Whenever I saw an ad for this film leading up to its release, I could not help but think of Repo! The Genetic Opera, a stage play that was turned into a film in 2008 by director Darren Bousman (Saw II, II, IV). The basic plots contain some similarities. The biggest commonality is the fact that people can get replacement organs for a lot of money and if they do not pay, the parts are taken back the hard way. Other than that, the films go in different directions. Also, neither one ripped off the other; the two projects were developed independently of each other. Which one is better? I don't know, they both do different things. If I had to answer, I would say that while I enjoyed Repo Men I would surely find myself more often reaching for The Genetic Opera for multiple views.
Repo Men, based on the novel The Repossession Mambo by co-screenwriter Eric Garcia (who wrote the screenplay with Garrett Lerner), is a fun B-movie. It does not aspire to greatness; instead it seems to hide a satirical look at the medical system and the free business model under the guise of a bloody action film centering on a character forced to rebel against said system. That was quite the mouthful, wasn't it? How much it actually says about modern society, I am not sure. Suffice to say parallels can be drawn if one is so inclined. I was more interested in the universe itself and how the story plays itself out.
Remy (Jude Law) is a Union man. This means he works for the company that supplies artificial organs to those who need them, Hearts, livers, lungs, eyes — you name it, they make it. Due to the high cost of said parts, those in need sign financing agreements to pay for the work. When they fail to make their payments, Union men are sent in to reclaim the organ, much like having your car repossessed when you miss too many payments. The difference here is that often the repossession leaves the customer on a slab. Remy is very good at what he does. He gets in, gets the part, and gets out.
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