--- title: "Phantom of the Paradise: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/phantom-of-the-paradise/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/phantom-of-the-paradise" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Phantom of the Paradise (1974): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 9 reviews: 7 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Phantom of the Paradise, with praise clustering around De Palma’s inventive direction and its satire of the rock industry. The reviews repeatedly favour its restless camerawork, garish settings and mixture of gothic storytelling, musical comedy and cinematic references. The performances also draw approval, particularly those of Jessica Harper, Paul Williams and Gerrit Graham, while several critics find wit and intelligence beneath the spectacle. The available verdicts are broadly favourable rather than sharply divided, and the clearest reservation concerns the music: Time Out identifies a musical misstep without losing enthusiasm for the film. Den of Geek, by contrast, particularly values the variations on its songs and the references that reward repeat viewings. Two entries fall in the mixed range, but their critical verdicts cannot be verified from the supplied text, so there is no reliable basis for identifying a broader pattern of complaints. ## Slant Magazine — Fernando F. Croce Rating 3.5/4. 5 September 2006. Croce praises the film as a delirious, visually restless triumph that fuses rock spectacle with gothic and cinematic allusions. He especially singles out De Palma’s electrifying camerawork and the climactic collision of spectacle, creator, and audience. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/phantom-of-the-paradise/) ## Time Out — GA Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). The critic calls it arguably De Palma’s finest film, despite a musical misstep. They praise its highly inventive updating of the Phantom of the Opera story. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/phantom-of-the-paradise) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1973. Variety finds the film very good, praising its direction and script for capturing the garishness of the glitter-rock scene. It also singles out the principal performances, especially Jessica Harper and Paul Williams. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1973/film/reviews/phantom-of-the-paradise-1200423196/) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 4/5. Jones calls it an exceptionally strong musical comedy fantasy and a savvy satire of the rock industry. He praises Gerrit Graham’s performance and the film’s witty send-up of Psycho’s shower scene. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-8yk768/phantom-of-the-paradise/) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 9 March 2014. French presents the film as an inventive cult thriller that was initially misunderstood and later found an audience. He praises its energy, wit and inventiveness, along with its garish, squalid sets. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/mar/09/phantom-of-the-paradise-dvd-review-philip-french) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be verified. No praise or complaint can be reliably identified from the available text. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/the-unloved-part-twelve-phantom-of-the-paradise) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 24 August 2014. The page could not be accessed, so its critical verdict is unavailable. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the supplied text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/24/movies/homevideo/phantom-of-the-paradise-rereleased-on-disc.html) ## Den of Geek — Jim Knipfel Rating 4.5/5. 27 September 2013. Knipfel praises the film as a uniquely vivid, dark, and intelligent satire that rewards repeat viewings. He especially singles out its layered references and variations on the songs, while confessing he still prefers the Juicy Fruits to Winslow. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/de-palmas-best-film-ever-phantom-of-the-paradise-1974/) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 24 September 2024. The critic finds the film an inventive, influential delight that remains impressive decades later. They particularly praise its singular musical blend and the echoes of its imagery and ideas in later works. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/phantom-of-the-paradise-1974-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/phantom-of-the-paradise.md