Paros Hilton in a surprisingly good perfomance" makes me nervous . I am giving it a rental.
Well I'm not saying that she really stretched herself by playing a spoiled, self absorbed and image obsessed dirty little ***** of an heiress. It was just surprising that she didn't come off like a plastic turd on screen.
Honestly though, she really did give into the role. Unlike some of her other work this wasn't just a vanity thing for her. According to reports, she really worked to get this part. Her time in prison was spent learning and rehearsing for this part so she could come out and nail the audition. Say what you will about her; and I've said plenty being no particular fan of hers. However she really came out with all her guns blazing.
This movie will be played in midnight matinees for years to come....it IS the new Rocky Horror Picture Show...for what little it did at the boxoffice, it will sell like crazy on DVD(maybe not Blu-ray). Great cast, great songs and wonderful set work. I loved it..it was amazing.
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Blu-ray Review: Repo! The Genetic Opera
. I am giving it a rental.
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