Hail or Testify?

   A lesser-known sub-genre of the musical is the horror musical.  This is a movie or play that contains elements of both a horror movie and a musical.  IE, the ax murderer sings about ax murdering.  Better known examples include Sweeney Todd and Rocky Horror Picture Show (a comedy-horror-musical).  Two beautiful modern examples are brought to you by the twisted minds of Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrance Zdunich.

Everybody! Everybody!

Get down, get down now

S-s-s-stand up, don't be shy!

People, people, people

Get up, get up, get up,

Everybody! Everybody! Testify!

   First, Repo! The Genetic Opera.  In the not-so-distant future (within twenty or thirty years from today, my monsterlings) a plague of organ failures strikes the population.  Geneco, a massive corporation run by the vicious Rotti Largo (Paul Sorvino) manages to mass produce synthetic organs and saves the day.  Unfortunately, Geneco holds the monopoly on organs and they're pretty pricey.  Not to worry, Geneco offers financing!.  But watch out if you miss a payment or the Repo Man will come and take back your spine, lungs, or eyes.
   The story revolves around Nathan and Shilo Wallace, a single father and his sickly daughter.  Weaving his way in and out of the narrative is the omnipresent, omniscient grave robber, portrayed by screenwriter, Terrance Zdunich, whose voice gives me somewhat of a lady-boner.
  The premise is incredibly original.  Two years later it would be butchered by the lackluster Repo Men, an unapologetic rip off.  The casting is phenomenal.  I can't say enough good things about Giles-- er, I mean Anthony Stewart Head.  Paris Hilton proves herself to be a veritable chameleon, portraying a self-entitled heiress who fancies herself a singer.
    Sadly, the soundtrack leaves a little something to be desired, and not just because of Hilton.  Anthony Stewart Head and Terrance Zdunich certainly hold their own, but Alexa Vega as Shilo just doesn't have the pipes to pull off the punk princess inspired "Seventeen."  Sarah Brightman, professional opera singer and the hottest fifty-three-year-old I've ever seen, is not given nearly enough screen time as the star of Geneco's genetic opera.
   Darkly funny, strangely beautiful, I'll give Repo! The Genetic Opera four out of five little glass vials.

   

Cast out for your sin

Come here for redemption

We’ve got grace for cheap

We’ve got grace for cheap.

   Four years later Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrance Zdunich teamed up again to bring us The Devil's Carnival.  Three lost souls enter hell and are serenaded and tortured in rapid succession as they face trials based off of three of Aesop's Fables: The Dog and Her Reflection, The Scorpion and the Frog, and Grief and Her Due.  Featuring Ivan Moody, lead singer of Five Finger Death Punch, Emilie Autumn, and Shawn Crahan, founder of Slipknot (Who actually never speaks throughout the movie, let alone sings.  Sorry, Maggots.).  Alexa Vega shows up again as the leader of a gang of slutty clowns.  Once again, Paul Sorvino plays God, this time more literally.  And the devil?  Terrance Zdunich.
   This movie is beautiful.  The sets.  The costumes.  The makeup.  Visually, this is exactly what I would imagine a carnival in hell to look like, enchanting, dark and poisonous.  
   But the plot and the sets don't matter.  What matters here is the soundtrack.  Seriously, you could be blind and this movie would still be worth a watch (or a listen?).  Ah-mazing.  Ivan Moody's character, Hobo Clown, tells the tale of the Dog and Her Reflection, alternately preaching against the sin of greed as he begs for pennies for his song.  Terrance Zdunich once again presents his amazing voice and range, from the sad, slow "Grief" to the growling of "Grace for Sale."
   The first of three planned installments, I am excited beyond containment for the second and third.  The Devil's Carnival gets four out of five shiny red pennies.