Reviews (27)

A MOVIE WITH BALLS!
I think this movie was okay,but doesn't have that scary feeling that Phantasm 1,and 2 has.But it was still cool!

Picking up where part 2 left off,Reggie(Reggie Bannister)is alive and the hurst crashes killing Liz(Paula Irvine),Mike(Michael Baldwin) is taken to a hospital for treatment.After Mike gets out the hospital,Reggie and Mike go look for the TALL MAN(on cover-Angus Scrimm)and his flying killer spheres.But on the way we meet Jody(Bill Thornbury)Mike's dead brother who is undead and can turn into a flying sphere.After Mike gets"captured" by the TALL MAN,Reggie meets a young kid in a ghost town,Tim(Kevin Conners)joins Reggie on his quest to rescue Mike and kill the evil TALL MAN for good.The two of them meet up with a former Military soilder,Rocky(Gloria Lynne Henry)who knows how to kick butt good.Now the three brave ones go against the evil TALL MAN and his army of the undead in this film directed by Don Concarelli(Beast Master,Phantasm 1,2,and 4).

I think the price of this movie is not worth it....

Horrifying, Strange
I have long desired to see the 'Phantasm' films; mixtures of surrealism and horror being what I love. However, the well-known graphic violence kept me at a distance until Phantasm 3 appeared on cable. At midnight. So, I took a gamble and watched it. Phantasm 3 is excellent. Though slightly hokey and not as powerful as the original, Phantasm 3 still is very powerful. The world in which Mike and Reggie is like some post-apocalyptic nightmare; with the Tall Man, that interloper between life and death, roams America stealing souls. There are several scene which are masterworks. The first being Mike waking up in the hospital and finding himself face to face with the demon nurse. The best scene however, is the ending. Reggie held captive by hundreds of the drills, and the zombies pulling the boy through the window. "Its never over, boy!" (This is said to be a horror comedy, but viewers beware: after seeing this I looked under the bed for the first time in my life. For a horror comedy, try "The Evil Dead'. For my favorite film, try 'Eraserhead'.

Bill Thornbury and A. Michael Baldwin are back.
The film starts cleverly where the earlier film ended. A. Michael Baldwin is back as "Michael". So are Reggie Bannister and Angus Scrimm as "The Tall Man". Bill Thornbury as "Jody" makes special appearances fifteen years after the first Phantasm film in 1979. I won't reveal any of the plot because Phantasm films are always a surprise. Kevin Connors plays "Tim". Followed by PHANTASM IV: OBLIVION (1998) and a fifth film is in limbo.

O.K, you can drive
As this movie opens Ice Cream man/ part -ime warrior for the human race Reggi is continuing his campaign against the tyrannical forces of The Tall Man. In this chapter of the Phantasm saga earth does not resemble the earth we know a whole heck of a lot. Not to be too melodramatic about it but to a large extent The Tall Man appears to have immerged victorious. What will Reggy and new found friend Tim do now?

I thought the relationship between Tim and Reggy was interesting because in their relationship I saw a lot of the old relationship between Reggy and Mike from before the Tall Man came to town.

My impression-Although I didn't like this one as much as I did one and two there is just something about these cheesy horror movies that I love like nothing else in the world. This a worthy addition to the Phantasm world. I only wish they would hurry and come out with Phantasm 5 before too much longer.

A fine addition
First of let me start with the fact that the Grace Jones wanna be should've been the one sliced and diced in the mausoleum instead of her buddy. Her acting was substandard by even low budget standards... With that said let me move on to the rest of the film. I love this movie....not as much as 1 or 4....but beats the snot out of 2. It brought back my favorite actors from 1....plus the sureal element of horror from the mind of a child. When the directors cut of Phan 2 is released (I hate Phan 2 because the studio took it out of Coscarelli's hands and mutilated it...but gave it four stars out of loyalty to Reggie,Angus and Don) the quartet will have much better continuity. Some people complain about the camp in 3 that wasn't aorund in the original....but we need to understand with Army of Darkness helping Evil Dead break into mainstream & the failure of Phan 2 in theaters, it was all Coscarelli could do to save the Phantasm legacy. Now that he is back on track with Oblivion we're in for one heck of a thrill ride. Bruce Campbell worked with Coscarelli on Bubba Hotep...and is rumored to be signed on for the 5th Phantasm film. I can't wait. Later my Phan brothers..........and for you Johnny come latelys who think Phan 2 is the best of the series........thank god you don't make movies. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Totally wild, gory, & awesome flick!
"Phantasm II" plainly was a terrific horror film in its own right; you needn't even be concerned with its 1979 predecessor if you haven't seen it! The story, special effects, and action were top-notch with most of the original "Phantasm" cast. Mike (James LeGros) and Reggie (Reggie Bannister) are superb as the hapless, humble, soft-spoken, yet badass-to-the-bone hunters of the pernicious Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) after he laid their families to waste in the first film. Nine years later, he and his retinue of demonic dwarves are once again wreaking havoc across small-town America by usurping the local cemeteries in order to enslave the corpses for his legion of the undead. Armed with his enclave of killer silver spheres, the Tall Man is Mike and Reggie's worst nightmare made incarnate who must be stopped before he can get them!

