Winslow tries to murder Swan and learns that he’s immortal, because he is also under contract with the devil. Or is the devil? Or like… became the devil at some point in the past? It’s not super clear. A bunch of crazy stuff happens and the film ends with a huge rock concert where Swan tries to marry Phoenix but also assassinate her, but Winslow manages to save Phoenix and kill Swan by burning the old recordings he stored his soul in, killing himself in the process. Yes, it’s Faust meets The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Trilby meets Phantom of the Opera, a crossover so hamfisted it’s usually only seen in embarrassing internet fanfic and Marvel movies.
What Makes it a Cult Movie?
It’s a kickass movie, first of all, with awesome set design and costumes and a story that would make the Théâtre du Grand Guignol think they should tone it down a little. The movie shares DNA with several cult films, which kind of puts it in that orbit by default. For example, Jessica Harper, the actress who plays Phoenix, also plays Janet Weiss in a kinda-sorta sequel to The Rocky Horror Picture Show called Shock Treatment. It also doesn’t hurt that movie is a musical with music that honestly rips ass. “Rips ass?” Is that what the kids are saying? Or, wait, is that farting?
The point is the music is legitimately good, thanks in no small part to Paul Williams. Williams plays Swan, but he also wrote and sang most of the film’s music. You might know Williams from his extensive work with the Muppets, or if you’re dealing with new and exciting forms of back pain like I am you may know him from his cameo on Dexter’s Laboratory: