The original script is much better and plays as more of a thriller/drama/slasher. Peter is still Peter, but it's introduced in the script that Peter is Carl's (Eric's) best friend, which plays a HUGE factor in the story later on.
She also has a group of friends, but the focus is on her trauma and the gradual discovery that Carl is still alive. Other aspects expand on Amy's character she has a mother and a little brother in the script, providing a glimpse into the emotional support system at home. Carl really does manifest into something that is in Amy's mind. The script draws heavily from Phantom of the Opera in the sense of Carl's presence around Amy. Or, at the very least, received a similar character arc for Eric as we do for Carl in the original script.
While the film is set up similarly, there are additional characters that aren't focused on but add a little flavor to Eric's world. In the script version, Eric (Carl) is actually a pianist that is on his way to Juilliard. The major difference is that in the script, Eric is Carl, and Melody is Amy.
The movie we ended up with deviates quite a bit from the original script. However, this isn't the original story, there's a lot more to this slasher that never made it from the page to the screen. In the film version- that's pretty much what we get and we take it at face value. Melody is having a rough time dealing with the "death" of Eric, but he lives inside her mind and calls to her. (Again, why I think it's so silly she immediately dismisses him after finding out that he is still alive). Eric isn't creating the dreams per se, but he lingers around her, showing their bond. Melody has been dealing with this grief a lot longer than what is shown in the film. In a lot of ways, it feels like we are dropped into the second act of this movie with character introductions. Melody is "visited" by Eric in her dreams and doesn't ever really believe that he is dead. Obviously, there are connections, mainly trauma, love, and my big guess here is Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder. Phantom of the Mall clearly has loose ties to Phantom of the Opera. Let's rewind a little bit to understand the origins of this story. My main issue is with how Eric is treated.
He still wants to be together, but she becomes completely uninterested and no longer cares for him. This film always bothered me in that it sets Eric up as a "hero," but once Melody sees his disfigured face and how traumatized he is, she doesn't try to help him. She still loves him and believes in her heart that he is still around.Įric was wronged in more than one way. He watches over her while seeking his revenge, and Melody feels Eric's presence. As the story develops, Eric isn't a bad guy. Eric haunts the mall, stalking those who ruined his life and his relationship with the woman he loved, Melody Austin. He is seeking revenge because his house was burned down and covered up as an accident in order to build a mall on the land. We learn pretty early on that Eric was wronged. This is how the formula works, and it's fine. Then we stop caring about the aforementioned antagonist. At first, we feel bad for the character that has gone through the trauma, but we slowly attach ourselves to the protagonists in these films. That said, many killers in films were wronged, pranked, and even left for dead and seeking revenge. It has pain, sorrow, love, and makes the audience feel for the killer, in a way not many films like this can do. However, there's much more beyond the horror and slasher of it all.
On the outside, Phantom is a slasher film- a horror movie. My love for it has increased through the years as I became more familiar with the production, cast, crew, and the original idea behind it. I was immediately drawn to Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge when I first saw it as a kid.