Repo! The Genetic Opera is a rock opera set in the not-so-distant future. An epidemic of organ failures devastates the globe, and GeneCo, a company that replaces failed organs, quickly becomes the biggest and richest company out there.
However, the prices of the organ replacements are so expensive, that if people cannot pay them off within a certain time, a Repoman is sent to retrieve the organs. Due to the expense of the organ transplants, meaning that generally only the rich and famous can afford them, transplants and modifications become a fashion statement.
There are 3 main stories that all weave together. A young girl called Shiloh. has been diagnosed with a blood disease all her life - the same disease her mother died from - and is therefore not allowed to leave the house because of her overprotective father. However, curiosity gets the better of her, and she often tries to escape.
Her father Nathan is secretly a Repoman, and doesn't want his daughter to find out about the horrors in the outside world. Ever since his wife, Marnie's tragic death 17 years ago, he has driven himself almost insane about losing his daughter.
Meanwhile, owner of GeneCo, Rotti Largo, is told he has a fatal illness, and will die soon. While he debates over who to leave his company to, he realises that his 3 children - Amber, a slut and drug addict, Pavi, a face stealing narcissist, and Luigi, a madman with anger issues - are not the best heirs to GeneCo. He remembers that his ex lover, Marnie - Yes, the same Marnie that married Nathan and died later - had a child, and wants to offer her the company.
When Marnie left him for Nathan all those years ago, he was furious. Marnie fell ill while pregnant with Shiloh, and Nathan, being a doctor at the time, created a remedy. Seeing the opportunity for revenge, Rotti poisoned the remedy, killing Marnie and framing Nathan with murder. Nathan managed to save Shiloh, but to get out of the murder charges, Rotti asked him to work for him as a Repoman.
Now back in the present, Rotti invites Shiloh to the opening of the "Genetic Opera", where she meets Blind Mag.
Blind Mag was the best friend of Marnie 17 years ago. While Marnie was dating Rotti, she asked him to replace Mag's eyes so she could see. In return, Mag worked as the company's official singer, appearing in adverts and shows for GeneCo. As life went on, she realised the contract was lifelong, and wanted to leave, but as she could not afford the surgery she had on her eyes, she is told that after her final show, a Repoman will come to repossess them.
Mag was made the godmother of Shiloh, but due to Nathan's overprotectiveness, he told Mag that Shiloh had died along with her mother. Shiloh, having seen Mag on TV, is excited to meet her idol in person. Mag is completely stunned to find that Shiloh is alive. After meeting her, Shiloh is pushed into a nearby tent and told to wait there. She is helped to escape by Graverobber, a character she bumped into when she first attempted to escape, who also happens to be the narrator of the story....Kindof. xD
Graverobber is a drug dealer that sells "Z", or Zydrate. Zydrate is a highly addictive drug that the doctors invented to help people deal with pain after surgeries. It is also very expensive, but a cheaper version can be obtained from dead bodies, hence he is a graverobber. xD
Graverobber takes Shiloh to a backalley full of Z-addicts, when Amber Sweet shows up, gloating about how she's going to be the new singer of GeneCo when Blind Mag is gone. Alarmed by this news, Shiloh asks her what she means, and all is explained through a really catchy song. Amber's bodyguards show up, and all the Z-addicts scatter. Graverobber takes Shiloh home.
At the same time, Nathan is told to come to Rotti's office to recieve a special target. When he realises the target is his wife's best friend, he refuses, but Rotti guilt trips him, reminding him of "what he did to Marnie."
Mag arrives at the house to finally meet her God-Daughter. Shiloh tells her she isn't allowed visitors, and tries to warn her of the Repomen. Nathan returns, having been out repossessing organs (although Shiloh believes he is just a doctor.) Nathan orders Mag to leave, Mag obliges, but is extremely confused and annoyed over the secret of her God-Daughter. Shiloh begs her dad to let Mag stay so she is hidden from the Repoman. Mag leaves, and Nathan orders Shiloh to tell him how she found out about Repomen. Shiloh finally stands up for herself, telling her father she doesn't want to be bossed around anymore. They argue, Shiloh passes out from lack of medication and is put to bed before Nathan leaves.
When Shiloh wakes later, she recieves a call from Rotti, inviting her to tonight's Genetic Opera, and Mag's final song, offering her a cure for her disease if she does. She sneaks out. Nathan also prepares for the opera, or rather, killing Mag after her final performance. Mag gets ready to sing her final song.
And I won't spoil the ending. >:3
OK END OF SPOILERS, YOU MAY READ FROM HERE! XD
I told you the story was long and complicated. I've probably still made mistakes and missed out details, but oh well. Just go and watch it yourself! XD
I'd actually heard a few songs from the Repo! soundtrack before I saw the movie, mainly At the Opera Tonight, Chromaggia, and Infected. Having fallen in love with the few songs I'd heard, I decided to watch the movie, and it was most definitely worth it.
I was immediately caught up in the gothic atmosphere - The costumes of the actors, the dark but cyberesque setting, and of course the music. If you're a fan of cult movies and gothic subculture, this is definitely a film for you.
The choice of actors and the acting itself is absolutely fantastic, with Alexa Vega from Spy Kids playing Shiloh, Anthony Stewart Head from Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Nathan, Sarah Brightman as Blind Mag (If you don't know who she is, you should be ashamed! She was in the original Phantom of the Opera!) and Paris Hilton playing Amber Sweet - Yes, yes, I know she's a silly blonde bimbo, but she actually plays a good part in this movie, don't let her put you off! Terrance Zdunich, one of the main writers of the story and the artist that drew all the comic strips explaining various parts of the story, plays an amazing (and very good looking might I add xD) Graverobber.
All the songs (with the exception of one) are well written, each complimenting each other and running through the film smoothly. My favourite song is Zydrate Anatomy, one, because Graverobber sings it and Terrance has a fantastic voice and two, because it's just so damn catchy! Really, once you hear it, it's stuck in your head for days afterwards.
My only gripe with the music was Shiloh's song "Seventeen." It really doesn't fit the flow of the movie, and it doesn't do wonders for Alexa's singing voice either, which is much better in songs like "Infected" and "Genetic Emancipation."
The main reason I listened to some of the songs before watching the movie was the fact that I'd heard it was very gory, and I don't tend to cope well with gore. xD Although it was a plus for me, it might be a bit of a downer for others, but the gore in the movie, to put it bluntly, is crap. Really, the blood is bright red and completely unrealistic. Pan's Labyrinth made me go "eurgh D:" more than Repo did. So if you're looking for a gory film, this isn't the best. If you're like me and you don't like gore very much, then it's a bonus.
Overall, I'd say this is one of my favourite movies. I can rant about how much I love this film all day, but really the only way to know about it yourself is to watch it. It's quite an underground film, so finding a copy might be difficult. I found a single, lone copy in HMV one day, and my boyfriend bought it for me. Because it isn't a mainstream film it wasn't really that expensive. However, there are plenty of copies being sold online, and if you're lacking in money there is a version on putlocker, and I believe there is another version in parts on youtube, although I would only try that if you're absolutely desperate and genuinely can't find it anywhere else, as the quality is not the best, and sometimes movies get taken down. If you're struggling to find a link to watch it, leave a comment and I'll find you a decent quality version online somewhere.
Phew! Long post over. XD I know it's late, especially since the movie came out a few years ago, but I felt like I had to post my opinions on Repo! before I post the related topic, which is coming up next. To finish, enjoy this picture of Rotti and his badass henchgirls.
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