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“A horror film’s job is to scare you, is to get your pulse going, is to make you scream and yell. It’s to make you be afraid. That’s its main purpose, and creeping you out. And that can be an enjoyable experience.” --- John Carpenter ::::::::::::: MY CRITERIA FOR DISCUSSION ENCOMPASSES THE HORROR GENRE AND BEYOND, SO I USE THE TERM "NIGHTMARE MOVIES". SPOILERS CAN OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT WARNING. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Phantasm

October 29th 2007 04:36
Phantasm movie poster
A phantasm is an apparition, a ghostly vision, or spectre. It’s also a creation of the imagination, a fantasy. Don Coscarelli’s cult classic Phantasm (1978) is exactly that; a feverish phantasy dealing with the spectre of death. It fuses science-fiction, mystery and horror into a genre all of its own. No other movie is like Phantasm. It exists in its own weird and wonderful alternate universe.

I first saw the movie when I was an impressionable teenager. It was the Australasian release on VHS known as The Never Dead (“If this one doesn’t scare you, you’re already dead!”). The movie’s imagery and overall mood have stuck with me forever. It’s one of those movies that defy description; flawed and dodgy, yet ingenious and mesmerising.

The basic premise has young teenager Mike (Michael Baldwin) and his twentysomething brother Jody (Bill Thornbury) living together as orphans. A buddy of Jody’s has recently died and Mike spies on Jody acting as a pallbearer at the funeral in Morningside Cemetery. Through his binoculars Mike notices the mortician, The Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), lifting the coffin by himself and heaving it into the hearse. Very creepy.
Phantasm Angus Scrimm and Reggie Bannister
Angus Scrimm as The Tall Man with Reggie Bannister as Reggie the ice cream man
Mike takes matters into his own hands and investigates further only to discover weird hooded dwarfs darting behind tombstones. Inside the cemetery mausoleum Mike witnesses all manner of violent weirdness. He enlists his brother, and his brother’s mate Reggie (Reggie Bannister), to try and get to the bottom of it. After finding a dwarfed version of Tommy, the friend of Jody’s who’d died, the three gung-ho their way into further supernatural trouble, whilst being pursued by The Tall Man.
Phantasm Bill Thornbury and Kathy Lester
Jody (Bill Thornbury) is seduced by the mysterious Lady in Lavender (Katy Lester)
Don Coscarelli achieved a remarkable multi-feat with Phantasm. Not only did he write and direct the feature, he also produced, shot and edited the movie himself. His mother Kate Coscarelli was production designer, costume designer and make-up (under different pseudonyms). In fact key members of the crew doubled in other capacities, very much a skeleton crew-cum family affair.
Phantasm Morningside mausoleum
Jody experiences a frightening vision
The movie was made for around $US300,000. It made millions. Coscarelli went on to make the embarrassing supernatural sword and sandal mess The Beastmaster, and then returned for several Phantasm sequels, none of which are any good. Phantasm is so rich in wacky horror ideas and so damn curiously effective with its atmosphere that Coscarelli can rest on its laurels for decades to come.

Phantasm The Silver Sphere
The infamous Silver Sphere
The acting is bad news, seriously bad. The dialogue is no better. But the screenplay twists and turns like a high fever bad dream. There are numerous great scenes, but the one that I love the best is when Mike is being chased by The Tall Man through the ante rooms in the funeral home and manages to slam a heavy door just before the ghoulish suited man grabs him. Mike leans against the door catching his breath. There is a flapping sound and the camera pans slowly to the right to reveal The Tall Man’s hand half squashed by the door, his fingers flapping. It’s a nightmarish image. Mike uses his knife and slices off several of the fingers. The Tall Man howls from behind the door. Sickly yellow blood spurts out and the fingers continue to wriggle on the floor. Mike picks up one of them and pops it into his breast pocket. Eeeugh!
Phantasm Silver Sphere in action
The MPAA weren't very happy about this sequence
There are many sillyisms and plot holes and you could drive an ice-cream truck through, but I just can’t seem to let these ruin the experience that is Phantasm. The movie is like some strange teddy bear demon. He’s evil and wrong, but so damn endearing. He thrills and chills despite his stuffing falling out. Even the hokey-as-all-hell “It’s all a dream” cliché gets a solid work-out … and works.
Phantasm Michael Baldwin
Mike (Michael Baldwin) slices off a few evil fingers
There are other tidbits that add to the movie’s cult appeal; there’s the brief, but nifty jam between Jody and Reggie on acoustic guitars on the porch (Sittin’ Here at Midnight), there’s Jody’s humdinger muscle car, a black Hemi Cuda, there’s the sensational synth score from Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrove (on the DVD there’s an audio extra “disco version” of the main theme which was released as a very limited edition 12” single on blood-splattered yellow vinyl as promotion in the UK at the time of the movie’s release).
Phantasm Reggie Bannister
Reggie gets in Phantasmic tune
Considering the movie’s low budget, and despite the inherent restraints this imposed on the production (filming took a year), Phantasm transcends its limitations. Cheesy insect effects aside, atrocious no name acting aside, bizarre screenplay logic aside, it’s the deep trash parading as high art, or perhaps its high art sleeping in the gutter, either way Phantasm rocks!

