Opus (2025) by Mark Anthony Green

Description: “Opus (2025),” the directorial feature debut of Mark Anthony Green, is a psychological thriller blending elements of horror, dark comedy, and drama. The film follows a ambitious young journalist who receives an exclusive invitation to the lavish, remote compound of a reclusive pop icon who disappeared decades ago, only to uncover that his extravagant world hides sinister secrets and cult-like depravity.

Detailed Summary: The film centers on Ariel Ecton (Ayo Edebiri), a talented but often overlooked young journalist working for a prestigious music magazine. Tired of her arrogant boss, Stan Sullivan (Murray Bartlett), assigning prime pitches to more senior writers, Ariel’s career takes an unexpected turn when an invitation arrives from Alfred Moretti (John Malkovich), a visionary pop superstar who vanished from the public eye 30 years prior. Moretti is about to release a new album, and he’s inviting an exclusive group of journalists, including Ariel and Stan, to an intimate listening event at his remote desert compound.

Upon arrival, Ariel quickly grows suspicious of the compound’s inhabitants—a collection of ardent admirers, dubbed “Levelists,” who exhibit unsettlingly sycophantic behavior towards Moretti. What initially seems like eccentric celebrity hospitality soon reveals itself as a sinister cult with twisted plans for their guests. As bizarre rituals and unsettling events unfold—including peculiar grooming requests and guests mysteriously disappearing—Ariel races against time to uncover the depths of the cult’s depravity and find a way to escape, all while grappling with the superficiality of celebrity culture and the dangers of obsession. The film critiques the music business, celebrity worship, and wealth, escalating from social commentary to a predictable yet visceral thriller.

• Exclusive Invitation: Ambitious journalist Ariel Ecton is invited to a reclusive pop icon Alfred Moretti’s remote compound for an album listening event.

• Unsettling Discoveries: Ariel quickly realizes Moretti’s loyal admirers are a cult with dark rituals and sinister intentions for the guests.

• Unraveling Mystery: As strange events escalate and journalists go missing, Ariel uncovers the full extent of the cult’s depravity.

• Fight for Survival: Ariel must navigate the compound’s dangers to escape and expose the truth behind the pop star’s reclusive world.

Director’s Vision: Mark Anthony Green, drawing from his extensive background as a GQ editor covering celebrity culture, makes his directorial debut with “Opus.” His vision is to craft a “cautionary tale” for an increasingly online world that blurs the lines between obsession and genuine connection. He aims to spark “healthy conversations” about the pitfalls of celebrity worship, tribalism, and the abuse of power. While he describes the film as a “wild ride” and “fun cinematic experience” for “freaks and movie nerds,” he also intends for it to challenge audiences and make them question whether current societal norms truly serve them. Green specifically wanted to portray Ariel as an intelligent Black woman with agency, avoiding common horror film tropes. He meticulously crafts tension and visual discomfort to deliver his critique.

• Celebrity Worship & Parasocial Relationships: Explores the dangerous extremes of idolizing public figures and the unhealthy, one-sided bonds fans form.

• Cults & Tribalism: Delves into the insidious nature of cults and broader societal tribalism, questioning collective belief systems and their potential for harm.

• Exploitation & Abuse of Power: Examines how figures of immense wealth and influence can manipulate and exploit others, particularly within insulated environments.

• The Illusion of Fame: Critiques the superficiality and dark underbelly of celebrity culture, exposing the manufactured reality surrounding pop icons.

• Ambition & Journalism: Explores Ariel’s drive to succeed in a competitive journalistic field and her struggle to be heard and believed.

• The Carnage of Culture: Reflects on how societal boundaries are shifting, leading to increasingly worse and faster-paced cultural pathologies.

• Timely Social Commentary: The film tackles highly relevant contemporary themes of celebrity obsession, cult dynamics, and the abuse of power, resonating with current cultural anxieties.

• Strong Ensemble Cast: Features acclaimed actors like Ayo Edebiri (whose performance is often praised), John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, and Murray Bartlett, providing compelling character portrayals.

• Genre Blend: Its mix of horror, psychological thriller, and dark comedy offers a unique and engaging cinematic experience for audiences seeking something beyond traditional genre boundaries.

• A24 Distribution: Being distributed by A24, known for its distinctive and often critically acclaimed independent films, positions “Opus” to reach a dedicated art-house and genre audience.

• Director’s Unique Perspective: Mark Anthony Green’s background as a GQ journalist covering celebrity adds an insider’s perspective to the film’s critique of fame and media.

