Phantasm (1979)
Genre: Scifi / Horror
Duration: 88 minuten
Alternative titles: De Nacht van de Levende Doden / Phantasm: Remastered
Country:
United States
Directed by: Don Coscarelli
Stars: Angus Scrimm, A. Michael Baldwin and Reggie Bannister
IMDb score:
6,6 (42.923)
Releasedate: 28 March 1979
Phantasm plot
"If this one doesn't scare you...you're already dead!"
Mike has just lost both parents and is afraid of losing his older brother Jody too. Because of his overprotectiveness, he follows his brother everywhere, including to the local cemetery, where he sees the 'Tall Man' alone carrying a coffin. Reason enough to investigate.
Actors and actresses
The Tall Man
Michael 'Mike' Pearson
Jody Pearson
Reggie
Lady in Lavender
Fortuneteller's Granddaughter
Caretaker
Girlfriend
Sally
Toby
Reviews & comments
scorsese
-
- 12604 messages
- 10674 votes
Reasonable film in which a boy suspects a man of being a grave robber. Story-wise it is all quite messy and partly because of this it is a bit long-winded. Here and there quite attractively portrayed with a great soundtrack as well. The interior of the 'funeral center' forms a beautiful backdrop. A narrow 3.0 stars.
Onderhond
-
- 87450 messages
- 12489 votes
Bit confused.
The unfortunate thing about Phantasm is that the build-up is often a lot better than the payoff. The film manages to build up a decent atmosphere, thanks to atmospheric locations and fairly unusual sets. The camera work also wants to cooperate at those moments.
But the horror itself is very clumsy. Effects look poor, props are meager and the blood looks like finger paint. Either the horror should have been a bit better/more serious, or it could have been a bit juicier, with a bit more 80s kitsch through it. But that's difficult for a movie from the 70s of course.
The acting isn't great either, but you can still see through it. Editing and plot are also pretty loose, but that didn't really bother me either. Rather, the film continually exploits the atmosphere that was built up fairly carefully. Missed opportunity.
2.0*
Shadowed
-
- 10168 messages
- 6086 votes
Mme.
Slow to happen, and another movie that I expected a different kind of movie from. At first I thought I was going to see a kind of big fantasy gang, but then wrapped in a horror sauce. However, then I saw the budget myself and knew I could pull those expectations back.
What we see now does have its moments, but it is still severely limited by the budget. Yet director Coscarelli still manages to get a lot of fun done. Especially in the finale we get some scenes that look surprisingly good visually. Those are the moments that you don't see too often in these kinds of movies.
The acting isn't too special, but Baldwin seems to be trying. It is very limited for a lot of crew members, and I also didn't think Scrimm was too special. A strange appearance indeed, but not an appearance that will scare me. No matter how many times he raises his eyebrows.
There is also a nice atmosphere every now and then, but this film is a bit on the boring and slow side. The first part mainly consists of a childish mystery film with some atmospheric moments. In the second part of the film, it takes a little more out in terms of horror, but not always in the most interesting way.
Bombastic in view of the budget and for its limited resources, very impressive here and there, but not really very exciting. I thought the final phase was bland and the villain not that special. Phantasm is a title from which you would expect a lot of fantasy, but it doesn't really happen. It certainly lacks some creativity in horror and fantasy, but I think also budget. Nice for once, but definitely not a movie I will watch again.
Pre- and sequels
Phantasm: Ravager
2016
3 comments
Phantasm IV: Oblivion
1998
3 comments
Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead
1994
3 comments
Phantasm II
1988
3 comments
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