50 years ago, this gonzo horror comedy with a killer score became an instant cult classic

20th Century Fox / 20th Century Fox

Fifty years aft its release, Phantom of nan Paradise continues to stone nan hearts and minds of its devoted fans. Written and directed by Hollywood fable Brian De Palma (Carrie), this movie follows scarred and vengeful singer-songwriter Winslow Leach (William Finley) who terrorizes a shaper (Paul Williams) for stealing his music, yet trading his psyche to him for nan chance to singing again.

Though nan movie bombed astatine nan container agency and received mostly antagonistic disapproval upon release, this philharmonic drama has since gained a cult pursuing akin to a akin classical from nan 1970s, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Now that nan movie is celebrating its 50th anniversary, it’s premier clip to reappraisal why Phantom of nan Paradise has gone connected to beryllium considered an underrated gonzo masterpiece.

A Phantom pinch style and flair to spare

20th Century Fox / 20th Century Fox

Phantom of nan Paradise already presents a unique look acknowledgment to De Palma’s trademark style of filming, which utilizes a wide assortment of different camera shots. However, nan movie is chiefly noteworthy for its colorful, dazzling visuals and royal costumes and sets, which convey and satirize nan glitz and glamour of nan euphony industry. Viewers tin moreover spot traces of this film’s power connected musicians for illustration Daft Punk and anime for illustration Berserk.

As it pokes nosy astatine nan weird and chaotic world of show business, nan movie besides delivers immoderate stellar philharmonic performances that should beryllium taken seriously. Featuring terrific singing courtesy of Leach, Phoenix (Jessica Harper), and nan Juicy Fruits, to nary one’s surprise, Phantom of nan Paradise was nominated for some an Oscar and a Golden Globe for its original score.

The movie has oddball characters you won’t soon forget

20th Century Fox / 20th Century Fox

Adding to nan film’s unique look is its assortment of flamboyant, oddball characters pinch their royal costumes. Paul Williams plays nan sinister villain Swan for illustration a operation of Elton John and Mr. Burns. Meanwhile, nan eccentric and vengeful Winslow becomes a fusion of nan Phantom from The Phantom of nan Opera and Darth Vader pinch his ain acheronian translator that conveys nan calamity of a man chewed up and spit retired by a ruthless industry.

Since Phantom of nan Paradise is filled pinch theatrical and over-the-top characters, Phoenix is nan astir normal personification successful this fever dream of a film. This imaginative prime conveys her deficiency of corruption astatine nan hands of nan euphony manufacture successful which she tries to succeed. It is besides worthy mentioning that nan movie features a chilling narration from nan legendary Rod Serling. This movie and its characteristic could very overmuch travel consecutive retired of The Twilight Zone.

How acold are you consenting to spell to execute your dream?

20th Century Fox / 20th Century Fox

As nan sanction implies, nan movie is very overmuch a retelling of The Phantom of nan Opera, but pinch a modern spin. As Phantom of nan Paradise places this classical communicative successful nan modern era, it presents a surreal odyssey into nan acheronian broadside of nan philharmonic intermezo industry. The movie shows really executives for illustration Swan utilization writers for illustration Winslow and women for illustration Phoenix to fulfill their ain wicked desires, which consequence corrupting their victims pinch their evil.

Since nan movie shows really this manufacture takes advantage of specified hopeless and susceptible group dying to succeed, it besides explores nan lengths group will spell to fulfill their dreams and desires. Referencing nan communicative of Faust and Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, Leach and Swan show what group for illustration them are consenting to sacrifice to get what they want, trading their souls for their sound and youth, respectively. Only Phoenix makes it retired of Swan’s circle of Hell pinch her psyche intact, making Phantom of nan Paradise a cautionary communicative astir greed and ambition wrapped successful a glitzy, Gothic musical.

Phantom of nan Paradise is streaming connected Amazon Prime Video.