Opus is an allegory. The dictionary defines allegory as “a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.” That’s the closest I can come to interpreting what is happening in this muddled movie.

Opus stars Ayo Edebiri as Ariel Ecton, an ambitious young journalist who wants to do celebrity interviews because people love celebrities and that would help her get her name known. She works at a music magazine run by Stan (Murray Bartlett).

The whole staff of the magazine is buzzing about the announcement that famous singer Alfred Moretti (John Malkovich) will release a new album after 30 years in seclusion.

Stan gets invited to a private interview and album listen at Moretti’s remote compound. But so does unknown Ariel. That’s odd. Stan tells her to take notes for him and he’ll write the story when they get back. Patriarchy much, Stan?

Stan, Ariel and a few others are taken by plane and bus to Moretti’s compound. Also invited were long-time photographer (Melissa Chambers), a rival singer from the past (Mark Sivertsen), a TV personality (Juliette Lewis), and an influencer from the internet (Stephanie Suganami). All of them except Ariel were gaga over Moretti and thought he was a god.

Then things got weird.

A greeter (Tatanka Means) made them surrender their phones and laptops. Each guest was assigned a “concierge” who followed them everywhere. Ariel’s concierge was played by Amber Midthunder. They were under video surveillance in their rooms. Dinner was bizarre and strange things were done to them. Everyone seemed to be loving it, but Ariel found it terrifying.

The people living in the compound appeared to be in a cult. Everyone did exactly what Moretti wanted in exactly the same way. Moretti singled out Ariel and told her some things about his belief system. He thought people like himself were better than others. He was training an army of followers to do his bidding. People who disagreed with him disappeared. Disloyalty was punished.

By the end of the movie it wasn’t clear whether Ariel was the only sane one who saw through Moretti and his grandiose schemes or if she was manipulated by him along with everyone else.

The message wasn’t precise. It’s a wobbly warning about wannabe dictators and right-wing types who think they are meant to rule the world. Or maybe it’s about falling for the hype no matter how independent you think you are.

This has nothing to do with the message, but I did like seeing Native American names among the people in front of and behind the camera. The film was set in Utah but shot in New Mexico. I thought Juliette Lewis was horribly underused. John Malkovich was perfect as the music icon turned cult leader. He did his own singing, by the way. Ayo Edebiri as the one clear thinking member of the cast did a great job.

Overall it was spoofy and ridiculous in nature and didn’t quite reach the gold. It’s streaming on HBO Max.