Rupert Julian’s adaptation is the cornerstone of American horror, immortalized by Lon Chaney’s self-applied makeup. The 'unmasking' scene remains one of the most shocking reveals in cinema history, eliciting genuine terror from audiences. Its lavish sets, including the Paris Opera House and the underground lake, set a standard for studio production design. This film launched the Universal Monsters legacy, proving the box-office viability of the macabre. Chaney’s tragic, grotesque performance created an empathetic monster archetype that defines the genre today.