Can a song save the world?
Written and directed by Geremy Jasper, O’Dessa tells the story of O’Dessa Galloway (Sadie Sink), a young farm girl who sets out to make a difference after the death of her mother. Travelling to the strange and dangerous Satylite City, O’Dessa believes herself to be the prophesied Seventh Son, a lone rambler who’s destined to make a difference. When she arrives in the city, she is instantly attracted to Euri Dervish (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), an exotic dancer who believes that the city is broken. But, when Euri is taken by the crew of the evil Plutonovich (Murray Bartlett), O’Dessa must trust the power of song in order to save his soul.
Easily, what’s most striking about O’Dessa is its style. Channeling 90s cyberpunk and sci-fi, Jasper’s vision of the future is fueled with grunge aesthetics. Like the cinematic totalitarian craze of the 80s and 90s, this is the sort of film that has a fire in its belly. Even though the narrative isn’t entirely new, it wants to push the boundaries of storytelling with social commentary and wild visuals.
Blinding neon enmeshed in the darkest shadows creates a world at war with itself. Performances are intentionally wild with an emphasis on tone rather than authenticity. Everything about this film is supposed to feel unhinged. (There’s even a crew of S&M-themed dancers on their live television program.) As such, O’Dessa feels like the lovechild of The Fifth Element, Blade Runner and Across the Universe.
As a result, the film is a refreshing take on an old trope. The lovable drifter (or ‘rambler’) who steps into the corrupt town is almost always male in these sorts of stories. But Sink plays the character with an affable folk-heart reminiscent of Johnny Cash. Meanwhile, Harrison Jr. is almost entrancing as the ‘exotic dancer with a heart of gold’. While he doesn’t reach the heights of Chris Tucker’s over-the-top effort in Fifth Element, Harrison Jr.’s performance as the gender-neutral Euri dominates the screen. Together, they provide an intriguing central couple to the film that frequently holds the story together.
Admittedly though, O’Dessa doesn’t always work. Despite the joy of embracing its wonderful weirdness, the story can feel unfocused, keeping major moments from becoming the energy-fueled pay-off that they could. As a result, while the film could eventually become a cult classic, it doesn’t seem to have the punch that one might expect.
What’s more, the biggest issue with this rock opera may be that it rarely rocks. Because O’Dessa’s style is primarily acoustic, the film doesn’t let the music rip as often as it seems to promise. While tracks like Feelin’ Free, Onederworld and Here Comes the Seventh Son reverberate in the eardrums and The Song (All is Love) is catchy, the soundtrack frequently chooses a lighter touch. For any other film, this wouldn’t be an issue. (In fact, the folk music tone fits well with Sink’s character.) However, O’Dessa bills itself as a ‘rock opera’, making expectations for a more booming soundtrack seem unmet.
But, O’Dessa does have something to say. Set in a world that seems stripped from the headlines, O’Dessa finds herself up against a culture that’s controlled by an endless—and addicting—news cycle. The entire city of Satylite City is entranced by their dominating dictator, Plutonovich and they remain unable to take their eyes off the screen, even if they despise him. They’re lost and he is their drug. (Sound vaguely familiar?)
But O’Dessa believes that she’s chosen to sing a new song.
Having been prophesied to be the Seventh Son, she believes that the dazzling lights of this urban dystopia are missing something deeper. From the moment that she steps on Satylite City ground, O’Dessa is in search for their soul. In her music, there’s something pure and wholesome—but it is soundly rejected by those under Plutonovich’s hypnotic image. Crying out for love, she believes she has good news. She has experienced something that they’ve been missing and it can change the world. Yet they don’t want to hear it. In many ways, she is a reluctant messiah but her rise is meant to send shockwaves to the system.
For this reason, there’s something intriguing about O’Dessa. After all, this is a story that’s meant to tap into the restless heartbeat of a generation that’s feeling overwhelmed by information and looking for answers in a bleak world. Nevertheless, Jasper’s ambitious script doesn’t always come together, leaving O’Dessa rambling instead of raging.
O’Dessa is available on Disney+ now.
