repo the genetic opera Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Horror Musicals
Filed under: Horror », Music & Musicals »
By Alison NastasiWith the announcement of Carrie making a return to the Broadway circuit after a short-lived disastrous first go-round, I'm left holding my head and wondering, "Why?" Horror musicals are like your socially awkward cousin. You know, the one who talks too much and quite possibly bears an uncanny resemblance to Franklin from Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
Is it fair to hold the horror musical to the same standards as the dastardly horror film remakes that seem to be happening in droves? I don't think I can help it. Few horror musicals have been born from an original idea which leaves me with the same funny feeling. I'm well aware that remakes have been happening since the dawn of time but this kind of remake is worse. When you add the word 'musical' to anything it evokes a horrible visceral reaction within many people. Adding it to the word horror just seems like a bastardized and shrieking kind of wrong.
Isn't the comical genius of Young Frankenstein and Evil Dead perfect as is? Young Frankenstein was a parody. So, is a mugging Dr. Frankenstein belting out a song called Transylvania Mania anything other than pointless and silly? The film Cannibal! The Musical, another intentional parody by beloved low-budget Troma Entertainment, has more class by comparison. Even Cronenberg's The Fly has been made into an opera, but they don't have me fooled. Adding the smooth vowel-ridden word to the title doesn't soften the blow. In fact, it's almost more cruel. However, Repo! The Genetic Opera would probably disagree with me.
Read the rest at Horror Squad!
Are 'Repo!' and 'The Room' Really 'Rocky Horror' 2.0?
Filed under: Comedy », Horror », Independent », Music & Musicals », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Fandom », Fantastic Fest »
Since last September, at Fantastic Fest, it became immediately apparent that Repo! The Genetic Opera was due for a cult following, and a successful roadshow run last November and December seemed to confirm as much. I wasn't the biggest fan of Darren Lynn Bousman's goth-rock horror musical at the time, and don't exactly see myself giving it another look any time soon, but when its DVD release hasn't prevented fans from organizing summer screenings with shadow casts far and wide, it's futile to deny that it has at least an audience beyond home video and into the realm of true theatrical cultdom.Meanwhile, the sheer sloppiness of Tommy Wiseau's infamous The Room has it similarly garnering underground popularity. I settled for seeing it on Cartoon Network when Adult Swim aired it as their idea of an April Fool's joke, and it became much more of a chore to sit through than I could've possibly imagined (and it's not like the constant commercial breaks weren't helping).
Would it have been much better with a crowd? I couldn't say, as the appeal hasn't quite reached Central Florida yet, but I ask: just because a film has reached the ranks of something like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, does that mean it truly deserves to? What are your personal criteria for a proper cult classic? What's your fondest memory of audience partici... pation, and what other films do you feel stand to join the ranks of the modern midnight movie that maybe haven't quite crept up on the ol' cultural radar just yet?
Bousman Wants to Troma-tize us with 'Mother's Day'
Filed under: Horror », Deals », Distribution »
Wow, what does Darren Lynn Bousman's mom get for her special day? News that her son is remaking Charles Kaufman's Mother's Day, a 1980 exploitation horror flick from Troma that follows the hilarious misadventures of two brothers whose mom likes to watch them rape and murder women. Wait, did I say hilarious? Sorry, I meant icky and effed up. (But that doesn't mean I'm not going to Netflix it.) And no, it's not an existential and tripped-out treatise on love and mortality a la Charlie Kaufman. Charles Kaufman wrote and directed Ferocious Female Freedom Fighters, directed and produced Sextasy, and wrote Squeeze Play. He also has uncredited roles in Mother's Day as a cocaine addict and Squeeze Play as "Man with Popcorn in his Nose."OK, Speak Up if 'The Horsemen' is Playing Near You!
