Repo: Genetic Opera is a modern rock opera starring Anthony Stewart Head (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame) as an evil enforcer who will repossess your transplanted organ if you fall behind on your payments.
I hadn’t heard of it until this morning, when I found a few links on Metafilter:
I know what you’re thinking. What could be better than a below-low-budget sci-fi/horror hypersexualized movie based off of a musical, with a playwright who also decided to star in both stage and screen adaptations? Well, then, what if we up the ante! It’s also a socially-conscious cyberpunk movie musical, written, directed, scored and costumed by people in 2008 who have decided that 1996 is as far as the future goes, thanks… so it’s also a goth/raver socially conscious cyberpunk movie musical, complete with blue-streaked hair, muppet-fur and clunky vinyl boots! No? We need to aim higher to do better? Well, here comes the kicker, the one element that will immortalize this film: Starring Paris Hilton. Singing. In S&M gear. And a wig. Doing drugs. Lo, I bring you REPO! The Genetic Opera! (The film.) NSFW or self respect.
Here’s what the Paris Hilton looks like:
I’m not sure what to make of a movie that mixes show tunes with generic metal chugga-chugging. But now that fans of High School Musical are entering puberty and listening to crap like Panic! at the Disco, My Chemical Romance, and Cute is What We Aim For, I’d expect the film to be a hit.
On the other hand, the message board for Repo doesn’t seem to be very active, despite the call to “Help us start a REPO ARMY… share your ideas… Start the movement!” I can only hope today’s teen market will reject this attempt to manufacture an “instant cult classic,” and save us from more of the same.
Perhaps you’re wondering how I know about a band like Cute is What We Aim For. I have three nieces, all of whom are in the relevant target demographic. For more an example of my education, click here.
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Other links:
- Queen will release a new album with Paul Rodgers filling in for the departed Freddie Mercury.
- Allmusic writer Tim Sendra has compiled the first 2008 Top Ten list I’ve seen. His picks introduced me to Absentee, who are thrillingly awesome (if you’re a fan of mid-90s stalwarts like Pavement, Lambchop, and the Silver Jews).
- 10 issues facing the music industry: a clumsy list that nevertheless captures a bunch of stuff the suits are worried about.
- A much better top 10 list of the most ruthless managers in rock history.
- Another Metafilter post with several links to some Thin Lizzy YouTube goodness.
Uh Oh, Thin Lizzy is back!
Regarding the rock managers: one thing that’s rarely mentioned about Lou Pearlman is that he’s Art Garfunkle’s cousin.
Man, that Thin Lizzie track smokes. Thanks for that.
Repo is scaring the shit out of me. I have never understood musicals in general, and this is a pretty damn good example of why.
When Cute is What We Aim For played here in Houston, I passed by the venue the day of the event and there were two girls camped out in the July heat waiting to be the first to get in. One of them was rather, uh, portly, and I couldn’t help but think she resembled a beached whale. Yes, I am going to hell.
It took my friend over at All Music Guide to tell me who the hell the band was.
Way to mix horror and joy in one tiny bundle.
Bastard.
Wow, I just realized that Ogre from Skinny Puppy is in Repo. That’s even more scary. What the hell?
That could totally totally be the next Rocky Horror.
Ala the Buffy Rock Opera Episode.
Thin Lizzy, sorry, lost it there for a moment. Not “Lizzie”.
That Buffy episode was really well done. One of my favorites in the series.
So Rocky, then Hedwig, then this? I’m not convinced, but I’ll check it out. Even if I’m getting the feeling this is not really furthering the genre.
You ever hear of the mosquito ringtone test. Apparently these shrill ringtones, audible only to the young, were developed to keep young punks from loitering outside convenience stores in England… maybe someone can work on some similar science to keep adults from having to hear the music made by bands like Cute is What We Aim… maybe with a visual element too so we don’t have to be subjected to their looks either.
being old is awesome!