Opus

In the 1998 psychological thriller Opus, a young writer, Francesca, (played by Susan Haskell) receives an unexpected invitation from the enigmatic Alexander Owens (played by John Ashton), a once-renowned pop star, to visit his secluded compound in the desert. Owens, or A.J. as he's affectionately known, had seemingly vanished without a word thirty years ago, leaving behind a devoted fan base and a trail of unanswered questions. The invitation sparks Francesca's curiosity as well as a hint of skepticism. As she arrives at the remote compound, she's greeted by Owens' crew of zealous fans and a handful of reporters who are also being granted access to the elusive celebrity. The welcoming committee is eerily entwined, with Owens clearly maintaining a vice-like grip over everyone involved. Upon her arrival, Francesca discovers that Owens has an unapologetic obsession with art. Every element of the compound, from the opulent arrangements of his trophy case to the meticulously designed "musical instrument" installations, appears to be an attempt to push the boundaries of artistic expression. Yet beneath this moniker of creativity lies a warped fascination with control and manipulation, as evident in Owens' complex hierarchy of sycophants and reporters. Francesca begins to piece together the life story of Owens, only to find inconsistencies in every aspect of his narrative. Rumors swirl about his past, veiled allusions to gruesome setbacks, and allegations of a meteoric rise to stardom followed by a catastrophic fall. As she becomes immersed in the tight network of Owens' followers, Francesca starts to raise her own questions about the true intentions of A.J. Delving deeper into the isolated setting, Francesca discovers the grotesque levels of psychological manipulation he applies to his devoted followers, employing various strategies such as rewriting history to glorify himself, enforcing insidious control over his entourage, and, in some cases, emotionally exploiting his cult-like followers for sustenance. By constantly maneuvering attention to shift the interpretation of truth, Owens successfully creates a façade around himself – while the reality inches closer to grotesque social disillusionment. The more Francesca understands Owens' self-serving charade, the more uneasy she becomes with her own involvement in the complex web of lies surrounding him. Constantly entangled between the necessity to earn her creative momentum while recognizing her unfortuitous decision-making, she begins questioning her purpose in this troubled game. As she tries finding a means to free herself, Owens' grip tightens, which she ultimately learns not to underestimate his calculated actions, skillfully drawing his acquaintances deeper into his clutches. Meanwhile, a mysterious journal collection begins to surface within the compound, revealing snatches of Francesca's and Owens' life in parallel. The cryptic prose within the journals, intricately interwoven, masterminds the growing tension. They simultaneously portray Francesca's and Owens' unyielding identities – not a diverging duality, but intertwined mirror images whose contrasting themes weave together a distinct dynamic. Amid an enigmatic maze, disintegrated ideas bloom, creating an unwieldy emotional link between the novelist and the once-pop star. Tense exchanges between the novelist and A.J occur as Owens continues meticulously exploiting his fragile followers, sowing discord, rewriting the very fabric of truth, all by inventing tragic encounters while unapologetically orchestrating these fantasies according to the artist's self-image. As Francesca grapples with an ominous threat of losing control, caught between capturing the twisted whimsy within her novel and accepting the sinister darkness behind his mystique, she faces an eerie moral examination that repositions conventional thinking – inquiring, whether to stand firm with compassion or retreat, abandoning her voice and slipping away from the conflict-ridden yet unspoken symbiosis she, herself, is part of. When A.J eventually orchestrates a bold spectacle within the isolated desert setting, purposefully orchestrating the world's prying eyes – he finally disbands his tangled fiasco to reclaim total control. With Francesca suspended on the precipice of disintegration, she embarks upon an uncompromising mission to extricate herself from Alexander Owens' sinister agenda, unshackling her voice as she conveys her newly discovered awareness which forever reframes her perspective on the enigmatic lives intertwined within Owens' world.