Filed under: Horror », Thrillers », Lionsgate Films »
I know today's supposed to be alllll about Watchmen lunacy, but there's another new flick that's really piqued my interest, mainly because it's a horror film (and I love horror films), but also because it stars Dennis Quaid, and I'll always find time to watch a Dennis Quaid movie. Even a lame one. But in the case of this particular film, the distributor (one Lionsgate) is working overtime to make sure I don't see it.Reliable sources like Filmjerk and BOM indicate that The Horsemen (or, if you're going by the poster, Horsemen) is opening today in 75 markets. Or 75 screens, I'm not sure on that. But I can't seem to track it down on Moviefone, and selling movie tickets is, like, their big thing! They WANT me to find a ticket! Ive spoken to a few pals, and it doesn't look like the film is playing anywhere near Philly, New York, Austin, Orlando, or Chicago. I can only assume it's playing all around Hollywood, right?
Now, it feels really strange for me to be defending a film directed by Jonas Akerlund, since I consider his FIRST film (Spun) to be a rat turd of the highest odor. But what's the deal with Lionsgate already? I certainly don't want to slap the hand that gave me a lot of great horror flicks over the past five years, but between their virtual burials of The Midnight Meat Train (102 theaters, $83,000 gross), Repo! The Genetic Opera (11 theaters(?), $146,000), The Horsemen, and The Burrowers (straight to DVD, and a damn fine movie), I'm starting to take this an affront to the fine horror geeks of the world. LG sure didn't mind scooping $51 million out of My Bloody Valentine a few months back, and they've got Saw 6 in the oven as we speak, so clearly they're not averse to ALL horror movies ... just the smaller ones. Nice.
Spin-ematical: New on DVD 1/20
Filed under: New Releases », DVD Reviews », New on DVD », Home Entertainment »
City of Ember
This is the film that our Jette Kernion said is "one of the most gorgeous-looking films I've seen this year" (2008). It's the tale of a city in darkness -- a community that houses the likes of Saoirse Ronan, Tim Robbins, and Martin Landau, and is led by none other than Bill Murray. If thoughts of the future and rousing family fare are your cup of tea: Buy It on DVD. Sadly, there's no Blu-ray at this time.
Repo! The Genetic Opera
Unfortunately, this rock opera didn't live up to some expectations. But nevertheless, we're talking about a flick that had the cojones to cast Paris Hilton, and gave many rabid Buffy fans the opportunity to see Anthony Head belt out lyrics once again. Rent it, on DVD or Blu-ray, if you can handle a little blood and rock beats.
Max Payne
It came, it screened, it died. Max Payne was the action movie without action, the video game adaptation with serious plot changes. Perhaps in the right hands this still could have meant something amazing, but as it is, Payne fizzled. Skip it on DVD and Blu-ray. Elisabeth Rappe has a review of the DVD right here.
Fan Rant: More Like 'My Bloody Mary'
Filed under: Horror », Lionsgate Films », Distribution », Exhibition », Movie Marketing », Remakes and Sequels », Fan Rant »
Thanks to advancements in movie-going technology over the years, all one needs to view tomorrow's slasher remake, My Bloody Valentine, in three dimensions is a special pair of glasses. And according to Lionsgate's marketing department, all one needs in order to see the film in four dimensions is a set of beer goggles.
The above picture is of an online ad that I just came across while watching a video on YouTube. (Whether or not said video was a RickRoll, I'll neither confirm nor deny.) Apparently, the studio is so confident in the quality of their film that they hope young viewers over the age of 21 will stumble up to the ticket window before tossing their cookies mid-movie in an effort to create an interactive "splash zone" of sorts for some lucky viewers.
'Repo!' Hits the Road Again
Filed under: Horror », Independent », Music & Musicals », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Lionsgate Films », Fandom », Distribution », Exhibition », Fantastic Fest »
Back in September, standing outside of Austin's Paramount Theatre, myself and a couple of others listened to Darren Lynn Bousman as he talked about the challenges he was facing in getting Lionsgate to properly release his Repo! The Genetic Opera. The studio had taken down rave after rave after a select screening several months before, and now the next night's Fantastic Fest screenings were as good a chance as any to prove the film's worth.Well, I saw the film the following night amidst an impressive turn-out of die-hard fans, so while I may have already made my own thoughts clear, I cannot deny its growing (and all but inevitable) cult following, and it seems that neither can Lionsgate. Following a limited release and successful road tour, Bloody Disgusting reports that each will be expanded in the weeks to come to include the likes of Phoenix, New Orleans, Boston, Philadelphia, and Houston.
