Mark Anthony Green's "Opus" aims high as a satirical horror-thriller, though the result is inconsistent and struggles to manage its scope. The story focuses on Ariel (Ayo Edebiri), a young reporter who receives an invitation to a remote desert location—the home of a celebrated pop star (John Malkovich) who had disappeared from public view. The film tries to tackle subjects like the worship of celebrities, journalistic responsibility, and the nature of fame itself. Sadly, despite its grand intentions, it doesn't fully realize what it sets out to do. The acting is strong, and the performers’ efforts prevent the movie from completely falling apart. Edebiri is appealingly genuine (and often amusing) as a novice writer finding herself in a strange and disturbing situation, while Malkovich—a great choice for the part—embraces his mysterious and controlling character. Their interactions have real promise, which makes it even more disappointing that the other players—a group of fawning admirers and drunken reporters—are eliminated one by one, despite Ariel’s growing feeling that something is wrong. There are moments where the satire is pointed and inventive, particularly in the over-the-top musical sequences using synthesizers to highlight the ridiculousness of celebrity culture. The elaborate gatherings, meals, and events are enjoyable until they aren't. The eventual discomfort of a significant reveal and subsequent violence provides a mix of shock and laughter, and most of the film’s more extreme instances at least feel justified. However, despite some successes, the movie has trouble defining itself. It seems to want to be a sharp commentary on pop culture obsession, a suspenseful psychological story, and an unsettling horror film, but it doesn't successfully achieve any of these goals. Green introduces interesting concepts that aren’t explored in depth. The suspense never builds effectively, and the conclusion feels rushed and anticlimactic rather than a satisfying resolution. Ultimately, "Opus" isn’t as insightful as it believes itself to be (or as much as it clearly wants to be). It hints at moments of brilliance but ends up being just passable.

Source on TMDB