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Repo! The Genetic Opera

In the near future, society has gone beyond obsessing with fixing their outsides. Fixing the inside is the new breast enhancement or nose job, and literally means insides. As in, organs. Most people are addicted to surgery - in and out jobs that take 20 minutes and are practically painless (thanks to new drugs and company Gene Co) and are considered de rigor. The three potential heirs to Gene Co are all greedy, spoiled, surgery addicts and the ailing head of Gene Co, Rotti, is unsure about the future of the company.

Shilo is locked away to keep her from being exposed to elements that could exacerbate her blood condition (the same that supposedly claimed her mother’s life). Her father was crushed when her mother died, and mistakenly believing himself responsible, he becomes the most feared member of society - the Repo Man.

Although quickie-surgeries are easy to come by, they are still very high-priced. The difference between the modern transplants and ones of yesteryear is that in this internally-obsessed society, if one falls behind in his or her payments, their organ is brutally (and fatally) repossessed.

Another big player in the world of Repo is the brilliant singer Blind Mag. Born without sight, Mag was Shilo’s mother’s best friend. Shilo’s mother convinced Mag to get new eyes from Gene Co. Being poor, she signed her talent over to the company and had to perform in genetic operas free of charge.

All hell breaks loose when after 17 years of singing for Gene Co, Mag would rather die than stay with the company. To make matters worse, Rotti’s health is failing, Rotti’s children start squabbling, and Shilo sneaks out. Thus, everyone bursts frequently into frenetic song.

A large part of the original appeal of this film was the opportunity to see Paris Hilton’s face fall off. (It does not disappoint.) Although the songs are largely cheesy, they are in fact catchy and well done. The voice talent of the ensemble cast is superb, the concept is very original, and don’t be surprised to find yourself humming days later. Things you see in a graveyard....

Written by: Tracy Elledge

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