Summary Short: Mark Anthony Green’s “Opus (2025)” is a psychological horror-thriller starring Ayo Edebiri as a journalist investigating a reclusive pop icon (John Malkovich) whose compound harbors a sinister cult. Distributed by A24, it premiered at Sundance and was released theatrically in March 2025, exploring themes of celebrity worship and tribalism with mixed critical reception.

Awards and Nominations: “Opus (2025)” notably had its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2025.

Critics Reception: Critical reception for “Opus” has been mixed to generally negative following its premiere at Sundance and subsequent theatrical release.

• Positive Aspects: Reviewers often praise Ayo Edebiri’s performance as Ariel, highlighting her ability to inject warmth and charm into the character and elevate moments that might otherwise fall flat. The film’s initial tension building and unique blend of genres are also sometimes noted as strengths. The original pop soundtrack is often cited as a strong point.

• Negative Aspects: Common criticisms include the film’s broad targets (celebrity culture, wealthy elites) and haphazard aim in its critique. Reviewers frequently describe the characters as cliched, the backstory for the pop icon as unconvincing, and the humor as inane. Many feel the film hints at crucial themes like identity and exploitation without truly delving beneath the surface, eventually devolving into a predictable psychological thriller with forced twists and excessive gore. Comparisons to films like “The Menu” are common, often implying that “Opus” doesn’t bring enough new to the formula.

Overall Critics Reception: While it offers moments of tension and strong acting from its leads, “Opus” generally struggles to deliver on its ambitious thematic promises, often succumbing to genre conventions and broad social commentary that lacks deeper specificity. It is seen as an entertaining, if not entirely satisfying, debut for Green.

• Screen Daily: Criticizes the “broad” targets and “haphazard aim,” stating that “Alfred’s backstory fails to be remotely convincing” and the film’s critique “lacks specificity.” Acknowledges Edebiri’s performance but finds the writing for other characters “cliched.”

• Mediaversity Reviews: Notes that “A24’s Opus doesn’t bring anything new to the table” despite a familiar premise. While praising Edebiri, it states that “the writing just isn’t there” and the film “spends two hours hinting at crucial themes… without ever diving under the surface.” It also notes a missed opportunity to explore race and power dynamics.

• The Daily Texan: Describes the film as attempting to “become a cultist classic” and succeeding in inspiring discomfort. It acknowledges the horror elements but points out that the music aspect gets “outshined by the thrill and drama” and that anxious moments don’t always “breathe,” leading to “only gore.”

• Popviewers: Cites Mark Anthony Green describing it as a “wild ride” and “very fun” that will make people “ask questions” about current culture. This review leans more positive, emphasizing the entertainment value and the director’s intention for it to be a “provocative” experience.

Box Office: “Opus (2025),” as an A24 release, has had a limited theatrical run consistent with its independent nature.

• Production Budget: Approximately $10,000,000 USD.

• Domestic Box Office: Approximately $1,830,654 USD.

• International Box Office: Approximately $253,561 USD.

• Worldwide Box Office: Approximately $2,084,215 USD.

Production: “Opus (2025)” is a U.S. production, serving as the feature directorial debut for Mark Anthony Green, who also wrote and produced the film. The film has a runtime of 103 minutes. It was rated R for strong content including violence, language, sexual material, and brief graphic nudity.

• A24: (United States) A highly prominent independent film production and distribution company.

• Makeready: (United States) A content studio.

• MACRO: (United States) A media company focusing on content for Black and brown audiences.

Sales Companies: While not explicitly stated as a separate sales company, A24 typically handles its own production and sales for many of its films given its integrated structure.

• A24: (United States) Served as the primary domestic distributor for the film’s wide theatrical release.

• VVS Films: (Canada) Listed as a Blu-ray distributor.

• Various international distributors: The film also had theatrical releases in the United Kingdom, Russia (CIS), Italy, and Germany.

Release Date on Streaming: “Opus (2025)” had its video (VOD/streaming) release on April 1, 2025, distributed by A24. It is available on platforms such as iTunes, Amazon Prime, and Vudu.

Theatrical Release: “Opus (2025)” had its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2025. Its domestic wide theatrical release in the United States was on March 14, 2025. International theatrical releases began on March 13, 2025 (Limited – Russia (CIS)), followed by March 14, 2025 (Wide – UK), March 27, 2025 (Limited – Italy), and April 24, 2025 (Wide – Germany).

