Opus: Ayo Edebiri Takes Lead for A24 Estranged Cult Horror
Writer-director Mark Anthony Green dropped a teaser for his latest pop thriller, Opus. This new A24 film features an interesting twist to cult horror. With Ayo Edebiri playing her first-ever lead movie role, she’s invited to a seemingly outlandish critic gathering. Until she discovers the strange behavior of once-missing celebrity Alfred Moretti and his followers, who are attempting to escape their deception.
The Trailer Summary
After being missing for 30 years, legendary pop star Alfred Moretti returns to invite critics to an exclusive listening experience. Junior magazine writer Ariel Ekton became one of the lucky few. Joining her is Stan Sullivan, a music station host, and Clara, who he described as “the most hated sex symbol on TV.” When they arrived at his Greenwich estate, they saw Moretti’s followers wearing navy blue outfits and gold necklaces.
Ariel and the celebrities then meet Moretti during a musical dinner show. Curious, she asks him while he relaxes by the pool, “What is it that you guys do?” We watch through various transitions of the guests getting chased, drunk, and performing alongside the forgotten pop star. The final scene shows Moretti in his oriental red robe laughing at a bruised Stan. He exclaims tirelessly, “What the f*** is this?”
Opus’ Wordplay
You may have heard the word ‘opus’ in the Latin phrase, “Magnum Opus.” It’s mostly used when a critic describes someone’s creation as their best work. When you have opus by itself, it translates to “work.” In the trailer, Moretti was introduced and was to perform “the greatest album of modern times.” According to Stan’s letter in the trailer, the album’s name is Caesar’s Request. So why would he present his album privately in Greenwich instead of a concert?
Opus’s title is very clever in its wordplay, which gives us a sense of Moretti’s mindset. Caesar’s Request could be a work in progress. By performing comfortably at his estate, he does not fear anyone who may dislike his creations. Unfortunately for Ariel, she’s targeted for keeping notes on Moretti’s behavior. Throughout the trailer, she is actively writing about what and who she sees. For Moretti, she notices how he interacts with others and wonders if he’s naturally aging. At the same time, it’s her job to gather information for her next magazine coverage.
The Cast of Opus
Ayo Edebiri takes the lead role of Ariel Ekton. The trailer shows her capabilities in a thriller captivating to watch through her characters’ reactions. Edebiri is mainly known for her determined personality on The Bear as Sydney Adamu. Most of her acting career consisted of voice acting in comedies such as Big Mouth and Clone High (2023).
Playing Alfred Moretti is Hollywood legend John Malkovich. Surprisingly, this is not the first time he has played as a charismatic group leader. One of his most memorable roles is Sir John Brannox from the limited series, The New Pope. He was a saint who enjoyed expressing himself rather than following the traditions of the Catholic Church.
As for the rest of the main cast, we have:
- Murray Bartlett as Stan Sullivan
- Juliette Lewis as Clara
- Stephanie Suganami as Emily
- Young Mazino as Kent
- Tony Hale (To be announced)
- Amber Midthunder as Belle
- Tatanka Means as Najee
What to Expect
Opus shows potential for an artistic, one-of-a-kind pop thriller. At first glance, it feels as if Moretti is influenced by a spiritual being. Instead, we have someone who has detached themselves from the music world for 30 years. Stan’s letter stated that the listening experience will be on Oct. 10th, 2024. That means he stopped performing around 1994. By keeping opus’ meaning in mind, he isolated himself to work on Caesar’s Request.
Despite being away from the world, Moretti gained followers in Greenwich. The trailer offers enough context clues to keep the audience wanting more. No one knows why his followers wear blue clothing and gold necklaces. Guests also have to obey the estate’s rules like shaving the nether regions. Opus is set to be released this spring on March 14th.
We’ll sign off with a nice bonus that A24 slipped in. In the trailer’s dinner scene, Ariel is served a blue lobster. Back in 2015, they released their psychological comedy The Lobster; a film featuring a man invited to find a partner or be reincarnated into an animal.
