History YMMV / PhantomOfTheParadise

** Speaking of the Undead, while Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical wouldn't exist for years, "Somebody Super Like You" is ''uncannily'' like a musical parody of its title song, from the very similar riff, to the over-the-top lyrics about a compelling man with perfect pitch, to the multiple-key-change cadenza at the end (complete with incredibly high-pitched scream by Beef at the end). You almost wonder if ALW heard it and subconsciously had it in mind.

* TheWoobie: "The Juicy Fruits"; they're treated pretty badly throughout the film.

%%* EvilIsSexy: Swan was a DracoInLeatherPants for many female fans upon the film's release.

** The film was also popular in Japan and the aesthetic was highly influential for numerous Japanese works, most notably with Apocalymon and Beelzemon in ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', Purple Haze in ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' and Griffith's "Femto" garb in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}''. The ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'' manga also has a page where Knives wears a similar getup and pointy mask and plays the piano as a possible homage to the film. Even back in the late 1970s, the film's influence in Japan can be observed in ''Film/LupinIIITheMysteryOfMamo'', whose [[AntagonistTitle eponymous antagonist]] is based on Swan both visually and in his character motivation to attain immortality due to his massive ego.

** The film was also popular in Japan and the aesthetic was highly influential for numerous Japanese works, most notably with Apocalymon and Beelzemon in ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', Purple Haze in ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' and Griffith's "Femto" garb in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}''. The ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'' manga also has a page where Knives wears a similar getup and pointy mask and plays the piano as a possible homage to the film.

* SpecialEffectsFailure:

* WTHCastingAgency: Having the diminutive and cherubic Music/PaulWilliams as Swan is certainly unexpected casting. Whether it undermines the sinister menace the character is supposed to have or gives him the compelling subtext of being AWolfInSheepsClothing is an ongoing debate among people who've seen the film.

** The film was also popular in Japan and the aesthetic was highly influential for numerous Japanese works, most notably with Apocalymon and Beelzemon in ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', Purple Haze in ''Franchise/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' and Griffith's "Femto" garb in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}''. The ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'' manga also has a page where Knives wears a similar getup and pointy mask and plays the piano as a possible homage to the film.

** The film was also popular in Japan and the aesthetic was highly influential for numerous Japanese works, most notably with Apocalymon and Beelzemon in ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', Purple Haze in ''Franchise/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' and Griffith's "Femto" garb in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}''. The ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'' manga also has a page where Knives wears a similar getup and point mask and plays the piano as a possible homage to the film.

** The film was also popular in Japan and the aesthetic was highly influential for numerous Japanese works, most notably with Apocalymon and Beelzemon in ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', Purple Haze in ''Franchise/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' and Griffith's "Femto" garb in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}''. The ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'' manga also has a page where Knives wears a similar mask and plays the piano as a possible homage to the film.

** The film was also popular in Japan and the aesthetic was highly influential for numerous Japanese works, most notably with Apocalymon in ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', Purple Haze in ''Franchise/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' and Griffith's "Femto" garb in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}''.

* CatharsisFactor: Just try not to cheer [[spoiler:when Swan realizes he's ''fucked'' and Winslow is responsible. The way he frantically screams Winslow's name, the high pitched screams of pain and terror he gives as Winslow finishes him off as he realizes there is nothing he can do to save his life or his soul? After everything Swan has done, it's hard not to appreciate it.]]

* EvilIsSexy: Swan was a DracoInLeatherPants for many female fans upon the film's release.

** Phoenix anyone? A sweet if a bit naive hopeful singer, gets sexually assaulted during her, ahem [[CastingCouch audition]] and then she finds out the one person who seemed to believe in her (and arguably the only character who actually seems to care about her at all) has (apparantly) died. Things improve for her a bit when she get's her big break but this is only after Swan sidelines her and Beef is horribly killed on stage! When she does get the spotlight she dreamed of [[BastardBoyfriend Swan]] wastes no time taking advantage of her i.e drugging her, controlling her [[spoiler: manipulating her into unknowingly signing her voice to him and organizing her execution!]] By the end of the film she's left devastated and confused when [[spoiler: her fiance who's face is melting tries to strangle her, luckily she is saved by Winslow only for him to die in front of her and no one noticing or caring as she cries over his body!]] BreakTheCutie indeed!

* UncannyValley: Throughout the film, Swan has a subtly off nature to himself, from going to elaborate means to hide himself in public as well as his face seeming more like a mask to hide something worse- addition to looking very boyish for an unnatural 20 years. It's confirmed when it's revealed that this due to a DealWithTheDevil in which he would record himself in private to ensure the immorality and avoid public reveals, which would negate the immortality- resulting in Swan rotting. His voice has a dull, melodious, but artificial sounding voice, which is confirmed when his voice on recordings is much raspier and aged- reflecting on his inner corruption.

* UncannyValley: Throughout the film, Swan has a subtly off nature to himself, from going to elaborate means to hide himself in public as well as his face seeming more like a mask to hide something worse- addition to looking very boyish for an unnatural 20 years. It's confirmed when it's revealed that this due to a DealWithTheDevil in which he would record himself in private to ensure the immorality and avoid public reveals, which would negate the immortality- resulting Swan rotting. His voice has a dull, melodious, but artificial sounding voice, which is confirmed when his voice on recordings is much raspier and aged- reflecting on his inner corruption.

* OlderThanTheyThink: A ReferenceOverdosed homage to an older style of filmmaking, including the {{Wipe}} used as a transition, with an overt tone of {{Melodrama}}. It's about a young man full of promise who, after experiencing betrayal and injury, becomes a villain who [[DarthVaderClone wears a masked headpiece and a black cape]]. We get to hear his [[VaderBreath disturbing breathing]], and he gets fitted with a special voice box. [[Franchise/StarWars Hmmm]]. Keep in mind, Creator/BrianDePalma and Creator/GeorgeLucas are friends (and De Palma famously script-doctored the OpeningCrawl of ''Film/ANewHope''). At the very least, the two were both clearly on the same conceptual page around the same time.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: Swan is a "boy genius" [[Music/PhilSpector record producer]] with a fierce ego and a willingness to kill. Probably seemed funnier before [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Spector#Murder_of_Lana_Clarkson Lana Clarkson's murder.]] [[WhatCouldHaveBeen It could've been]] even worse if they hadn't changed the name of the character from early scripts; Swan was initially meant to be called "Spectre". (Given that Spector's instability was well-established amongst the recording industry at that point, it was most likely intended as a TakeThat.)