Why to Recommend This Movie:

• For Fans of A24 Films: If you enjoy A24’s unique brand of genre-bending, often thought-provoking horror and thrillers.

• Strong Lead Performance: Ayo Edebiri’s performance is consistently highlighted as a standout, making it worth watching for her fans.

• Timely and Relevant Themes: It delves into contemporary anxieties surrounding celebrity culture, cults, and online obsession, offering a satirical lens.

• Intriguing Premise: The concept of a journalist uncovering dark secrets at a reclusive pop star’s compound is inherently captivating.

• Debut Director’s Vision: See a new voice in cinema from a director with a unique background (GQ journalist) tackling modern issues.

• If You Enjoy Psychological Thrillers: Experience a film that attempts to build tension and explore the psychological manipulation within a cult setting.

• For Dark Comedy Elements: If you appreciate humor mixed with darker, more unsettling themes.

• To See a Critique of Celebrity Culture: Engage with a film that tries to expose the often-disturbing realities behind fame and adulation.

• If You’re a Fan of the Cast: The ensemble, particularly Malkovich in a flamboyant role and Edebiri in a more serious one, offers a draw.

• Curiosity about First-Time Directors: See Mark Anthony Green’s inaugural feature and his approach to genre filmmaking.

What Movie Trend Film Is Following: Elevated Horror / Social Thriller / Anti-Celebrity Narrative: “Opus” aligns with the “elevated horror” trend, where genre films tackle deeper social or psychological themes (similar to A24’s other releases). It is also a “social thriller,” using suspense and horror elements to critique societal issues like celebrity worship, cult dynamics, and wealth disparity, akin to films like “The Menu” or “Get Out.” The film also follows a growing trend of “anti-celebrity” narratives that deconstruct the glamor of fame and reveal its darker side.

What Big Social Trend Is Following: Growing Mistrust of Institutions/Influence / Rise of Parasocial Relationships / Mental Health and Cult Awareness: The film taps into the societal trend of increasing skepticism towards figures of authority and influence, particularly within celebrity culture, reflecting a broader mistrust. It also addresses the pervasive nature of parasocial relationships in the digital age, where fans develop intense, one-sided bonds with public figures. Furthermore, by portraying a cult, it touches on the renewed public interest in understanding the psychology of groupthink and the vulnerabilities that can lead individuals into extreme beliefs.

Final Verdict: “Opus (2025)” is an ambitious debut from Mark Anthony Green that courageously attempts to blend psychological thriller with dark comedy and social commentary, primarily aimed at celebrity culture and cults. While it boasts a compelling premise and a strong central performance from Ayo Edebiri, critical reception suggests that its execution sometimes falls short of its thematic ambitions, often relying on broad strokes and genre conventions. Despite its mixed reviews, it offers an intriguing, if imperfect, look at contemporary anxieties surrounding fame and fanaticism. For those seeking a genre film with a sharp edge and a strong cast, “Opus” provides an entertaining, if not always profound, experience.

Recommendations for Film Makers:

• Sharpen Social Commentary: When tackling broad social issues, strive for more specific and nuanced critiques to avoid generalizations.

• Balance Genre Elements: If blending genres like horror and dark comedy, ensure each element fully serves the narrative without overwhelming the other.

• Develop Supporting Characters: Invest more deeply in character development beyond archetypes to make the ensemble more engaging and believable.

• Trust Your Audience: Allow subtle social commentary to breathe rather than resorting to overt plot devices or excessive gore to convey intensity.

Recommendations for Movie Industry:

• Continue Supporting New Voices: Invest in debut filmmakers like Mark Anthony Green who bring fresh perspectives and tackle relevant social issues.

• Prioritize Script Development: Ensure that ambitious concepts are matched with equally strong and nuanced screenwriting to maximize a film’s potential.

• Market Thematic Depth: For genre films with underlying social commentary, emphasize these themes in marketing to attract a broader audience interested in thought-provoking cinema.

• Foster Critical Discussion: Encourage a dialogue around films that address sensitive or controversial social trends, regardless of critical consensus.

Final Conclusions: “Opus (2025)” is a notable debut that, while facing some critical challenges, demonstrates Mark Anthony Green’s potential as a filmmaker with a keen eye for modern cultural phenomena. It stands as a testament to A24’s commitment to distinctive genre fare and contributes to the ongoing cinematic exploration of fame’s darker side. Its release provides an opportunity for audiences to engage with timely themes of celebrity, cults, and the pitfalls of unchecked influence.