As I already mentioned, the special FX kick butt! The spheres are each equipped with newer, more lethal tools of destruction (in addition to the classic twin cranial blades and brainsucking drill bit) that make them even more reviled and intimidating. While in pursuit of their enemies, Mike & Reggie make use of an impressive collection of tools and weapons (the best being Reggie's custom-made quad-barreled super shotgun, A DEFINITE MUST-HAVE IN FUTURE VERSIONS OF "DOOM") in order to annihilate the Tall Man's minions to Kingdomcome! Finally, "Phantasm II" boasts a fast-paced, cool "David & Goliath" chainsaw battle between Reggie and the ominous gas-masked grave digger! That scene speaks out that the bigger saw isn't always better when Reggie totally (yet predictably) kicks the digger's butt in the end after getting pretty beat-up by him! In the long run, Reggie Bannister's acting and yelping seems to mirror that of Bruce Campbell in the "Evil Dead" films to me, which makes "Phantasm II" all the more campy and enjoyable! I so glad that Universal has re-released it for video. I just purchased it for my collection for all of my laid-back Friday Nights! I hope all you horror fans enjoy this underrated romp as much as I do!

The continuing adventures of Reggie and Mike
Phantasm 2 is loads of fun, and Coscarelli keeps very faithful to the "Phantasm" world he created. James Le Gros does a credible job of playing a more buffed up Mike. And Reggie is everyone's favorite ice cream dude with the 4 barreled shotgun...watch for the cool chainsaw war he has with one of the Tall Man's henchmen. The Tall Man, played by the legendary Angus Scrimm is at his sinister best, and one imagines Mother Angelica from the Catholic Channel fainting as he tells a hapless priest,"You think when you die you go to Heaven....?...You come to US!!!!"One of the coolest and best lines in all the 4 films. Mike and Reggie do their best to score hot chicks in this one, but the Tall Man ruins everything as usual. The death of the Tall Man is one of the coolest horror scenes you'll ever see, very imaginative and gory. But death is not the end...Because its not a dream...No, its NOT!...Highly recommended.

Needs to be on DVD!
In a time where masked slashers ruled the eighties, seeing a horror film as original as PHANTASM II was a rarity. Here we have a sequel that not only is equal to the original, but completely reinvents itself from the ground up with quicker pacing, scarier visuals, and an all-around more polished production.

Yes, the first PHANTASM is a classic, and in the tradition of ALIENS, here we have a radically different- yet equally satisfying- action/horror romp. So why no DVD?!?

We all like to complain about what films aren't available on DVD, but I feel stronger about this flick than any other. If only good ol' MGM would step in and buy the rights to 2 & 3 and put together a nifty box set.

Reggie Bannister & Angus Scrimm are back.
This second Phantasm begins where the first one left off and takes you seven years later. In real time it was nine years before they finally made this sequel. That is why everyone looks more mature. James Le Gros takes over as "Michael" for this film only. But A. Michael Baldwin can be seen in flashbacks. Reggie Bannister and the Tall Man Angus Scrimm are back and so are those deadly silver spheres. I'll keep the plot a surprise for you, but this sequel is more big-budget. They go all out for this one and is very enjoyable if you like suspense, horror and more gore. If James Le Gros looks familar, tweleve years later after this film, he had a regular role in the tv series Ally McBeal in 2000-2001. Funny sex scene. Followed by PHANTASM III (1994), PHANTASM IV: OBLIVION (1998). The fifth film PHATASM'S END is currently in limbo.

