Review of The Phantom of the Opera (1925) by Landen C — 15 Jun 2008
Through all of my life, as almost anyone, I've been familiar with the sunken face of Lon Chaney's portrayal of The Phantom in this film, but even so, the unmasking scene never ceases to creep me the eff out.
This film is a perfect blend of romance and horror. Just like most of Universal's monsters, there is a common factor that all the monsters want is just to be loved and accepted. They are misunderstood beasts. Since The Phantom is actually a disfigured human named Erik, and highly competent, he reaches a level of madness that is seemingly a bit more frightening than a monster who doesn't know better.
Comparatively, this film pales in comparison to other horror films of its time, notably Nosferatu, Vampyr, Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, or really any of the twisted German Experssionism horror films. It has the mark of Hollywood all the way; expensive budget, fancy over-the-top sets, and relying more on spectacle than story.
Even with its faults, I couldn't enjoy watching this film more. The Red Death scene was amazing. And I must say that I think The Phantom's mask was just as scary as his face.
Not that it matters to most of you, but this review was based on the 1929 restored reissue of the film.
This review of The Phantom of the Opera (1925) was written by Landen C on 15 Jun 2008.
The Phantom of the Opera has generally received positive reviews.
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