The Wasteland Reviewer

Opus (2025) Written Review

What can be said about the media, cults, and fame today that haven’t been already said? Film has been a perfect canvas to explore plenty of rich themes and ideas that are relevant in society today. The media is constantly spinning ideas and perspectives and passing them off as news and facts. The rise of cults and obsessive collective centered around powerful and influential figures who crave power and feed fear. Fame is a fickle idea that represents importance and influence but comes with endless drawbacks and pitfalls. A24 is a fascinating studio which constantly produces films that challenge audiences with complex stories that explore rich ideas. Opus is the latest of many projects to come from the studio that presents something so timely and provocative.

Does Opus reach the heights of many A24 efforts before it? Not quite. There are certainly elements of the film that stand out and many are from the filmmaking perspective. Mark Anthony Green wrote and directed this wild experience and most of his strengths show through the work orchestrating the film. This is a crisp looking film with strong camera work, blocking, and visuals. Tommy Maddox-Upshaw (the cinematographer) does well to stand out amongst the many talented DPs who have crafted such visually impressive films at A24. The music elements are real highlights as well with the central cult leader being an eccentric pop star. Nile Rodgers (of Earth, Wind, and Fire fame) and The-Dream do wonders with the music and score. One of the fun highlights of the film is John Malkovich (the aging pop star) performing in the room full of journalists. There are some intense moments of violence and body horror that stick out as well. One of the struggles of the film is how scattered it can be, which bleeds into the tone of the film as well.

Where do most of the film’s struggles stem from? Green is trying to tackle way too much with this screenplay and unfortunately most of it gets left on the surface of exploration. Ayo Edebiri’s Ariel is a journalist who strives for something greater as her egotistical and eccentric boss just takes credit and control of her ideas. This becomes a cautionary tale of how much fame and recognition you truly want but it gets bogged down in such a wild and twisted plot. The climax of the film delivers a big swing of a reveal that works for shock value but feels like just another layer to throw in from a thematic standpoint. Cults have been explored in many films (including A24’s own Midsommar) but there are few elements in Opus that feel like a fresh take on that. There are a few plot points that subvert expectations in the end but feels a tad late in the game to divert from an otherwise clear and familiar playbook. The smugness and ego of the journalists in the film is quite on the nose and the commentary on them is not the most interesting either.

What is the main element that saves a lot of this experience? The cast. Malkovich is just a wonder to watch as he goes full ham at times playing the showboating and flamboyant pop star. The commitment to the bit is so refreshing and fun. But it is not all fun and games as Malkovich is able to find malice and menace in his pop star turned cult leader character. Edebiri is charismatic as well and makes for a solid protagonist to follow along the way. Her fear and paranoia are what really drivees so much of the tension and suspense of the piece and she nails that as well. There are a few fun turns from veteran talents like Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, and Tony Hale who bring plenty of personality to the proceedings. The journalist and PR characters might be thinly expressed but the actors behind them deliver plenty of charisma and fun. There are a few young talents like Amber Midthunder and Tatanka Means who have plenty to offer but are not given much to do at all.

Is Opus another big win for A24? Honestly…this is another in a recent string of disappointments for this great studio. Green tries to bite off way too much with this film. There are too many recent films who have tackled and explored similar themes in richer and more impactful ways. There is promise and talent here for sure with the filmmaking and cast standing out. The film is still able to deliver some compelling ideas and a wildly entertaining turn from Malkovich. But this film struggles too often under the weight of too many ideas without the strength of foundation underneath them (but that does not stop this from being an entertaining endeavor).