Opus Movie Review

Opus (2025)

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Written by: Mark Anthony Green
Directed by:Mark Anthony Green
Starring: Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Tony Hale, Amber Midthunder, Murray Bartlett
Rated: R
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Plot
A writer travels to the compound of a pop icon who disappeared years ago. Surrounded by his cult of sycophants, as well as a group of fellow journalists, she soon discovers his twisted plans for the gathering.

Verdict
A pop star enters the limelight again with a new album after a long hiatus. Everything about the album's debut is strange, but it's dismissed as eccentric. This movie wants to see just how much people will ignore in the presence of a celebrity. That, and how much one will capitulate when asked nicely. Watching this, you know the veil is going to drop but it's still a question of when and after that, what's next. This not only builds to the question, but it also provides a satisfying conclusion that leaves us considering the implications of everything else we had seen.
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Review
While she's a promising journalist, Ariel (Ayo Edebiri) resides at the bottom of the hierarchy. She just wants a chance. When eccentric yet beloved pop artist Alfred Moretti (John Malkovich) returns after a twenty year hiatus to release his new album, he invites celebrities and journalists, including Ariel and her editor, to a listening party. While Ariel researches the gift baskets and Moretti, her editor makes it clear she's just an observer and he will conduct any interviews. Ariel sees this as an opportunity, her editor doesn't want input nor does he want to develop her ability.

Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich play Ariel, Alfred Moretti

The listening party attendees are flown in and then driven into Moretti's compounds. Devoted fans camp outside the gate, showing despite his absence he remains iconic. Many people are in the compound, all wearing blue. It seems like some kind of retreat. As we see more, we see strange customs, and that bolsters Ariel's interpretations of Moretti's book sent with the invitations. That might be a means of control.

It seems like a cult, but since Moretti is a star his fans write it off as eccentric. Before it's confirmed this is a cult, all the clues were there but you reason surely Moretti wouldn't be that obvious. It seems similar to Scientology. In such a foreign place, it doesn't take long for the intensity to increase.

Moretti seems open, talking to Ariel and answering her questions about the compound. Because of his availability, I assumed there was something behind his demeanor and compound, something not right. His devotees talk about levels. There are so many little things that make you question the entire adventure. Part of the process for his followers is shucking oysters looking for a pearl. Many moments seem innocuous by themselves but when you total what's occurred in the compound, we know the veil is going to drop at some point. When it does, what's next?

Ariel clearly isn't a Moretti fan but she plays along. She's unnerved by the compound, but everyone else, the fans, write this off as Moretti's particular brand of peculiar. It's the cult of stardom. These people will do anything just to be near a star. The bigger the star, the farther they're willing to go. While it takes Ariel longer to become alarmed than it should, you get it as everyone else treats this as normal. It's a method of control as the compound takes their phones and has a concierge follow each guest around.

When this finally kicks off and everyone becomes suitably frightened and no longer able to deny something is amiss, logically the scene has some holes but cinematically it's quite an experience. This isn't just a release party. The overarching question is what does Moretti hope to achieve?

John Malkovich plays Alfred Moretti

The directing is confidant in what's shown or not. A panning shot in a barn is incredibly effective. Ariel is sneaking around looking for clues and we see several potential weapons as the camera pans away. We wonder if someone will pick one up to attack. While no one attacks, we get a surprise that Ariel doesn't even see.

I enjoyed this movie, a nod to difficulties in the workplace, pop-culture, and celebrity worship. Moretti was taking advantage of the closeness fans feel with an artist, but it's a false premise. The final sequence takes this to another level. Ariel manages to escape the compound, but that's the start of something completely different. She wrote a book and she is now on tour. It's through that and her interview with Moretti that we discover what he was after. Ariel's big break is a direct result of Moretti's fame. Fame perpetuates fame, but Moretti was also able to garners followers through his music. She took advantage of his fame, and he took advantage of the closeness fans feel to him and his music.

SPOILERS

Ariel escaped and Moretti was imprisoned. She wrote a book about her experience, but the release party was a ruse. Moretti thought bigger, and Ariel was a pawn. He explains during the prison interview why she was invited. He used her. He needed a writer and she provided that. Through her book, Moretti's principles will be spread around the world. Her fame is a result of his fame and his next move relies on that. We don't know what's next, but this is a warning to be careful what you consume.