As for everyone else, you can either keep your fingers crossed for a third tour (though Bousman and co-creator Terrance Zdunich may want to see their families for the holidays, who knows) or just wait for the DVD, which will apparently still hits stores in January.
Review: Repo! The Genetic Opera
Filed under: Horror », Music & Musicals », Lionsgate Films », Theatrical Reviews », Fandom », Fantastic Fest »
Repo! The Genetic Opera is tailor-made to attract a fan following in coming years. To an extent, this stage-inspired future-set goth-rock horror musical already has, and its limited release – not to mention a concurrent road-show tour – is fitting for a film unique enough to never worry itself (nor its studio) with a screen count in the triple digits. This is a cult classic in waiting for Hot Topic teens who still believe that Tim Burton directed The Nightmare Before Christmas and won't know who Joan Jett is when she makes an appearance; the emphasis here falls heavily on 'cult' and not so much 'classic'.
Indie Spotlight: New Releases for Nov. 7
Filed under: New Releases »
When you think of independent cinema, the first name you think of is undoubtedly Jean-Claude Van Damme. Thank goodness the Indie Spotlight is here to tell you where you can see Mr. V.D. at an arthouse new you! Along with JCVD, this week's new indie releases are The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, House, Repo! The Genetic Opera, The Guitar, Otto; or, Up with Dead People, and Gardens of the Night. Here's the rundown on each of them.
JCVD
What it is: Jean-Claude Van Damme plays himself, a washed-up B-movie actor, getting caught in a real-life hostage situation.
What they're saying: Cinematical's James Rocchi, who reviewed it at Toronto, called it a "smart, nicely pitched action-comedy." Eight of the 10 reviews at Rotten Tomatoes are positive, too. (I've seen it, and I concur: it's an entertaining meta-comedy with surprisingly poignant drama.)
Where it's playing: New York City (Angelika Film Center, AMC Empire 25).
More info: The official site has the release dates for other cities, including quite a few next week.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
What it is: A World War II drama about two little boys who become friends from opposite sides of the fence. Those "striped pajamas"? They're what concentration camp prisoners wear.
What they're saying: It has a 71% Fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes, with most critics calling it touching and haunting.
Where it's playing: New York City (CC Cinemas), Los Angeles (The Landmark), Chicago (AMC River East), Dallas (Angelika), Seattle (Landmark Harvard), Denver (Landmark Chez Artiste), San Francisco (Century S.F. Centre), Atlanta (UA Tara), Philadelphia (Ritz 5).
More info: Official site.
News Bites: Full Love, Hollywood Stars, and More!
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Horror », Music & Musicals », Awards », Deals », Fandom », Home Entertainment »
With J.C.V.D. charming audiences everywhere and making the unlucky of us foam at the mouth to see it, the big question has become: Would this be the start of a great career twist, or a charming, but fleeting, aberration for Jean Claude Van Damme? Rather than taking it step by step, the dude has jumped head first into the deep end -- next up will be Van Damme's labor of love, Full Love, which he wrote, produced, directed, and stars in. It's supposed to be a personal story, but is currently all hush-hush. But now we've at least got a peek inside, courtesy of Twitch. They've posted five images from the film, including the thumbnail to the right. It doesn't show much, but one thing that's definitely not there -- JCVD splits.Turning from possible success to definite success -- CNN reports that Tim Robbins has nabbed himself a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. In the ceremony last week, the actor said: "I used to take the bus from here to Burbank to go to work. When the bus was late, I would walk up and down and throw my cigarettes down. Now I have the honor of having this done to my star."
Meanwhile, if you've dug the tunes coming out of Repo! The Genetic Opera, Horror-Movies.ca reports that the film's soundtrack will be up for free for one day only, today the 13th, on the flick's official website. Go now!
And one last nibblet: Variety reports that Mark Waters, director of films like The House of Yes, Mean Girls, and The Spiderwick Chronicles, is heading to TV to helm the pilot Eva Adams. Adapted from the Argentinian telenova Lalola, the series will follow a womanizer who gets turned into a woman and must endure what he used to dole out.
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