Trailer for 'creepy' thriller with star-studded cast gives horror fans the 'chills'
A24's first horror film of the year is here and fans are 'already obsessed'
A24 has left film fans terrified with its latest thriller set to hit cinemas this March.
The production company shared a two-minute teaser of the forthcoming horror, titled Opus, on Tuesday (January 21). Viewers of FX's tense drama The Bear will be thrilled to learn that Ayo Edebiri leads the cast.
She portrays Ariel Ecton, a young writer who is invited to a "once-in-a-lifetime" gathering hosted by a legendary popstar, who has been out of the public eye for 30 years.
In the trailer, Edebiri's character receives a personal invitation to spend the weekend on a remote compound with the pop icon. Although she is initially shocked by the invite, the bright-eyed journalist quickly gathers herself for the trip.
Viewers watch the main character as she heads to the secluded location and begins to take notes on the "creepy" personalities she meets along the way. The TV star is joined by Oscar-nominated actors John Malkovich and Juliette Lewis.
The rest of the A-list ensemble includes Rosario Dawson (Dopesick), Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) and Amber Midthunder (Legion).
As the trailer landed on social media, fans could not contain their excitement. One person on X, formerly Twitter, penned: "Already obsessed" while a second viewer exclaimed: "AYO EDEBIRI IN OPUS IS WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS."
A third moviegoer quipped: "This movie sounds CREEPY! John Malkovich is already giving me chills. Definitely adding Opus to my watchlist."
A fourth person voiced their concerns about watching the film: "Opus is gonna scare the s*** out of me bc I hate watching horror movies in the theatres." However, they went on to express that they will still be tuning in: "But for Ayo I am willing to risk it all."
Elsewhere, on Reddit, people gathered to applaud the cast, with one person stating: "Sign me up right now. Hell of a cast." (sic).
Another film fanatic raised concerns about the premise of the thriller being familiar. They wrote: "I feel like I've seen this movie before." Other eagle-eyed fans have shared the same critique, with many comparing the film's concept to the likes of Blink Twice, The Menu and Midsommar.
Despite the criticism, audiences have vowed to give the film a chance because of its star-studded cast. "I was expecting something a bit more original based on A24's teasers. But this cast is so stacked, I'll definitely be there," a Reddit user confessed.
Opus, which marks A24's first horror release of 2025, was helmed by first-time director Mark Anthony Green.
The drama will premiere at Sundance Film Festival this month and is slated for a cinematic release in the USA on March 14. The production company is yet to announce a UK release date.
The thriller's full synopsis reads: "A young writer is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star who mysteriously disappeared 30 years ago. Surrounded by the star’s cult of sycophants and intoxicated journalists, she finds herself in the middle of his twisted plan."