John Malkovich stars as a mysterious pop star in Mark Anthony Green’s latest horror film, “Opus”. The movie follows Ariel (Ayo Edebiri), a magazine journalist who is invited to Moretti’s (Malkovich) desert compound to hear his first studio album. As the only skeptic among the group of VIPs, Ariel begins to notice strange occurrences and suspects that something sinister is at play.
Green shows promise in setting a tense atmosphere, but his satire falls flat. The film relies too heavily on tired tropes, including a cult leader with a dubious “holistic path” for creative types. Malkovich’s performance is a highlight, playing the charismatic yet unsettling pop star with ease.
Despite its campy moments and over-the-top performances, “Opus” misses its mark as a horror movie. The twists are predictable and the explanations for Moretti’s behavior feel unoriginal. Overall, the film’s attempts at satire fall flat, leaving it feeling retro and overly reliant on nostalgic references to 1990s pop culture.
Rating: R for blood, saws, and ritual shaving.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/movies/opus-review.html