Brian De Palma's inspired rock 'n' roll fusion of Faust, The Phantom of the Opera and The Picture of Dorian Gray is a 70s oddity that skewered the music industry and the foibles of fame, perhaps before anyone was willing to listen. Thankfully, the film now has a dedicated cult following, with the flick finding a contemporary audience ready to embrace its decidedly kooky style, biting commentary and a very generous sprinkle of queer themes!
PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE boasts an Oscar-nominated score by Paul Williams, who also stars as an evil record producer who not only steals the work of composer/performer Winslow Leach (William Finley) but gets him locked up too. When Wilmslow returns to seek revenge, ...PARADISE spirals into a warped, weird and wicked tale of entrapment, ambition and malice.
Look out for Gerrit Graham's memorable and more than queer-coded glam rock star, Beef, as well as Jessica Harper (SUSPIRIA) who appears in her first major role as a naïve but ambitious singer.
Both musically and visually daring, this is one of De Palma's most entertaining romps, and one that demonstrates a the garishly fun cinematic style that would become De Palma's signature on screen.
This screening is 18+ and the film will begin at the advertised time above.
Content Warnings: moderate violence, blood, drug use, and sexual exploitation.
