There's no classic literature here, with Englund taking little time to get into full-on scenery chewing mode and claiming the film as his own. The fight which follows is violent and nasty, giving Englund ample opportunity to do what he does best – overacting, massively. Bandying together to rescue Christine from his clutches, a police officer and Christine's would-be beau prepare to do battle with The Phantom Of The Opera. His admiration comes at a price though, and Christine is quick to discover that the Phantom is not a believer in hands-off management. Obsessed with talented young singer Christine Day, the Phantom sets about murdering everyone who stands in the way of her fame, from clumsy stagehands to rival singers and dismissive critics.
Make no mistake Englund’s Phantom is but a sad, angry variation on Freddy Krueger, right down to the horribly scarred skin and damp basement hideout. Released through 101 Films' increasingly decent Cult Horror Collection, it's ripe for re-visitation, particularly in this age where cult Blu-ray re-releases are all the rage. This glossy late eighties version of the tale goes some way to readdress the balance, even if it is unjustly underrated and forgotten by many. Maybe it’s the stigma of that terrible, terrible Gerard Butler version (this coming from an avid fan of Grease and The Wizard of Oz), but there are fewer Phantom of the Opera adaptations out there than one might expect. Maybe it’s that his romantic story makes him a little too sympathetic for some, or that filmmakers are scared cinemagoers will flee, fearing a musical. Eighties era Englund (the best Englund of any era) trades in Freddy Krueger's battered fedora and blades for fancy silk, a bone mask and a symphonic organ in The Phantom of the Opera, a gory reboot of the classic story.Īs classic horror villains go, few are as underutilised as The Phantom. Literally, geddit, because he’s played by Robert Englund of A Nightmare On Elm Street fame. The Phantom of the Opera is here, inside your mind.
Robert Englund as Erik Destler/The Phantom Written by Gaston Leroux (novel), Gerry O'Hara and Duke Sandefur
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