A ’70s Brian De Palma Thriller May Have Inspired One of Anime’s Greatest Villains — Fans Are Shocked

A jaw-dropping discovery has anime and film fans buzzing. The cult classic Phantom of the Paradise, directed by Brian De Palma in 1974, may have inspired one of anime’s greatest villains — Femto from Berserk.

While Berserk creator Kentaro Miura, who passed away in 2021, never explicitly confirmed the influence, he didn’t deny it when asked in an interview with a French publisher.

Fans have since pointed out shocking visual and thematic similarities that leave viewers speechless.

Visual Similarities

Both the Phantom (Winslow Leach) and Femto wear helmets with a distinct, bird-like beak.

Their costumes share lavish details — black capes, armor, and textures that mirror each other in jaw-dropping fashion.

Thematic Connections

Beyond the visuals, the parallels run deeper.

Phantom of the Paradise retells the Faust legend, where a man sells his soul to the devil. Similarly, Griffith’s transformation into Femto is a Faustian bargain, sacrificing the Band of the Hawk to achieve his dream of a kingdom.

Tragic Pasts

Both characters are dreamers whose ambitions lead to shocking downfalls.

Winslow Leach is a wronged songwriter, imprisoned and disfigured, while Griffith is tortured and left an emaciated shell before his ascension into Femto.

The Contrast

The Phantom remains a tragic, sympathetic figure, while Griffith’s act is one of ultimate, selfish evil.

Even their helmet eyes reflect this emotional divide — the Phantom’s are round and pitiful, while Femto’s are sharp and predatory.

Fan Reactions

Social media lit up with viral excitement.

One fan wrote: “This is jaw-dropping — I can’t believe De Palma’s Phantom may have inspired Berserk.” Another added: “The similarities are shocking. Femto feels like a darker Phantom.”

Cultural Impact

The unexpected connection between a ’70s rock opera horror film and one of anime’s most iconic villains highlights the lavish crossover of pop culture influences.

It proves that even decades later, Brian De Palma’s cult classic continues to inspire jaw-dropping conversations in unexpected places.

With fans now connecting Phantom of the Paradise to Berserk’s Femto, this shocking revelation leaves audiences speechless — and cements the timeless cultural impact of both stories.