Category: Cult Classics

Review: ‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’

Travis:

Attention, everyone! The Rocky Horror Picture Show of the 21st century is here! No, it’s not a remake, a reboot or a sequel. It’s ‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’ and it’s totally friggin’ awesome! I know there are many of you out there that have already taken part in the theatrical experience, some of you multiple times, but for those who haven’t and won’t be able to, you really need to go out and rent (or buy) the DVD, which released on Tuesday, January 20. ‘Repo!’ is more than a musical. It’s a futuristic Goth rock opera for the 21st century, complete with costumes, gore, violence, drugs, greed, scandal, conspiracy, sex appeal and a damn good soundtrack. ‘Repo!’ is written by Terrence Zdunich and Darren Smith, based on their original stage play and directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II-IV).

If you pay attention to what’s hot and what’s not in the movie world, you may have noticed that ‘Repo!’ is getting torn limb from limb by some of the “major” critics out there. Don’t listen to them! I’ll admit this movie is not going to be for everyone, but it’s a movie you MUST see for yourself and make your own decision. I truly believe anyone who liked ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ will like this movie and I loved Rocky Horror. I confess, I’m not amidst that infamous fan base that goes in costume, singing along and throwing toast, but it doesn’t mean I don’t love the movie just as much as anyone else. Same goes for ‘Repo!’ as the film’s already garnered a loyal and rapidly growing fan base, many of whom have shown up at the very limited theatrical tour dates in full costume with Zydrate viles in hand, prepared to belt out their favorite rock opera tunes. This is how ‘Repo!’ is truly meant to be experienced and the creators fully encourage it at the screenings.

In my opinion, there have been only three musicals that have had this captivating effect on the audience and can be called true cult classics. The first, of course, is Rocky Horror. The second would by Little Shop of Horrors and the third being ‘Repo!’ (although, I would add an amendment for Cannibal! The Musical, but it never really caught on). ‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’ takes place in the not-so-distant future after a global epidemic of organ failures devastates the population. Just in the nick of time, Rotti Largo (Paul Sorvino) comes to the rescue with his company called GeneCo, specializing in organ transplants and various cures for various diseases and conditions. The only hitch is that these are expensive transactions. In response, GeneCo offers organ financing on strict payment plans. For the recipient, everything is hunky-dory so long as they keep up on paying their debt, but if they fall behind… beware! Miss a payment and GeneCo sends out the Repo Man to collect the unpaid property.

Largo has three grown children, all of whom have their own unique flaws. Luigi (Bill Mosley) has the worst of violent tempers, Pavi (Nivek Ogre) is obsessed with facial replacement and Amber Sweet (Paris Hilton) is addicted to surgery and Zydrate. The three of them are each vying for control of GeneCo once their father passes from his terminal condition that even he can’t cure. Rotti, on the other hand, can’t stand the sight of his kids and devises a plan of revenge against the Repo Man (Anthony Head) who happens to be Shiloh Wallace’s (Alexa Vega) father. Rotti wants to give full control of GeneCo to Shiloh because he feels she is the child he was meant to have with the Repo Man’s late wife, before she left Rotti. There is much more to the plot, but you’ll just have to watch the movie and experience it for yourself. The cast also includes Terrence Zdunich as Grave Robber, a sort of narrator in the film and vocalist Sarah Brightman as Blind Mag, an operatic singer with cybernetic cornea transplants that has a tumultuous business relationship with Rotti Largo.

‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’ is loads of fun and is an experience for the ages. Despite only having an $8.5 million budget, the filmmakers were able to pull off a visually arresting, perfectly paced orgasm of the senses. The special effects for the futuristic city are great and the costumes are fantastic. The special effects for the gory scenes involving the Repo Man are perfectly rendered and none of the movie feels amateurish or cheesy. Bill Mosely and Anthony Head are an absolute blast on screen to watch. Sarah Brightman is also fantastic, both as an actress and as a mesmerizing voice in the soundtrack. Which brings me to one of the most successful elements of this experience, the music. The Saint Louis screening was introduced by Bill Mosley, writer Terrence Zdunich and director Darren Lynn Bousman. They had some interesting stories about the process of making this movie, as well as creating the soundtrack. The music of ‘Repo!’ includes performances by Richard Patrick (Filter), Steven Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), Clown (Slipknot), Ray Luzier (Army of Anyone), Brian Young (David Lee Roth’s band), Richard Fortus (Guns & Roses), Sonny Moore (First to Last), David J (Bauhaus/Love & Rockets), Daniel Ash (Love & Rockets), Blasko (Ozzy Osborne), Tommy Clefetus (Rob Zombie’s band), Melora Creager (Rasputina) and of course, Sarah Brightman. The original cast recording soundtrack is now available on CD, so you can run out and own the movie and the music!

