2025 has been a great year for thrillers andhorror filmsthus far, and one hidden gem keeps the audience guessing until the very last frame. The genre is notable for its ups and downs, but the 2020s have generally been considered a high point for horror movies.
The so-called elevated horror of filmmakers like Ari Aster and Robert Eggers has given rise to smarter films in general, though classic chills can still be found. On top of that,horror remains a profitable venture, with some of the biggest sleeper hits of the 2020s coming from the genre. Movies likeLonglegsoutpaced big-budget blockbusters in theaters.
However, because there are so many horror and thriller movies being released each year, plenty of great films slip by without notice. Whether they bombed in theaters or were simply buried beneath a mountain of content on a streaming service, hidden gems abound. 2025 has already produced a notable diamond in the rough, and it’s legitimately shocking.
Opus Is A Movie Where Nothing Goes The Way You’d Expect
Image via A24
Puzzling mystery movies can often be divisive with critics and audiences, andOpuscertainly had its fair share of detractors. Though it scored a measly 39% onRotten Tomatoes, the macabre and humorous thriller is worth watching. The movie concerns a journalist who is invited to a pop star’s compound, only to discover a bevy of cultish secrets.
Ayo Edebiri gives a wonderful performanceas the lead, and John Malkovich delivers yet another top-notch turn as the creepy pop star. Though the movie has the veneer of the “elevated horror” of A24,Opusis more akin to the old-school horror flicks of days gone by. It’s a bit over-the-top and trashy, but that’s what’s so fun about it.
Opusis not a perfect movie, but its biggest strength is its shock value. It seems familiar, but the film cleverly subverts expectations for maximum surprise. It’s a brisk film, compared to the overlong movies of recent years, which keeps things moving.Its biggest sin is looking like an arthouse film, but delivering grindhouse terror.
The Cast Of Opus Is One Of The Best Of 2025
Shocking twists and dark comedy aside,Opus' biggest strength is its all-star cast. Besides Edebiri and Malkovich, the film is jam-packed with notable names, including legends like Juliette Lewis, and newcomers like Amber Midthunder. On top of that,Opushas surprising celebrity cameos, befitting a movie about a reclusive pop star.
According toBox Office Mojo,Opusonly earned around $2 million at the box office despite opening to nearly 2,000 theaters.
A24 is known for assembling great casts, andOpusis ostensibly carried by its ensemble. Many of thehorror movie’s faults would have been even worse with a less-than-stellar cast, and steady hands at the wheel keeps the absurd film on the rails. It may have been an unprecedented box office bomb, but not because it’s a bad movie.
