Fantômas: A Thoroughly Modern Villain

Fantômas, the first modern villain, slithers from the pages of a 1911 novel into the collective imagination. This documentary traces his evolution across a century of adaptations — from Louis Feuillade's silent serials to André Hunebelle's vibrant adventure films. The film maps how a pulp fiction criminal inspired surrealists, captivated Moscow, and became a cultural mirror for societal anxieties. Through archival footage and critical analysis, it explores why this master of disguise endures as an icon, dissecting the alchemy that transformed a literary creation into a timeless symbol of enigmatic menace.