It’s been about three years since I last watched Phantasm, and why I may have an excuse I don’t know what I simply don’t watch good old classics like this at least once a year. How great is this film? I mean seriously it may have a very complex plot, but its just one of those horror films that simply has all the great elements that make fans thirst for more.
The mother load company of horror DVD’s Anchor Bay just released a new version of Phantasm on DVD. This is the second version of the film that I now own of this film. This new disc has a slew of special features that the last disc I own does not have at all. This is pretty much the mother of all Phantasm DVD’s. Well at least the ones that are available anyway.
Phantasm is one of the best horror films to be released in the late seventies. The film stars Angus Scrimm as the legendary Tall Man; a alien from another planet who has come to earth to turn the dead into slaves. Yes I know, it’s hard to believe that this is the actual job and focus of the horror icon known as the Tall Man, however when you watch the film, it feels more like a horror film, than a Sci-fi film, which I’m sure many people would think it was if they never heard of the film before.
Phantasm follows a young boy (Mike) and his older brother, both of their parents are recently deceased. It seems that the Morningside Cemetery is the place to be, not only when your ready to bury your loved ones, but it also seems to be a place to take a chick you meet at a bar, or a place to ride your dirt bike. However while spying on his brother who was attending a friends funereal, Mike sees the tall man, single handedly life the coffin by himself and put it back in the car. He soon begins to investigate the bizarre tall man and the funereal home that he runs. Mike breaks into the place one night and finds himself in for a fight. Little robed men, flying silver sphere’s and of course the tall man. Mike manages to escape his first encounter with the tall man, and even manages to get one of his fingers to show his brother. When he gets home, he shows the finger to his brother to let him know that there really is something weird going on in the Morningside Cemetery. His brother and his friend Reggie agree to investigate, with guns a blazing they go to war with the tall man, in an attempt to stop the outer worldly man from stealing the dead and making slaves of them.
Phantasm has had a decent cult following since it hit the screen back in 1979, it was a hit with horror fans and movie goers alike back then bringing just under twelve millions dollars in business. The film only cost around three hundred thousand dollars to make. Another known fact about the film is that Director Don Coscarelli’s original cut of the film was over three hours long, however he felt that the film would not hold it’s own among audiences so he cut a few scenes from the film to bring it’s normal eighty eight minute cut.
With all the direct to video and independent films on the market today, it’s hard to believe that films like Phantasm and Halloween were actually low budget films of their time. However the reason why these film became classics were simply because they were made with great care, and the filmmakers back then we’re always well prepared when it came to a project. it guys like Don Coscarelli, John Carpenter, Tobe Hooper and Wes Craven who opened the doors back then for the independent horror market that we have today.
Phantasm has all the greatness of a horror film, although one might read the script to this film a merely think that it would be an impossible film to pull off. However Costcarelli did pull it off. and molded his script into the frightening horror film that it is today. The atmosphere that Costcarelli was able to produce, and the high quality production value really helped make the film that much better. The casting for the film was perfect as well. Angus Scrimm was cast perfectly in the role of the tall man, a role that turned him into a horror icon. Although his role was more of that of a supporting character in the first film, Phantasm also helped with the career of Reggie Bannister, turning him into a horror movie icon as well. A. Michael Baldwin and Bill Thornbury were also great in the lead roles of the film, however, even though they have both appeared in the sequels to the Phantasm films, they never really get the notary that Angus Scrimm and Reggie Bannister do.
Overall Phantasm remains one of my top ten horror films of all time. It’s a film that works for me and I think it’s one of those perfect horror films, no matter how odd the story is. It’s a frightening flick, one that makes you stay away from funeral homes and out of cemeteries. The Tall Man always scaredthe crap out of me as kid, and no matter how many times I got back and visit this film, he always still gives me the creeps. Anyone who considers themselves a true horror fan should have this film as part of their collection. If you don’t, then go get a copy. Phantasm is one of the top horror films of all time.
– Horror Bob
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