On an important side note, ‘Repo!: The Genetic Opera’ has experienced a loss of love from the studio who feels the movie is a failure based on it’s box office numbers, but the catch is that the filmmakers had to fight tooth and nail just to get the extremely limited theatrical screenings they’ve had. So, naturally the box office numbers wouldn’t be stellar without a decent number of screens playing the movie. The filmmakers stayed for a question and answer session after the film and also asked for the support of it’s fans to help get word out to others. Bousman said that there are a total of 12 prints of ‘Repo!’ and only six of them are circulating to theaters. Therefore, that means there are still six prints just sitting in a warehouse collecting dust. Bousman said the only thing keeping them from making runs in theaters is that no one has contacted the studio requesting them. With that said, anyone who wishes to have a run of this movie in their city now has a mission to work with their local theatre(s) and the distributor of the prints. Bousman made it clear that there is an audience for this film, we just need to make it known to the studio by requesting the prints, buying the CD Soundtrack and buying and/or renting the DVD.

[Overall: 4 stars out of 5]

Review: ‘Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead’

Well, Thanksgiving is almost here so we all have Turkey on our minds. I was sitting in my room waiting for my next video to finish rendering when I decided to watch Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead. It’s a movie about a different type of poultry; zombie chicken poultry to be exact. I know it’s not exactly perfect for Thanksgiving since it doesn’t have any mutant turkeys but until Eli Roth makes Thanksgiving for real, this is the most relevant horror movie to watch on Thanksgiving. (I did do some research and I came across a film called Blood Freak about a mutant killer with a turkey head but from what I’ve read, it’s truly awful and not in the it’s so bad it’s good way that we all love.) So if you like blood, guts, sex, gratuitous nudity, singing, dancing and bathroom humor, read on for my review of Poultrygeist.

If you haven’t heard of Poultrygeist yet, you are probably not a fan of Troma films. Lloyd Kaufman, president of Troma Entertainment, has been working on his latest Tromasterpiece for over 3 years. Troma is the longest running independent film company in the world with over 1,000 titles to their name. They have a unique brand of entertainment, with most of their films being chock full of all the wholesome goodness I listed above except for the singing and dancing.

Poultrygeist begins with Arbie and Wendy dry humping in an ancient Tromahawk Indian cemetery while a crazed metal patient with an axe watches and masturbates. He dies when a zombie chicken arm is shoved up his ass and pokes through his mouth, but only after he sniffs Arbie’s discarded underwear. One college semester later, Wendy has become a lesbian and is protesting the grand opening of an American Chicken Bunker fast food restaurant that has been built on that very same sacred Indian Burial ground. Arbie, upset about seeing Wendy with her girlfriend Micki and the fact that they probably won’t go for a threesome, decides to get even by taking a job at the fast food joint. He starts his job working with Denny, Paco Bell, Carl Jr. and even the future version of himself.

You may think this movie sounds completely insane and is just an excuse to shock and disgust the viewer. Well, it is. But the film also has some commentary on the fast food industry, big business, protestors, racism and other important social issues. You may have noticed the names of the characters all refer to famous fats food restaurants. In addition to making a statement, the film is also pretty damn entertaining. The musical numbers are pretty funny; I especially loved the last one. In fact, I loved the entire ending. Actually, I’m going to take it a step further and say that the last 30 or so minutes of the film was pretty much perfect. The zombie chicken massacre was amazing, the humor was on point and the ending was hysterical, even though being a Troma fan I immediately predicted it would happen once they got into a car.

