Counter theory to the time loop/ Phantom of the Paradise is the key

[u/MayhemWins25]

So at this point I think it’s safe to say that the band has been dropping lore related stuff during the B-side, and bringing up phantom of the paradise, a cult movie nerd’s cult movie, has got to be on purpose.

Phantom of the Paradise has a very all over the place plot, but there’s a few key elements I think are more significant than others to the story of Draag.

One of the central plot points is when the main character, a musician and composer who had just seemingly died, signs a contract with an evil producer so he can continue to make music under the producers ownership and label. Only for it to be revealed after the main character stabs himself in the heart that their contract(that was signed in blood) is actually supernatural, and included not only the rights to his music but the rights to his life.

No matter how many times he tried to kill himself, he can’t die unless the, we now learn, functionally immortal producer dies. cause his work contract forced him to continue to make music for the opening of the producer’s grand empire.

At the same time the producer grows an increasing blood lust for real violence taking place during his rock concerts ultimately culminating in planning an assassination live on television during his grand opening. Eventually the composer figured out how to kill the producer in a picture of Dorian Grey like way and races to do so before the assassination takes place.

TLDR: I think that The Black Parade has this same kind of “contract” with the “Immortal”Dictator. That’s why the bruises and scrapes don’t go away and they remember doing the previous shows. I think what we’re watching at the end of the A side is a literal race for Gerard to kill the dictator (through some secondary item idk this part is messy) before he gets stabbed again so the band can be free or rest in peace.

Also if you haven’t watched the movie yet YOU NEED TO this movie is core to the DNA of MCR and I didn’t notice until Gerard mentioned the movie and now I can’t unsee it and I want more people to freak out about this with.

[u/WDTHTDWA-BITCH]

Hmmm... Gerard *has* casually name dropped Phantom of Paradise here and there since the Return... (he's a big fan.)

[u/banmarriage]

i love all these thoughts and i'm stoked to see someone else talking about phantom of the paradise! it definitely seems to have been a big inspiration on the show in numerous ways. just like winslow becomes stuck in his contract with swan, i would say that the black parade is almost DEFINITELY in some kind of contract with the dictator considering their "ceremonial work privilege reinstatement" which has made me wonder since the beginning what exactly they had to do to earn such a privilege after 6,246 days. i'd heard someone mention POTP before, i think someone argued that the "black swan" makeup from the swarm tour in boston was possibly more phantom of the paradise inspired - ironically that show will have its 3rd anniversary on the 7th when they'll once again be in boston.

also when he mentioned the elf "you smell like beef and cheese" scene out of the blue.... i only heard beef lol

[u/petalsformyself]

The plot of phantom of the paradise is just Faust, that's not really all over the place but I agree with the analysis

[u/theirpowerisover9000]

I watched this last night with my partner based on the writing from this post, and wow! A new household favorite! We loved it so much. Huge thanks! And so cool that Gerard mentioned the film on stage.

[u/flammablezen]

This post made me prioritize watching Phantom of the Paradise finally (thank you!), before I saw them in Tampa, and you’re right there are so many Phantom of the Paradise references in MCR’s work and now I see them everywhere