The Reel Review
An up-and-coming writer gets the opportunity of a lifetime when she becomes one of six music industry journalists invited to a former pop music entertainer’s desert compound to listen to his first new masterpiece in 30 years. Once there, however, she discovers his compound is a cult with a sinister plan for them. Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis and Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) star in this psychological thriller.
Anyone who has seen the recent psychological thrillers Blink Twice and/or The Menu can pretty much predict how this weird psychological thriller will play out, with Malkovich as the kooky pop star turned cult leader and Edebiri as the only one of the journalists to figure out that things at the compound are not what they seem. Malkovich is actually the only mildly interesting part of this uninspired knockoff from former GQ editor Mark Anthony Green in his writing/directing feature film debut.
The film’s intent – a skewering of entertainment journalism and the sycophantic idolization of not-so-nice pop stars – is hampered by a cast of characters that are disappointingly one note, and some kooky twists – one involving the guests’ pubic hair – that is just odd for the sake of being odd. The story lumbers to a totally chaotic and pretentious third act that tries to be more clever than it actually is. Opus is not an opus – more of a dud.
REEL FACTS
• In 2025, Emmy award winner Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) became the first actress to be nominated for both acting and directing Emmys in the same year.
• Opus casting director Angelique Midthunder is the mother of Amber Midthunder (Prey, The Ice Road), who plays the concierge/killer Belle in Opus.
• Opus was filmed in New Mexico, with the popular wedding venue of La Mesita Ranch Estate in Pojoaque serving as the cult compound.
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