Fear the Silver Sphere!

Here's the original theatrical trailer:


And I couldn't resist, for the dedicated, here is the most famous eight minutes of the movie (turn off the lights and feel the fear):

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews
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Comments
12 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Cibbuano

October 29th 2007 22:21


Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
sweet- I've heard you mention that silver sphere scene before...

Comment by Bryn

October 30th 2007 03:29


Horrorphile
Hey Cibby, whew, at least someone has decided to comment, sheesh, I was getting concerned this little gem was gonna be utterly ignored .... You may remember seeing it on VHS with its Aussie title The Never Dead.

Comment by JohnDoe

November 1st 2007 00:51


Film & TV on DVD
Great review of a horror curio that satisfies.

When I first saw this in the early 80's it became an instant fave for it's imaganitive visuals. Now I really need to see it on DVD as the pan n scan VHS always harsh.

Comment by Bryn

November 1st 2007 01:38


Horrorphile
JD, you can borrow my copy. Some neat extras.

Comment by Miswanderlust

November 2nd 2007 12:46


Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Bryn
One of my favorites! Great review!
Mis

Comment by Bryn

November 3rd 2007 01:05


Horrorphile
Mis, yeah, a Golden Oldie, or should I say I Silver Oldie

Comment by Damo

November 5th 2007 03:47
I saw P3 some time back and thought it was okay but I haven't seen P1 or P2.
I also read that there is a P4 but know nothing about it.

So when my narrow minded video shop gets it in I will see this for sure.

Comment by Bryn

November 5th 2007 23:31


Horrorphile
Damo, yes, apparently Coscarelli is making a fourth ... I seem to remember watching the first sequel, but it paled in comparison ... tried to be too clever.

Comment by Anonymous

November 11th 2007 22:16
Really late to the party here, but seeing as Phantasm is my favorite surreal horror flick, I just wanted to say thanks for the perfect review. Now I just need to find my copy again soon.

-lilith

Comment by Bryn

November 13th 2007 04:42


Horrorphile
lilith,
thankyou for the props! I knew I'd see you here soon enough ... good luck finding your copy!

Comment by Ruth Moratz

September 18th 2008 05:38


Treasure Hunt Adventure
Lilac Blue's Pad
Yes I know I'm really late commenting on this but I had to.
I love this movie. I can't even count how many times my friends and I sat through this movie at the theater. Way back in the old days when they didn't clear the theater between shows, we would sit there all day watching it. I guess I'm giving away my age with that comment.

Back then I lived near where this was filmed and we would drive by the mausoleum at night and scare ourselves nearly to death. There was also this spot near there nicknamed 'gravity hill'. You would park at the bottom, put the car in neutral and watch as it rolled uphill (or appeared to). It really added to the creepiness of the whole thing. Ah, the good old days.

Comment by Bryn

September 18th 2008 07:37


Horrorphile
Ruth, there's never too late to post comments on my blog, and yes, this movie is up in my top five all-time fave horrors ... I sure hope they never try to remake it. I never really followed the sequels, perahps the first sequel, but it wasn't very memorable ...
I'm envious you got to hang out near the location it was filmed at ... creepy alright!
gravity hill?? sounds very ... er, phantasmogorical!
(btw i'm not such a spring chicken myself ...)

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