MovieChat Forums > Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008) Discussion > Seems the vast number of people that dis...

Seems the vast number of people that dislike this are Rocky Horror fans

posted 13 years ago by JudastheFallen
30 replies | jump to latest

Just something that I noticed in the message boards and in the introduction of this film to other people.

Those that are Rocky Horror fans tend to have a special level of disdain for this movie.

Personally although I own Rocky Horror and have been to several midnight showings I fail to see the lure of this movie. I respect it for its secured status as a cult classic, and its loyal following but that is about it.

I find the songs in Rocky to be rather bland, and the acting to be so over the top its comical (yes I know that is kinda the point).

Also I think it is fair to note that I typically do not really enjoy musicals, the Buffy Musical Episode being the only real exception.

Now on to Repo.

I think there are several things to take into account here. This really isn't a musical and follows the more Operatic themes. Where in a musical its really just people breaking into song to further the story.. Operas use the songs to tell the story. So if you are a fan of musicals this may not be for you.

Also something to take into account is individual taste in music. If you are into pop music, RnB, or Showtunes this probably isn't the movie for you. If you are a fan of Marylin Manson, Sixx A.M. and the likes this is probably something you will enjoy.

Over all I loved Repo and I honestly watch it about once a month. I own the CD and it sits in my CD Wallet in my car and is listened to regularly.

I didn't know I would love it so much, but I do

[–] RHPSvegas 12 years ago

The main reason why Rocky Horror people have a distain for Repo? Because Repo tries WAY TOO HARD to recreate the Rocky Horror experience in a cheap, manufactured way. When it was being promoted, the makers had the audacity to post on Rocky Horror message boards "Move over Richard O'Brien, there's a new cult movie to take Rocky Horror's place!" (this can still be found by doing a google search). Excuse me, but I call *beep* As a Rocky Horror cast leader I was contacted via private e-mail by the film-makers asking if we'd be interested in doing a shadow-cast of the movie even though it hadn't been released yet. Um, wtf?? Can we say "jumping the gun"?

The whole thing is contrived. True cult films happen organically. The interactive film experience begins and ends with Rocky Horror. Period. Callbacks, live shows, audience participation - if you can't see how Repo's a rip off, you're in denial. And the fact that it was force-marketed to theaters already showing Rocky Horror was not only ignorant, but insulting.

Now, aside from that, the movie itself is utter *beep* The songs are not memorable; they're repetative and childish - like nursery rhymes as redone by aging goths who don't seem to realize that the late 90s is over. (Some poor goth kids got addicted to the hype. Addicted to the hype? Addicted to the hype!)The wardrobe looks like it was taken off of the Hot Topic clearance rack over 10 years ago. The talent is wasted and put in truly embarassing situations; many of the actors look like they're barely enduring the cringe-worthy writing that they must have had to do to repay someone a favor. The whole thing is ill-conceived and purports to be "original" when it fact it borrows from a lot of previous sources: plays, a Monty Python sketch, several novels, etc.

Before knocking Rocky Horror fans, take a good, long look at what "Repo" truly is. Rocky fans have VERY valid reasons for loathing it.

Ignore Republicans; then you rob them of their lies having any influence. http://foxnewslies.net/

[–] painmonger 12 years ago

The question I'd like to ask is, why would Repo be trying to copy RHPS? RHPS' success is primarily due to how easy it is to mock it. It has basically no story. I've seen it twice (just to make sure) and I can't remember any song in it with the exception of "Time Warp", which I knew before I saw it the first time. Basically it seems the only reason it exists is to serve as a hit piece on heterosexuality and monogamy, but judging by your signature, you don't have a problem with that.

Repo has a much better story (although I'm sure the uncut version would make the difference even greater). The music is infinitely better in my estimation ; admittedly, I much prefer industrial-goth to dinosaur rock. And Repo actually has a statement to make ; that our society's reliance on plastic surgery is getting to dangerous levels.

Personally, I think RHPS fans feel threatened by Repo ; if more people without a dog in the fight compare the two, they'll see RHPS has very little to speak for it.

[–] RHPSvegas 12 years ago

Doubtful. Highly doubtful. RHPS has a much stronger message than Repo ever will: don't dream it, be it. Be yourself and stop letting others dictate your life. The songs from Rocky are played every Halloween on every radio station - that's never going to happen with Repo. The likability isn't there. There's nothing to feel threatened by; the whole thing is a faux pas that's masquerading (and poorly, I might add) as a 'cult' film. Cult films are not just made, that title has to be earned and the film allowed to legitimately find its audience; the film-makers didn't seem to want to wait, so they just went around saying it was one. Then they forcibly attempted to copy Rocky Horror-style late-night showings with pseudo audience participation. The whole thing is so contrite; so fake. The music is like bad nursery rhymes as rewritten by pre-teens throwing in potty jokes. As if Repo wasn't bad enough, they attempted it again (and even more poorly) with The Devil's Carnival, which failed miserably and isn't even getting a real home release other than a "limited" pressing, and we all know what that means.

Go up to any random person on the street and ask them if they know Rocky Horror or Repo. Rocky Horror: of course! I love that movie! Repo: huh? WTF is that?

A hit piece on heterosexuality? Not quite. Look at the time period it was written for: the 70s was a time of sexual revolution, both gay and straight, so that argument is laughable at best.

