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5.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Fantômas remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you've got a soft spot for grainy, old-world mystery, you'll probably dig this. But if you’re the type who checks your phone the second a scene lacks a punchline, you’re gonna hate it. It’s slow, it’s dramatic, and it feels like it was filmed in a basement that hadn't seen the sun since the turn of the century. 🕰️
The whole thing starts at the Marquise’s castle, and honestly, the decor is doing a lot of the heavy lifting. There's this one shot of a staircase that feels like it lasts for an eternity, just waiting for someone to trip over a secret.
Fantômas is a phantom, right? The movie treats him like one. He’s less of a character and more of a bad mood that hangs over the whole castle. You don't see him so much as you feel the air get thinner whenever he's supposedly nearby.
Inspector Juve shows up, and he’s got that classic, grumpy energy of a guy who just wants to go home but knows he's stuck in a plot that isn't going to solve itself. He stares at evidence with a level of intensity that’s almost funny. Like, calm down, man, it’s just a piece of paper.
It’s nowhere near as snappy as Come Clean, but that’s fine. It’s not trying to be. It’s trying to be a moody, dark, slightly confusing puzzle.
There’s a scene involving Lord Beltham and that pile of money that just feels off. You can almost see the actors thinking about where their next meal is coming from while they’re holding the props. It’s not bad, just… human, I guess.
It’s not a masterpiece. It doesn't need to be. It’s a relic that works if you’re in the right headspace. Just don't go in expecting a high-octane thriller. It’s more like a long, dark walk through a graveyard. Grab a blanket, maybe a coffee, and just let it be weird. 🕯️