Christmas has come and gone, New Year’s Eve is soon upon us. With that in mind, I’m going to take an extremely sharp turn from feel-good, family friendly movies to a Goth Rock Opera movie in this week’s Throwback Thursday. (Feels like it’s been awhile since I’ve drastically shifted genres after all.)

“Repo! The Genetic Opera” was released in 2008 and directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. The movie was based off a 2002 musical, “The Necromerchant’s Debt” that was written and composed by Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich.

Zdunich actually stars as the narrator — Grave-Robber — alongside a cast of some-what familiar and completely new faces (at least for me). My roommate, who first had me watch this movie when we were in high school, recently pointed out to me that one of the main characters is from the “Spy Kids” movies from my childhood. Still not over the shock of realizing that either.

Repo! takes place in a future that was devastated by an epidemic of organ failures. The darkside of capitalism prevailed and megacorporation GeneCo began to provide organ transplants… for a price.

What happens if you miss a payment? Well, GeneCo’s CEO Rotti Largo (Paul Sorvino) will send his Repo Man to forcibly take back the companies property. The identity of this mysterious, and violent, surgeon is kept pretty well under wraps, something only Rotti knows.

The musical centers pretty much around Shilo Wallace — Alexa Vega from the “Spy Kids” franchise. Shilo is a 17-year-old who is confined to her room due to a blood disease she inherited from her mother, Marni. At least… that’s what her father Nathan (Anthony Head) tells her. Nathan, a doctor who is still gutted by the loss of his wife nearly 20 years prior, has secluded Shilo and himself from the world in their mansion.

Throughout the musical, Shilo steadily becomes more defiant. Especially when Rotti comes to call, with his eyes set on making her the next CEO of Geneco.

You see, Rotti’s success can’t prevent him from death. After finding out he’s terminally ill he has decisions to make. His daughter Amber Sweet (Paris Hilton) is a singer, addicted to surgery and the drug Zydrate; his oldest son Luigi (Bill Moseley) is a homicidal maniac with anger issues; and his youngest Pavi (Nivek Ogre) is an absolute freak who enjoys stealing and wearing people’s faces. (They’re probably considered the Kardashians of their time).

So, Rotti sets out to make Shilo his unwitting heir — all while getting revenge on Nathan for past slights.

Everything comes to a head during Magdalene “Blind Mag” Defoe’s (Sarah Brightman) final performance.. at the opera! The formerly blind woman, a friend of Marni’s, was given enhanced vision by Geneco in exchange for becoming their spokesperson. However, her final performance means the loss of her eyes by the Repo Man.

How will this end? Will Shilo choose to take on this role as an organ peddler in a post apocolyptic society? Will she push away her father and his lies? And who is the Repo Man?

All these questions and more are answered in Repo!’s final act. Along with some blood and gore — because it isn’t a true opera without, right?

“Repo! The Genetic Opera” is truly a wild ride from start to finish. The storyline can be a little confusing, but with addictive (almost like Zydrate) musical numbers, an intriguing way to offer backstory and pretty good actors it’s the perfect mixture for a cult classic.

The movie has managed to rank itself with other films in this genre such as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” There’s something about an almost alien, strange storyline that can scratch a specific itch in your brain… or at least in my case.

Not only is the movie itself intriguing, but the way Bousman and Zdunich promoted it was unique. The pair, along with Smith and multiple cast members did a “Repo! Road Tour” featuring one-night screenings in seven US cities. Following the movie, case members did extensive Q&A sessions too. Ticket sales were strong enough that a second and third tour was added and a British tour in four locations.

Overall, the movie didn’t do super hot, even with its cult following. I think if the musical aspect was removed and it was solely a horror movie it may have gotten a few more viewers. However, Bousman and Zdunich chose to do something extremely unique and memorable, and I can’t knock them for that at all.

If you’re interested in take a walk on the dark and twisted side (but still want some catchy tunes!) consider giving “Repo! The Genetic Opera” a try. It certainly isn’t for everyone, but it’s definitely memorable at the least.

“Repo! The Genetic Opera” is rated R for blood, gore, violence and some sexual situations and may be watched on Pluto TV, Vudu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV and Tubi.

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Laura Jameson is Managing Editor of The Express.