Horror Extreme Movie Catalog

While I can't quite give this movie 5 stars, it is a really interesting combination of several elements. ('Phantom of the Opera,' 'Faustus,' 'Picture of Dorian gray,' 70s styles, 70s music, and even an interesting foreshadow of 80s music.)

The movie starts innocently enough with a 50s style song. (Though the lyrics to the song kind of foreshadow the tragic end.) We then see Phil asking his boss Swan to wreck a star that he feels double crossed him. (Immediately, the dark characters of Phil and Swan are revealed to us.) Swan then notices the naive and innocent Winslow; he decides he wants Winslow's music. (To make a long story short, Winslow gets arrested; he escapes, but gets disfigured. Only at the end do we truly discover just how disfigured he became. One injury, that we don't find out until the end is especially tragic.)

Hateful of Swan more than ever, Winslow seeks revenge. He loses some of our sympathy as he kills several people who had nothing to do with his injuries. Swan (Paul Williams) is nothing short of phenomenal when he smoothly arranges an at least temporary reconciliation with Winslow. With no violence, there is a moment of pure terror when Swan gets Winslow to sign an 'unholy contract.'

From here, the story offers us an interesting release of tension, and allows us to see some different types of 70s music. A truly memorable moment here is when Swan says: "You know I abhor perfection in anyone but myself."

With Winslow and Swan on peaceful terms (at least for the moment), Swan recruits a group to perform Winslow's music. (The group has a 'Faint resemblance' to KISS) Swan also recruits an openly gay guitarist/vocalist whose guitar and musical style seems to foreshadow the 80s. On stage though, he acts really masculine. (Interesting)

Outraged that someone he doesn't like is performing his music, Winslow murders him. (He loses some of our sympathy here in that this new guitarist/vocalist had nothing to do with what Winslow suffered.) Now we see that Swan loves anything that will be 'entertaining.' An especially frightening moment is when Winslow tries to kill himself, and Swan makes it clear that by signing the contract, Winslow has given up his 'right to rest in peace.'

From here, all traces of comedy disappear, and we have a frightening and brutal climax. One change I would have made is that rather than telling falsehoods here and there, I would have had Swan deceptive, but always being able to claim a truth under the deception. (Take the witches in "Macbeth") But that said, this is an interesting 70s horror with great music; it has an interesting meeting of classic literature; and the acting is superb. This is a phenomenal way to have a 70s night.

I first watched this movie on a CATV system in Escondido CA USA around 1975 - and loved it then. I bought a new DVD just to update the media because the old tape was getting scratchy.

It's still a great movie and I still love the music, except it can get into my head - and I sing it all the time.

It's a great musical and horror (not very scary) and I still love it!

Randall O'Laughlin