SPOILER WARNING: The next article offers away just about the entire plot of Opus, so when you have not seen the brand new 2025 film, proceed with warning as you’re taking on this “once-in-a-lifetime expertise.”
The acute nature of fan loyalty, particularly within the music trade, just isn’t one thing to be taken frivolously, which seems to be the overall thesis of Opus. The brand new A24 film, and debut function from author and director Mark Anthony Inexperienced, stars Ayo Edebiri as Ariel Ecton, a journalist provided the possibility to witness the disclosing of the newest studio album from much-admired, long-retired pop star Moretti (John Malkovich), however shortly suspects one thing sinister is afoot.
I used to be excited to lastly try the current horror film with my HBO Max subscription, and it was largely what I anticipated, whereas additionally catching me somewhat off guard with some surprising and unlikely similarities to a sure basic children film. I imply, is it simply me, or does the plot of Opus appear to borrow loads from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Manufacturing unit? Permit me to clarify…
I Observed A Quantity Of Parallels Between Opus And Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Manufacturing unit
First, let me briefly recap Opus: an eccentric, extensively famend, and fabled celeb returns to the general public eye after an extended absence and invitations a choose variety of individuals to an eventful tour of his idyllic compound, which he shares along with his loyal servants. Amid the festivities, some guests start to vanish, with solely our central protagonist in the end remaining. By the tip, Ariel makes the shocking discovery that she has saved Moretti’s lethal cult alive by detailing their teachings in her profitable ebook about her traumatic expertise.
Simply exchange “servants” with “Oompa-Loompas” and the ultimate sentence with, “By the tip, Charlie makes the shocking discovery that he has been chosen to maintain Wonka’s enterprise alive,” we’d principally have the plot of Roald Dahl’s novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing unit, which was most famously tailored right into a beloved movie starring Gene Wilder. I truthfully didn’t thoughts that I discovered this darkish thriller to, basically, be a bloodier remake of Willy Wonka (contemplating the 1971 movie was fairly darkish to start with). In actual fact, it was the one factor about Opus that I discovered most amusing.
Personally, I Would Moderately Simply Watch Willy Wonka Once more Than Opus
I apologize if that “once-in-a-lifetime expertise” bit from the highest of my article sounded self-indulgent. I simply wished to honor my custom of spoiler warnings that reference the movie I’m writing about, because the premiere presentation of Moretti’s new album is usually described as “a once-in-a-lifetime expertise” in Opus. Nonetheless, the film itself, when you ask me, is something however.
Whereas it boasts great performances throughout, particularly from Edebiri, and a few catchy tunes courtesy of Nile Rodgers and The Dream, it doesn’t fairly grasp the unsettling tone that would have earned it a spot among the many greatest A24 horror motion pictures or, a minimum of, saved it from being a comparatively bland commentary on vainness and celeb obsession, in my view. It doesn’t have a lot of something fascinating to say about these themes, and, on prime of that, it painfully pales compared to the various different, and arguably simpler, thrillers coping with the subject of cults from solely the final decade or so, similar to Midsommar or The Invitation.
If my unfavorable evaluation doesn’t sway you and a twisted reimagining of Willy Wonka from A24 nonetheless piques your curiosity, go forward and stream Opus on HBO Max and see how you are feeling. Possibly it’ll have a better impact on you and transport you right into a world of pure creativeness.