On Friday a magnificent motion picture opens up and we are one of a small number of cities chosen to screen it. REPO! A Genetic Opera is the result of the hard work and dark vision of a great number of respected artists. Allow me the chance to list some of those involved:

Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas, Romeo + Juliet, Nixon, etc.)
Alexa Vega (Spy Kids)
Anthony Stewart Head (Giles – Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Bill Moseley (The Devil’s Rejects)
OhGr (Skinny Puppy)
Sarah Brightman (Andrew Lloyd Webber’s muse and ex-wife)
Paris Hilton (?!?! [actually works in this though])

There is even a cameo by Joan Jett!

The music includes contributions from Richard Patrick (Filter), Steven Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), Shawn “Clown” Crahan (Slipknot), Ray Luzier (Army of Anyone), Brian Young (David Lee Roth’s band), Richard Fortus (Guns n’ Roses), Sonny Moore (First to Last), David J and Daniel Ash (Bauhaus/Love and Rockets), Blasko (Ozzy Osborne, White Zombie), Tommy Clefetus (Rob Zombie’s band), Melora Creager (Rasputina) and Poe.

Based on that list alone how can you miss this?

The story is set in a not-so-distant future, in which a worldwide epidemic of organ failures has devastated the planet while a biotech company known as GeneCo offers organ transplants for a price. Those who miss their payments to the company are consequently scheduled for repossession of their organs by the “Repo Man.”

This is stunningly ( and gorily) shot by Director Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, III and IV) with glorious musical passages marked by superb writing and stunning performances. The Soundtrack is one-of-a-kind amazing. It’s going to be one of the most memorable pictures this year and is without a doubt destined to be a Cult Classic. You can’t miss this.

As fantastic as it looks the piece was shot with a very small budget. The studio (Lionsgate) isn’t willing to put a dime into advertising for the picture believing that a film with this subject matter has no marketable value and will generate a loss. We can prove the studio wrong. Based on the the revenue this movie generates over the weekend the studio may decide to launch a full advertising campaign based on this movie and may even greenlight similar projects. Your dollar spent is your vote. You really shouldn’t miss this movie as it is a great opportunity to tell the studios that we’re tired of the same big budget dreck and are looking for something unique with depth and talent. And the fact that it’s hopelessly dark with a grinding Industrial/Operatic score is a huge plus as well.

Look, even if for some reason you already have something going on this Friday we really need you to spread the word on this picture. I know fuck-all about what it takes to “go viral” but if ever anything called for such action this is it. Ideally we need people turned away at the door, as cruel as that sounds. Showtimes on Friday are 2:40, 5:00, 7:30, 9:55. And before you say, “Hey, I just checked the Lagoon website and it’s playing all week!” A.) That’s tentative and, B.) the studio is primarily paying attention to the unadvertised opening weekend. Even if you can’t make it until Saturday or Sunday it’s cool, we would just like to post some big numbers. The Lagoon is located at 1320 Lagoon Avenue, Minneapolis. (612) 825-6006. Validated parking is available next to the theatre. Metered street parking is also available on nearby neighborhood streets.

See you there.