Podcasts
The Bombastic Trash of Joel Schumacher’s ‘Phantom of the Opera’ [Horror Queers Podcast]
Full of hot aria.
After kicking off December with a look at the vastly underseen 2019 gem I See You (listen), we’re heading to Paris to check in with a very, very angry Phantom in Joel Schumacher‘s 2004 adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s musical The Phantom of the Opera.
In The Phantom of the Opera, young soprano Christine Daaé (Emmy Rossum) becomes the obsession of a brooding and disfigured Phantom (Gerard Butler) who lives under the Paris Opera House. When Christine falls for her old friend Raoul (Patrick Wilson), the Phantom hatches a plan to ensure that Christine will never leave his side, ready to murder anyone who gets in his way.
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Episode 312: The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Prepare yourself for bloat and bombast because we’re discussing Joel Schumacher‘s 2004 adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s The Phantom of the Opera for its 20th anniversary! Tagging in for the conversation is queer musician Bartees Strange, who provides some much needed musical insight on the film.
Join us as we try to figure out why this movie doesn’t sing (sorry) the way it should. It’s a constant war of style vs. substance, with a lot of visuals that look great….but mean nothing. Adding insult to injury is the perplexing decision to cast non-singer Gerard Butler as the Phantom, who makes some questionable decisions regarding the villain’s characterization.
Plus: Emmy Rossum’s breakout role, Patrick Wilson’s Lord Farquad haircut, reprise after reprise after reprise, golden arm candelabra holders and a runaway chandelier.
Cross out The Phantom of the Opera!
Coming up on Wednesday: We’re heading back to the world of hagsploitation and psycho biddies in Robert Aldrich’s Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964), starring Bette Davis!
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The Halloweenies hitch a ride out to the small town of Abaddon in Upstate New York to check out this totally killer haunted house that’s opening: Hell House LLC.
Join Michael Roffman, Justin Gerber, and Rachel Reeves as they discuss director Stephen Cognetti’s found footage gem that has since spawned multiple sequels and spinoffs. But, as with anything, nothing is ever quite as good as the original.
Note: This episode was originally released to our patrons in October 2025.
Stream the whole conversation below or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS. New to the Halloweenies? Catch up with the gang by revisiting their essential episodes on past franchises such as Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Scream, The Evil Dead, Chucky, Alien, and Universal Monsters.
This year? Hellraiser AND The Omen.
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