Rocky Horror is timeless. The likability factor is much higher than Repo. It's not dark and self-serving. There's always a production of the play going on, and the movie's been going strong since it's rerelease in 1976. Repo's never going to be in the national film registry. The stage version is never going to Broadway. Sorry, but Repo will never top Rocky Horror, no matter anyone's personal feelings.

AN UPDATE: as of last night, 9/24/12, the Tropicana Hotel/Casino here in Las Vegas hosted the national touring cast of Wicked doing a live staged concert production of The Rocky Horror Show. Yes, I was in attendance. The concert was held for AIDS research. The place sold out (at least 1000 seats) and the concert raised over $81,000. Repo will NEVER pull off something like that.

Ignore Republicans; then you rob them of their lies having any influence. http://foxnewslies.net/

[–] reaseltbim 11 years ago

Go up to any random person on the street and ask them if they know Rocky Horror or Repo. Rocky Horror: of course! I love that movie! Repo: huh? WTF is that?

well captain Obvious, Rocky Horror is 40 years old. OBVIOUSLY people are going to know it.
Repo is 5 years old... I mean I Love both and both have their strengths and weaknesses. BOTH have strengths and weaknesses but I love both.

you are obviously Bias, You cannot see it from a middle ground, No matter what you will hate Repo, that's just a fact.

The irony here is that you sound EXACTLY like those critics that hated Rocky Horror when it first came out...
you sound JUST like those people that first hated Rocky Horror for not making sense and for being stupid. all the negative stuff you are saying about Repo, other people said about Rocky years ago.

I will not say Repo is as powerful and as memorable as Rocky. I am a fan of both but I like Rocky more. I enjoy Rocky's songs more and I like the acting on Rocky Horror more.

I just find it ironic that you being a Rocky Horror fan would come to this movie's page to bash it and to be negative when Rocky Horror has had to deal with the exact thing from haters...

One ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.

[–] KricketSC80 9 years ago

Cult films are not just made, that title has to be earned and the film allowed to legitimately find its audience; the film-makers didn't seem to want to wait, so they just went around saying it was one. Then they forcibly attempted to copy Rocky Horror-style late-night showings with pseudo audience participation.

I'm going to call false on that allegation right there! Repo! aka The Necromacer's Debt was written 1999 and was a stage show for 2 yrs. Then it turned into Repo! The Genetic Opera in 2002 having 3 SUCCESSFUL Off-Broadway runs It already had a cult following by the time the film was made in early 2007. It wasn't forcing attempted light night showings, it was doing stage plays before the movie was even made to become a cult classic. It had a cult following before the movie was made.

If I remember correctly RHPS was also a off-Broadway show before it became a movie and then a cult classic. It didn't hit cult classic UNTIL after the movie, where Repo! had already had a good size following before it was made into a film.

Also I'm a fan of both movies...I discovered RHPS in 1989 and discovered Repo! back in 2003 when I saw it off-Broadway.

People are stupid with random moments of brillance!

[–] itsbadash 11 years ago

You hit the nail on the head. I remember when Repo first came out all the marketing to the RHPS fans, calling themselves the next Rocky Horror, the next big cult classic, etc. You can't create a cult classic just by saying it is so, it happens naturally, over time. It made some RHPS fans indignant, and understandably so. I blame Darren Bousman ;)

Now, I personally DO love both movies but IMO Rocky Horror is absolutely superior.

[–] I_heart_toughguys 12 years ago

They are both very good, imo. I don't understand the need to compare the two. They both should both be appreciated for what they are.

SHOCK ME, SHOCK ME, SHOCK ME, with that deviant behavior!

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] fuego09 11 years ago

That's funny, because I am IN a Rocky Horror Shadowcast in NJ and I LOVE Repo! I don't understand people who make the connection between the two as they are nothing alike. I went to my first live showing of Rocky Horror in 2009, and also saw Repo! for the first time in 2009. (Not in a shadowcast, but on dvd). I love them both. I don't however, think that Repo! will ever have the cult following or success of Rocky Horror when it comes to shadowcasting. But seriously...if you can't see them as two completely different things, then I don't know what to say. why compare films that are so different from each other? lol
~
Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living. And above all, pity those who live without love.

[–] ultimatemoviefan-1 11 years ago

because rocky did it RIGHT!! This low-budget crap-fest isn't fir to wipe Rocky's ASS!! You nailed it, if your a true Rocky fan you have simply GOT to hate this garbage!

[–] fuego09 11 years ago

First of all, please use proper grammar. Second, who are you to dictate what "true Rocky fans" should like and not like? I feel sorry for you if you can't look at two completely different films as two separate things. Nobody is saying that you have to like Repo. In fact, if you don't like it, I don't know why you bother wasting your time on a message board for it. But don't try to give Rocky Horror fans (or shadowcasters) a bad name just because YOU dislike Repo that much. It reminds me of 2nd grade where some of my friends would tell me I had to choose between N*Sync and The Backstreet Boys, because I "wasn't allowed" to like both of them. LMAO XD

~
Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living. And above all, pity those who live without love.

[–] Morbius_Fitzgerald 10 years ago

I actually really enjoyed both movies. They aren't similar in any way except they're cult musicals.

"I have always valued my lifelessness."

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] kelso102970-1 10 years ago

I happen not to be one of them.