Reel Review Mom

Let me start with this: Opus blew me away. Not just as a film—though it’s a wild, captivating, slightly unnerving ride—but as a musical experience. You know those movies where the soundtrack is so good you immediately start Googling “Opus soundtrack download” before the credits even finish rolling? Yeah. That was me. And in my case, it went a step further—I actually made one of the songs, Dina Simone, my ringtone. For a few weeks, every time anyone called me, John Malkovich’s voice came crooning through my pocket like some eccentric opera ghost. And you know what? I loved it!

Yes, you read that right: John Malkovich can sing. I had absolutely no idea, and I’m willing to bet you didn’t either. He doesn’t just sing, he performs. He’s sexy.  He embodies these songs in a way that makes you forget you’re watching an actor best known for his strange, cerebral characters. Instead, you’re watching someone who seems to have been born to deliver this kind of music. His voice has this quirky, commanding quality—half haunting, half soothing—that somehow works perfectly with the surreal tone of Opus.

And that brings me to the film itself. Opus isn’t just a feast for the ears—it’s a full-on cinematic buffet. The storyline is rich, layered, and deeply unsettling in the best possible way. Without spoiling anything, I’ll just say that if you’ve seen Midsommar, you’ll feel a faint sense of déjà vu here. Not in a “this is a copycat” way, but more in a “whoa, this gives me the same uneasy, ritualistic vibes” kind of way. I don’t want to say more, because part of the magic of Opus is going in with minimal expectations and letting it mess with your brain all on its own.

Here’s the thing: so many movies lately slap on a soundtrack like an afterthought. You can almost hear the Spotify shuffle button working in the background. But Opus does it differently. The music isn’t just background noise—it’s woven into the DNA of the film. The songs feel necessary. They carry emotional weight, they guide the story, and they leave you humming long after you’ve closed HBO Max.

And speaking of HBO Max—yes, that’s where you can stream it. No excuses. You don’t even have to leave your couch. You can throw it on for “just a quick peek” (which is what I told myself), and three hours later you’ll still be sitting there, probably a little unnerved, definitely impressed, and most likely searching for the soundtrack.

So here’s my official recommendation: Watch Opus. Watch it for the acting. Watch it for the story. Watch it for the slightly cult-y, Midsommar-ish energy. But most of all, watch it for the music. Because when a film can sneak into your head, your heart, and your ringtone playlist, that’s when you know it’s something special.