WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Opus.A24’s musical horror film Opus presents a dark but unique tale about celebrities and the cults of personality they create. 2025’s Opus follows a group of people invited to a legendary singer’s recluse community of fans to hear his comeback album, only to learn some frightening truths about their beloved host and his fans. The film hits close to home with its depiction of Alfred Moretti and his religious cult of “Levelists,” making it seem like Opus, which is getting mixed to negative reviews, is based on a true story.

As one watches A24’s Opus, it is easy to spot similarities between Moretti and some of history’s worst cult leaders. Through these real-world connections, the film sends a warning about the dangers of worshiping celebrities and giving them too much influence. While multiple stories have dealt with religious cults, the way Opus, straight through to its ending, explores them alongside the media and the entertainment industry makes it a distinctive horror movie.

Opus Is Not Directly Based On A True Cult Story

Opus Is A Work Of Fiction By The Film’s Director

Though it seems like Opus was a true story, this A24 film is not directly based on real-world events. Instead, it is based on an original screenplay written by the film’s director, Mark Anthony Green. However, the story is implied to be inspired by Green’s experiences as a journalist, particularly with GQ (via Variety). The film’s protagonist, played by Ayo Edebiri, is a journalist and aspiring author who helps cover a story involving a celebrity, which sounds a lot like Green and his work with GQ.

As for Moretti, John Malkovich’s character invokes memories of flamboyant and popular singers from the ’80s and ’90s, particularly Elton John and Prince, with his musical style and glamorous, diamond-encrusted clothes. Also, how the world reacted to Moretti’s return in the film, with countless media discussions and fans waiting outside his community doors, is very similar to how people obsess over celebrities and everything they do.

Opus’ Cult Leader Is Similar To Several Popular Cult Figures

John Malkovich’s Opus Role Mirrors Infamous Cult Leaders

Opus isn’t directly based on a real story, but it does seem to be inspired by some of history’s most infamous cults. For example, Moretti’s character is reminiscent of notorious cult leader Charles Manson. Like Manson, Moretti is a musician who leads an isolated cult of followers out in the desert and orders them to commit murders. Though Moretti ends up in prison for his crimes, he still has several followers on the outside following his every command, similar to how Manson’s followers continued to commit crimes for him after his incarceration.

Moretti also draws comparisons to preacher/cult leader Jim Jones, who infamously orchestrated the mᴀss murder-suicide of his followers at their remote jungle settlement, Jonestown. Specifically, near the end of Opus, Moretti appears to order all of his followers in his community to kill themselves by drinking poisoned champagne (though this turns out to be a misdirection part of his bigger plan).

Opus’ Real-Life Cult Similarities Connect To The Film’s Main Ideas

Opus Explores How Cults And Celebrities Aren’t Too Far Apart

Opus blurs the line between celebrity fandom and religious cult worship to show how similar they truly are. Like religious cult leaders, modern celebrities have scores of adoring fans who put them on pedestals and follow their ideas and actions to an unhealthy degree. Films and shows like The Menu and The Idol explored such ideas of celebrity worship and obsession not long before Opus was released, showing how common and well-known the issue really is.

The way the characters react to Moretti’s actions as a cult leader shows how people excuse celebrities’ immoral behavior. Initially, many of Moretti’s guests brush off his questionable actions as eccentricities from a talented mind, with only Ariel seeing the real danger behind them. But by the time the characters see Moretti’s true dark nature, it’s already too late. The world has let Moretti grow too powerful and commit multiple crimes, and his influence lingers long after his imprisonment.

Overall, Opus displays a strong knowledge of cults and their similarities to people’s fascination with and treatment of celebrities. Moretti’s eccentric but narcissistic character succeeds in manipulating people to do his bidding, leading to some shocking and gruesome moments throughout the film. By the end of the film, Moretti has hundreds of followers serving him and spreading his religious ideas, including an unwitting Ariel, showing the inherent danger of giving someone like him too much attention.

Source: Variety