10/02/17 – day two of thirty-one days of horror!
While arguably more satire than straight horror, Brian “Carrie”
De Palma’s Phantom of the Paradise nonetheless takes its primary inspiration
from Phantom of the Opera, which qualifies it for spooky season viewing in
my book. A great 70s rock n’ roll fable, the film is a Faustian (that’s a real
word, look it up) tale about a nerdy composer (the late great William Finley)
who finds his music stolen by an impish record mogul, played deliciously by
diminutive pop songsmith Paul Williams. Disfiguration and murder follow, as
well as some legitimately great musical numbers (several memorably performed by
willowy future Suspiria star Jessica Harper) and Gerrit Graham hamming it
magnificently as the glammed-up “Beef”. Plus it has one of the coolest helmets
found in any film related to the horror genre. This year why not make a stop by
the Paradise Theater for some rockin’ Halloween fun?
