Let’s talk O’Dessa—the new rock opera from Geremy Jasper that dropped on Hulu after its SXSW premiere. I went in curious. I came out confused…but entertained? Kinda. Let me explain.
O’Dessa is what happens when a post-apocalyptic love story, a musical, and a surreal fever dream all walk into a bar—and decide to stay a little too long. It follows Sadie Sink as O’Dessa, a girl from a barren, lifeless farm on a mission to retrieve her family heirloom. That journey leads her to Satylite City, a wild, dystopian metropolis ruled by a sinister entertainment mogul named Plutonovich (played by The White Lotus’ Murray Bartlett, who looks like he’s having the time of his life). Along the way, O’Dessa falls for a blue-haired rebel, Euri Dervish (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), and music becomes the force that may or may not save his soul.
That’s the setup. But whew, it’s a lot.
Here’s the thing: the visuals are wild and kinda hypnotic. There’s color, chaos, and costumes that look straight out of an intergalactic drag show. There’s a world where people are almost zombified—hooked on a never-ending show run by Plutonovich, like they’re under a spell. And even though the film never says it out loud, it’s clearly a mirror to our current reality. Folks glued to screens, following every word from podcasters, influencers, political figures—take your pick. It felt like a metaphor for the way we obsess over personalities and entertainment while the world, quite literally, burns around us.
So yes, there’s depth there. The message is timely. But does the story hold your attention the whole way through? Not really.
If I’m being honest, the love story didn’t grab me. Sink and Harrison Jr. are both talented, but their characters didn’t feel developed enough to make me care deeply about their connection. The plot rushes through emotional beats without letting them breathe, and most of the time, I felt like I was watching a series of symbolic music videos strung together by vibes.
Now let’s get to the real reason to watch: Regina Hall.
Baby, Regina Hall as Neon Dion is a whole event. From the minute she steps on screen with that slick bowl-cut-meets-party-in-the-back, no-eyebrow, face-painted look, she steals the show. She’s giving sinister, camp, charisma, and full commitment. Every facial expression, every line—she chewed it up. You could tell she was having fun, and that energy was contagious.
Honestly, I wish the movie had leaned more into her character. She and Murray Bartlett brought a level of fun and twisted flair that made me perk up every time they were on screen. They were the unexpected lifeline in an otherwise meandering plot.
Also, the music? There’s a lot of it. So if you love musicals—especially the ones that swing between indie rock and theatrical ballads—this might be your vibe. There are 16 original songs, and while a few hit, some feel like filler. It reminded me a bit of Cry-Baby in spirit—not necessarily in tone, but in that offbeat, stylized musical way that makes you go, “Wait, what am I watching?”
Is O’Dessa for everybody? Absolutely not. It’s not an easy watch. It doesn’t hand you answers. And it definitely expects you to draw your own conclusions, which can be both frustrating and kind of intriguing, depending on your mood. For me, it felt more like an artistic statement than a fully satisfying story.
So, would I recommend it? Ehhhhh. Not if you’re looking for something emotionally grounded or narratively tight. But if you’re in the mood for something different, if you love experimental cinema, and especially if you want to see Regina Hall in a villain era? It might be worth a look—just know what you’re getting into.
Bottom line: the movie is a no, but Regina Hall is a HELL YES. She walked away with the whole film in her pocket, and honestly, that’s enough reason to give it a one-time watch.
So tell me—have y’all seen O’Dessa? Am I trippin’, or did you get sucked into that trance too? Let’s talk in the comments.