HORROR MOVIE REVIEW: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925)

We are saddened here at Picto that the great month of October has left us, but alas, we will continue the horror movie reviews! Just because the month is over doesn’t mean the horror movies stop in this house! Tonight, we’re traveling back to the silent era, starring The Man of a Thousand Faces himself: The Phantom of the Opera!

Rankings:

Monsters/Villains: 🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖 (9.2)
The Phantom is an unforgettable villain—not just because of his grotesque appearance, but because of the sadness and obsession that drive him. Lon Chaney’s makeup is truly iconic, creating a ghastly image that sticks with you long after the movie ends. Erik is complex, a tragic figure whose twisted love and jealousy make him both sympathetic and horrifying. And that Masque of the Red Death costume is equally terrifying!

Actors/Characters: 🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖 (7.8)
Lon Chaney carries this film on his shoulders, giving an expressive performance that needs no words. Mary Philbin as Christine is compelling as the opera singer caught between pity for Erik and fear for her life. Norman Kerry as Raoul provides a classic hero role, trying to rescue Christine from the Phantom’s grasp.

Story: 🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖 (7.8)
The story of The Phantom of the Opera has a timeless quality. Beneath the terror is a tale of unrequited love and obsession, which gives it emotional weight. The movie follows Christine’s journey into the darker side of the opera world, with the Phantom as both her mentor and tormentor. The story keeps you engaged with its gothic atmosphere, and the unmasking scene is unforgettable.

Joe's Score: 🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖 (7.5)
For a silent film, The Phantom of the Opera packs a powerful punch. Lon Chaney’s makeup, eerie sets, and the timeless story of obsession make it a true classic. It’s haunting, beautiful, and tragic in a way that few modern horror movies manage to capture.

Updated List:

1. The Exorcist (9.25)

2. Psycho (9.22)

3. Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (9.0)

4. The Omen (1976) (8.45)

5. Salem’s Lot (8.4)

6. The Ghost & Mr Chicken (8.32)

7. Rosemary’s Baby (8.28)

8. The Phantom of the Opera (1925) (8.08)

9. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) (8.07)

10. The Wolfman (1941) (7.98)

11. The Lost Boys (7.97)

12. The Thing (1982) (7.67)

13. The Fog (7.5)

14. Homicidal (7.12)

15. Halloween (1978) (6.65)

16. Ernest Scared Stupid (5.35)

17. Monster Squad (5.22)