7. Phantom Of The Paradise (1974)
If you liked the Phantom Of The Opera but felt it was lacking in better tunes or a glam rocker named Beef then Brian De Palma and Paul Williams will be your new best friends. To this day Phantom Of The Paradise stands out as one of many highlights in both their careers. When youve made a movie like Carrie and written a song like Rainbow Connection, that says a lot. Paul Williams plays Swan, an evil record producer with plans to open a new theater called The Paradise. In an act more evil than writing songs for the Carpenters, Williams steals the work of composer Winslow Leach and has him incarcerated. Thered be no plot if Winslow didnt escape, get an obligatory disfigurement, and start haunting The Paradise. Of course hes willing to stop wreaking havoc as long as Suspirias Jessica Harper gets to sing his music because hes either in love with her voice or her ridiculous dance moves. The jurys still out on that one. Regardless, a deal between Winslow and Swan is struck but deals with the devil usually go south real quick. And then were introduced to Gerrit Grahams speed freak rock and roller Beef. One more time: Theres a jittery glammed up rock and roll star named Beef in this movie. Does anything more need to be said? If one were to make a recipe for an excellent cult film, Phantom Of The Paradise has all the necessary ingredients: Great characters, truly memorable lines, and a soundtrack that still holds up decades later. The next time your friends want to get together, dress up, and sing along with Rocky Horror Picture Show, show them Phantom Of The Paradise instead. Theyll thank you for it.