It’s been called the worst movie of 2008 and one of the worst movies of all time. Of ALL TIME.This strange, twisted, violent, hilarious futuristic musical is not all that bad, and it certainly IS a must-see.
Brief plot Summary: Due to an epidemic that causes organ failure, GENECO finances replacement organs for money like one would a car. But if you don’t make your payments…GENECO sends out…the Repo man who will (in the words of Graverobber) “rip the still-beating heart from your chest!” Shilo is an invalid teenager who catches the eye of the President of GENECO, Rotti Largo who is dying and hates his three kids who will inherit his empire. Shilo’s dad Nathan, however, hides many secrets, including the fact that he is a Repo man. Drama and plot twists ensue.
Like a circus sideshow, Repo! is hard to look away from. Since it was produced by the same people who made the “Saw” series, there’s plenty of bodies and gore. The general “problem” or strength or Repo! depending on how you look at it, is the fact that this semi-comedic, semi-serious treatment of very mature themes is wrapped up into a futuristic industrial rock musical. It’s sometimes hard to know when you’re supposed to cover your eyes in fear or to laugh hysterically. If this sounds dumb to you, then you’ll probably hate the movie. If it sounds awesome, then you’re sure in for a thrill ride.
The acting is surprisingly decent. Repo! sports good performances and *gasp* decent singing from the likes of Alexa Vega (of Spy Kids fame), Paris Hilton, Ogre (of Skinny Puppy, the best Industrial band ever) and Sarah Brightman.
The cinematography reminds me of traditional opera structures, returning to leitmotifs and a central image (the huge television floating above GENECO) to move the plot along. The use of comic-book panels to explain background flashback quickly also is extremely effective at imparting crucial bits of information without wasting too much time. And in this film with as many plot twists as dead bodies, it’s extremely necessary.
The soundtrack is really where it’s at. Catchy industrial rock pairs with humor and musical glee in hilarious numbers like “Mark It Up” and “We Started This Opera Shit” and serious numbers like “Chase The Morning”. And the ending…well, by the time you uncover your eyes, it actually is heartfelt and meaningful, making the audience feel like this wasn’t exactly a huge waste of time.
MY RATING:
Amusing for fans of the genre (and by that I mean musicals, horror, and industrial rock). A cult classic at its core, but pretty inaccessible to the general movie-going population.
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