Thread:LucidPigeons/@comment-2175012-20160323030814/@comment-2175012-20160324150659

OK, so I will hopefully watch the 1989 theatrical version of The Phantom of the Opera qualifies. Usually, the Phantom is a tragic character with a deformity; in the 1989 interpretation of the character, however, the Phantom was a serial killer who had made a deal with the Devil which entailed that everyone would love his music. However, as the Devil pointed out, they wouldn't love him, so he disfigures his face. The Phantom's modus operandi is sewing the skin of his victims to his face to compensate for his disfigurement.

Now, a few mitigating factors that I can see so far has to do with him getting his face disfigured by Satan; while you can argue that it is a legitimate Freudian excuse, it's made clear that Erik knew what he was getting himself into when he was about to make the deal. So, it comes off as being his own fault for his disfigurement. That, and it doesn't excuse him skinning his victims and then sewing their skin onto himself in the slightest. His relationship with Christine also seemed to be one of obsession; he even kidnaps her when he finds out that she was to be engaged.

Overall, from what it sounds so far, this version of the Phantom is more evil and bloodthirsty than his usual incarnations. The film itself has little to nothing to do with the original book; rather, it was made to take advantage of the slasher genre at the time.