It baffles me sometimes that the Phantasm series does not have more sequel to it’s credit than more horror franchise films do. Maybe it’s just my love for the series, but I find it to be one of the better horror franchises to date. Now it’s been quite some time since I’ve seen Phantasm II, so going from seeing part one and them skipping over to part three here, kind of threw me for an unsuspecting loop, however I do recall plenty of what happened in part two. And that was enough for me to get though part three without being confused.
The Phantasm series pretty much run right into one another, each film pretty much starts off where the last film left off, but just takes place far and in-between. Phantasm III starts off with Mike & Reggie going from town to town running away from the Tall Man, while at the same time trying to come up with a plan to stop him. The Tall Man is really gunning to get Mike and turn him into one of his many dwarf slaves or one of his many silver flying balls. Of which we find out his brother Jody has become. However; the silver sphere that harnesses Jody’s soul, is not one of evil, but of good. And it can communicate with Mike. While on the run however the Tall Man catches up with Mike and takes him captive. Reggie is now left to find the Tall Man and try to save Mike. But along the way Reggie makes some friends in a African American women, and a young boy. Both of whom The Tall Man has taken loved ones from. Together they will go after the tall man to rescue Mike, and try to destroy the tall man and his minions once and for all.
One thing that I love about the Phantasm series is how bizarre the whole concept and story is. Don Coscarelli has one hell of an imagination, and I don’t think anyone could write such a bizarre concept into a film such as he can with this story. The first Phantasm it’s self was a master piece. This film is not as great, but it does it’s job and entertains the audience. If you look at the series as a whole, it’s one big story, that takes place over time, but the same characters are always in each film and with that we get a continuous story with each sequel. So it’s not like the Phantasm series involves a whole new cast, because our leads always seem to be part of each sequel. So the script for Phantasm III is good, but one can’t look at it as a script that stands on it’s own.
Coscarelli does a great job directing as he usually does, and with this also comes the good acting. Reggie Bannister is always great playing the role of Reggie in the film. A character that he was born to play. A. Michael Baldwin also is always great as Mike. Even some of the new supporting cast was pretty good. And of course you can’t forget about Angus Scrimm whom as the Tall Man has more lines in this film than he had in the previous two films. Angus Scrimm owns this part of the Tall Man, and in my opinion he’s the only one that can ever play the role.
Phantasm III has some pretty decent effects and as always a great set design. The Production Value does not seem to be as great as the first film, but it still holds it’s own. We get a large array of special effects and make-up effects in this film. We get the silver sphere effects that always look good. But in this film we get more from them in terms of the weapons they use to kill. We also get a large amount of make-up effects in this film, as well as your basic blood and yellow alien goo. The film also has some pretty good zombie make-up effects as well.
Overall this new Phantasm III DVD has a pretty good transfer. The disc has some pretty good extras which include deleted scenes, a few trailers and an audio commentary with some of the stars of the film. As for the movie itself; Phantasm III is a good fit for the series, it’s not the best film of the series, but it holds it’s own and is entertaining and fun to watch. It’s worth picking up the new DVD for the widescreen transfer alone. And a must have for all fans of the Phantasm series.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