The rest of the film was also very entertaining. There were some great one-liners and some interesting set pieces. There are also some funny fantasy musical sequences, including one that happens during a semi-dance-orgy in Wendy’s dorm room. The special effects were very good, especially for a Troma movie. My favorite effect involved a small order of chicken nuggets attacking a screaming customer. The acting ranges from decent to over the top, which is exactly what is needed in a film like this. The film moves at a quick pace and it’s fun and crazy tone is set early on and kept throughout the film.

In addition to a great film, the DVD is packed with bonus features. Like most of Lloyd’s films, the second DVD has a feature length making of the film called Poultry In Motion. I did not get to watch it yet but I’m sure it will be as informative and entertaining as his previous making of documentaries. There are also a few deleted scenes and an alternate ending. My favorite deleted scene involves Lloyd’s real life daughter’s death by soda machine, which was cut from the film. The third disc will probably be more popular at parties since it features the songs from the film in a karaoke version. You can sing along with the characters by following the words on screen or remove the voice track and sing solo. There are also some hidden Easter eggs including a small interview with Trey Parker, which seems to be excess footage from the just released Cannibal: The Musical 13th anniversary edition DVD.

Before I finish, I do want to add that this is not a film for everyone. If you like Troma movies, you will definitely love this. If you haven’t seen a Troma movie, this is a good one to start with. It is a tad less offensive than most Troma films and it has some of the best production value even though there are no fire trucks present. If you are looking for a wildly funny movie filled with bodily functions, various fluids spraying across screen and zombie chickens, this is a movie for you. In honor of Lloyd Kaufman, I will end this review with a really bad pun. You’d have to be a cluckin’ idiot not to enjoy Poultrygeist!

[Rating: 4 out of 5 Zombie Chickens]Â  

Jerry Cavallaro – www.AreYouStuckLikeChuck.com

The Cast & Crew of ‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’ Sing Its Praises!

‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’ tells the story of an epidemic of organ failures, where organ transplants are financed by GeneCo, a company that sends out murderous Repo Men to reclaim body parts from patients who miss payments.

Continue reading The Cast & Crew of ‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’ Sing Its Praises!

‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’ … A movie you NEED to see!

In a follow-up to Scott’s article “The movies you NEED to see: November 2008,† I am posting the locations of the eight theaters playing ‘Repo! The Genetic Opera.’  

If none of these theaters are close to home, then seriously consider a road trip. This movie is a blast and if you’re with the right crowd then it ought to be as memorable an experience as you’re bound to have at the movies.

‘Repo!’ is the heir apparent to ‘Rocky Horror,’ mark my words†¦

The film opens November 7.

Continue reading ‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’ … A movie you NEED to see!

This week @ Diabolik DVD…

Let’s spotlight the more eclectic offerings in the world of home entertainment, courtesy of the fine folks over at DiabolikDVD.com; it’s owned and run by film buffs and collectors. They specialize in hard-to-find releases; horror; Asian cinema; Art House; Adult; and Cult Classics you haven’t even heard of…

This week we’ll take a look at two DVD’s no movie geek — or horror fan — should be without:

Continue reading This week @ Diabolik DVD…

This week @ Diabolik DVD…

Let’s spotlight the more eclectic offerings in the world of home entertainment, courtesy of the fine folks over at  DiabolikDVD.com;  it’s owned and run by film buffs and collectors. They specialize in  hard-to-find releases;  horror;  Asian cinema;  Art House;  Adult; and  Cult Classics  you haven’t even heard of.

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

  Ã‚  So, Synapse Films just released a quintet of terror titles…

Continue reading This week @ Diabolik DVD…

This week @ Diabolik DVD…

This is the first of a new weekly column where I’ll spotlight the more eclectic offerings in the world of home entertainment. This is courtesy of the fine folks over at DiabolikDVD.com and if you have the time then you should stop by their site;Â  it’s owned and run by film buffs and collectors. They specialize in hard-to-find releases; horror; Asian cinema; Art House; Adult; and Cult Classics you haven’t even heard of.

This week I’m spotlighting three DVD’s. Click the box art for more detailed information:

Subversive Cinema released their 5-disc set of ‘Dust Devil’ in 2006 and it is truly the definitive version of this remarkable film. The story centers on a lonely wife’s trek across the African desert and the shape-shifting killer that pursues her. It’s a dreamlike horror film, described by Steve Beard of The Face as “Tarkovsky on acid.” Included in this set are three documentaries by the director: ‘Voice of the Moon,’ ‘The Secret Glory’ and ‘The White Darkness.’Â  

‘Dust Devil’ is the brainchild of Richard Stanley, a South African-born filmmaker and all around cinema badass whose output isn’t as limited as you’re led to believe: He’s directed ten movies and has at least two in various stages of production. Visit his “unofficial” website to learn more about the man and his projects.  

