Opus

Opus started off pretty solid but fell apart in the final act. It's similar to other stories like Midsommar, Get Out, Blink Twice, The Menu, etc. So this wasn't anything new, but that wasn't much of an issue for me. The problem is in the explanation for what drives the cult. What it's about - its purpose. Malkovich's character sorta kinda attempts to offer an explanation at the end, but it didn't feel sufficiently solid enough to patch up the holes created by that issue. The acting in here was great though, and it was fun to see Malkovich ham it up the way he did. This was director Mark Anthony Green's first film, and he was also the writer. He has potential, as evidenced by the strong first half of the story. But he needs a bit more work to stick the landing. Video review available on my YouTube channel.

This had good potential and John Malkovich can usually be relied upon when eccentricity is needed, but the rest of this is an incomplete and rather messy reminder of "Midsommar" meets "Ten Little Indians". He is the reclusive pop star "Moretti" who announces after almost thirty years away, that he is to release his comeback album. The industry goes wild for this news and when he announces his own version of a golden ticket and invites a select group to join him for an exclusive get together at his ranch, the enthusiast journalist "Ariel" (Ayo Edebiri) accompanies her limelight hogging boss to this ultimate weekend. Of course, as soon as she arrives she finds the place akin to a cult. Loads of almost automaton acolytes, some cruelly painful oyster shucking and loads of sexually fluid flamboyance from their host all starts to get her heckles up and gradually we become aware that their is an altogether ulterior motive for this carefully contrived fine dining experience. When one of their number goes missing, well things rapidly speed to a denouement that is straight out of Agatha Christie. The point it makes in the end is actually quite a clever one, but the rest of this is all derivative and simplistic. Why were this group selected? Who are they? What have they in common with each other or with their antagonist? For something that's supposed to be random and spontaneous, the entire plot depends on characters making very specific (and not always the most natural of) choices en route. Malkovich does stand out, but that might also be as much to do with the really mediocre writing and the remainder of the cast delivering a very join-the-dots performance. Sadly, this is nothing original nor special and really disappoints.

Okay. Sooooo... uuhhhhh..... how do I start talking about this movie? Well, it's DISTURBING AS FUDGE for a start. There wasn't as much gore in this movie as I was thinking. Honestly, I don't even know what I was thinking when going to the cinema to watch this. The concept is not that bad. The REAL question is: Was it executed well enough to be a "good" movie? Well, it depends on what kind of horror/thrillers you are into. There's a scene in the middle of the movie that made me cringe. The ending wasn't really what I was expecting, which can be a good and a bad thing. I don't know if it is a good or bad thing in this case. The movie was pretty underwhelming, which I think was just trying to build the tension. When blood WAS on the screen, though, there wasn't loads of it. But there was an "injury" (not a kill) that was pretty painful to watch. If you have seen the movie, then you probably know which one I'm talking about. I'm talking about the bean bag one. If you know, you know. The "twist" at the end of the movie wasn't something that I saw coming. I wouldn't say that this is a good movie, but I wouldn't say it's a bad one either.

Watched at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

A24 recently seems to be having a slump with their horror movies because while Opus has a good concept and a good performance from Ayo Edebiri and John Malkovich, it's exhausting narrative, repetitive nature, and bland structure fails to impress itself with it's concept and becomes more of a dull and uninspired experience.

The filmmaker clearly has an vision of celebrity worshipping and cult atmospheres but it feels like a blend of many themes and ideas mashed together, that don't feel earned nor impacted. Including characters that are underdeveloped and at times, unbearable with their bad dialogue and personality. Ayo Edebiri and John Malkovich really are the best aspects and even with good camerawork and production designs, the narrative and characters aren't good as they end up becoming horror cliches and predictable structure that leads with no creative moments.

A24 horror flicks are usually pretty great but in recent times, their horror works have been going down and I do hope A24 is able to get back onto track soon.

Opus (2025) is the newest movie from A24 and it was very underwhelming, but it wasn't terrible.

Positives for Opus (2025): The movie has an interesting enough plot involving the music industry. The acting is very good for what they had to work with. There are some cool things with the directing style. The movie moves at a good pace to it. And finally, the movie has a very interesting ending.

Negatives for Opus (2025): The plot has some wonky execution to it. The characters aren't interesting or well developed. I barely knew what was happening with the story. And finally, I have no idea what the point of this movie was supposed to be.

Overall, Opus (2025) is an okay but also very underwhelming movie from A24.