So, if you consider yourself a film geek, then do yourself a favor and BUY THIS MOVIE.

Continue reading This week @ Diabolik DVD…

Midnight screening in LA: ‘THE KEEP’

Movie geeks in LA can check out this early Michael Mann film on Saturday, September 20th at midnight. It’s playing as a part of New Beverly Midnights at the New Beverly Cinema. Tickets cost $7.00.

‘The Keep’ was released in 1983, and it has yet to have a proper DVD release, so join me this weekend and let’s watch it the old fashioned way: On the big screen!

The movie takes place during WWII, and is about a detachment of the German army that accidentally let’s loose a pretty pissed off entity (see above picture). I don’t know a whole lot more, because I’ve never seen the movie.

It does have a score by Tangerine Dream, though, which is totally sweet in a movie geek sorta way.

I think this film needs to be “re-discovered,” so meet me this Saturday and let’s brave ‘The Keep’ together.  

In case you missed it… ‘The Cat With Hands’

If you have never seen this marvelous and creepy little short, then seek it out. It is well worth the effort.

Clocking in at a scant four minutes, the narrative plays out like a sort of campfire story meant to invoke primal fears of the dark and of the inexplicable powers of nature. The plot concerns itself with a legend, one that tells the story of a cat that wants to become human.

The film was finished in 2001 and has gone on to play several major film festivals and win a handful of awards. Produced by Sylvie Bringas, ‘The Cat With Hands‘ was written, directed and animated by the very talented Robert Morgan, an obvious fan of the macabre. If Hammer Films had been in the business of making short films, then this surely would have been on their slate.

If you like “The Cat With Hands,’ then be sure to visit the filmmaker’s website…

www.animusfilms.co.uk

Review: ‘Otto; or Up with Dead People’

‘Otto; or Up with Dead People’
Written & Directed by Bruce La Bruce
Starring:
Jey Crisfar … Otto

Horror film is often used as a mirror for the fears and anxieties of a culture, and so it remains the norm with ‘Otto; or Up with Dead People,” the latest film from Canadian writer/director/photographer, Bruce La Bruce. If you’re familiar with La Bruce’s previous films, then you have an idea of what to expect. First timers ought to be shocked at least once.

La Bruce films meld art house indie aesthetic with gay porn. This new film has that vibe, but with the added bonus being that it also has zombies, and the consumption of flesh. So, it should go without saying, if alternative sexual lifestyles and gore aren’t your cup o’ tea… you’ve been warned.

Adventurous cineastes, however, will find a lot to love in this movie: a highly stylized sound design, rousing soundtrack, and wonderful editing by  Jà ¶rn Hartmann (aka Michael Huber). First time actor Jey Crisfar is perfectly cast as the melancholy zombie, Otto. La Bruce’s direction deserves mention, too, for its meld of detached dread and innocent whimsy, existing somewhere between Herk Harvey’s ‘Carnival of Souls’ and the early films of Richard Lester.  Ã‚  

There is also, of course, the novelty of gay zombies, and it is this plot point where the film sets itself apart from the rest of the zombie crowd. The sight of eroticism amongst undead men, as they eat each others entrails and fuck open wounds, will give this little film some notoriety amongst the cult enthusiasts.

However, that is where innovation ends and the aforementioned mirror begins. This meta-horror film holds up its mirror and sees… the same fears and anxieties George Romero saw in 1978: rampant consumerism, conformity, hedonism, bigotry. We are a society cannibalizing itself.  

No shit, right?

The whole affair never takes itself too seriously, though, and the meta-narrative has enough surprises to keep things moving along through the second and third acts. It is a film that is clearly a love letter to the works that have inspired Bruce La Bruce, wrapped up in a socio-political tract. It is hardly groundbreaking, but it is a satisfying entry into a tired genre.  

Look for it later this year as it should have a very limited theatrical run, followed by a quick release to DVD.

  

[rating: 4/5]