Here we go........14 things I hate about this film!
I have few things to say about this installment of Phantasm.....first of all...you could definately tell it was pushed (or spit out) by the studios. The story was obviously out of the control of Coscarelli. Here are some things I loath about this film.
1. The female character (mikes honey).....her role in the film had nothing to do with the story....notice how easily she was removed from sequels.....with no notice. Much like the nun chuck wielding Grace Jones wanna be in 3.
2. One of the Tall Mans lackeys takes a gold chain from the girl before he tries to push her into the crematorium....what is he going to do pawn it at the local Zombies R' Us.
3. The other lackey is still alive through out the whole scene where the gold ball is mutilating him, but the groinal shot from Reggies saw was enough to kill the grave digger.
4.Reggie drops the four barrel shotgun in the basement of the funeral home....but still totes it in 3 & 4. Notice he never went back before the whole hearse scene at the end....and why would he?
5. The way the flying spheres have no comprehension of the folks they kill as if they are brainless. Notice in Phan 1 Mike had to duck for the Lackey to get it between the eyes.....and in later films the spheres are capable of stopping in mid flight on command. Remember the scene with the Tall man where he gets sucked dry and the lackey gets it from the silver one in the hand....then the gold one finishes him off. We also know that the spheres have brains litteraly.
6. The mental link between Mike and the girl has to be the most stupid thing I've ever seen in the Phan series that I always fast forward it past that part of the film.....come on, talking with just thier minds...remember they are in the same room together....it never helped anywhere in the film........why?
7. The Hemi was portayed as the same car....but car buffs would know that the Hemi in 1 is a 340 and in 2 its a 318 Barricuda and where is the sunroof(not even a hemi clone).....and why won't the trunk close?
8. James Le Gros was too happy to be the dark evil repressed Mike...who has been haunted since childhood by the ever present Evil Tall Man. (Brad Pitt was considered for the part)
9. The nut house Mike was in at the beggining was Morningside......if half the state was wiped clean wouldn't the Tall Man have finished the town he started in first?
10.The Phantasm series is almost a male bonding experience showing the loyalty between brothers and friends with some more recent betrayal in later installments....Phantasm 2 doesn't pick up on that loyalty in the least.....but Coscarelli has control again and has returned it to the more recent films.
11. The arm coming out of the Tall Mans head was too much......I bet we'll never get an explanation of that....because there isn't one.....it was just thrown in. (Thanks Hollywood)
12. The way the same gimmicks where used from Phan 1 was almost unforgivable.....the window scene upstairs where the Tallman crashes through...among others.
13. My most favorite of all though is the way nobody can think to move out of the way of the ball in this one.......didn't losing his ear teach the priest or Mikes female counterpart......even when Mike was 12 he was smart enough to duck when something is flying at his head.
14. Another gripe is the lackey smashing up the un-cremated remains........who did they cremate (don't they all become dwarves or some other kind of living dead). Or is he making a nice urn display for the Tallmans wife? Or why was he going to burn Mikes woman.....thats not the Tallmans style.

I give this movie 4 stars because I love Reggie Bannister, Angus Scrimm, Don Coscarelli.....and once returned Michael Baldwin & Bill Thornbury....and I'm a loyal fan. But without the other films as a crutch I would give this one 2.

Why is there no DVD transfer of 2 & 3? The studios are bound to be making loads of money from cult classics these days.

P.S. The Stars Wars reference in Phantasm 2 is so quick you might have missed it...lol. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Jody is the kind of guy that every 1970s teen looked up to. He's inhis early 20s, has a cool car, splendid '70s hair, leather jacket, playsguitar and (naturally) snags all the girls. His little brother, Mike, inparticular, admires him and emulates him at every turn. Things start to goastray, however, when the two brothers and their friend Reggie attend afuneral for a friend. Mike notices a tall man working at the funeral home; inthe course of his snooping, he sees the tall man put a loaded coffin into theback of a hearse as easily as if it was a shoebox. Jody doesn't believe hislittle brother's stories, though, until he brings home the tall man's severedfinger, still wriggling in what appears to be French's mustard. From there,the film picks up a terrific momentum that doesn't let up until thesequel-ripe twist ending.

Phantasm was one of the first horror movies to break the unspoken rulethat victims were supposed to scream, fall down, and cower until they werekilled. Instead, Mike and Jody are resourceful and smart, aggressivelypursuing the evil inside the funeral home with a shotgun and Colt pistol.Furthermore, the script has a great deal of character development, especiallyin the relationship between the two brothers. The film even has asurprisingly glossy look, despite its low-budget origins, and little outrightgore (except for the infamous steel spheres that drill into victims' heads).This drive-in favorite was a big success at the time of its release, andspawned three sequels. Little wonder; it includes an inventive story, likablecharacters, a runaway pace, and, of course, evil dwarves cloaked in Armyblankets. The end result is one of the better horror films of the late 1970s.Hot-rod fans take note: Jody drives a Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda, the pinnacle of1960s muscle cars, rounding out his status as a Cool Guy. --JerryRenshaw ... Read more

Reviews (131)

The most inventive and notable horror film of its time.
This is a gem from 1979, an absolute joyful expression of one filmmaker's vision. Don Coscarelli wrote, produced, directed and edited this bizarre tale which combines alien worlds, aliens, body snatching, fortune telling, Jawas, car chases and buddy-movie antics all into one. There are bizarre moving postcards, flying silver spheres that drain your blood, a threatening tall man (Angus Scrimm), femme fatales, a Tubular Bells-inspired score, and more. Michael Baldwin and Bill Thornbury are perfect as the brothers (Mike and Jody) who investigate the macabre events at Morningside Mortuary (the same house was the setting for Burnt Offerings) and a find a sinister "Tall Man" who seems to be crushing dead humans and using them for slaves on an alien world. Phantasm's plot is a mish-mosh of various standard horror film trappings, but is so engaging, thanks to the winning leads, that you don't care. And the surprises are many. This is a cult favorite and one of the most inventive and notable horror films of its time. Ignore the sequels.

That 70s Show Goes to Hell.
If you only watch derivative pablum like I Know What You Did Three Thanksgivings Ago and feel you have to bemoan the lack of originality in horror movies, then you should watch Phantasm. The story begins when two brothers, Mike and Jody, attend the funeral of a family friend. Things seem normal until Mike sees the mortician, AKA The Tall Man, lift up a coffin with as much difficulty as one would pick up an empty cardboard box. So the brothers, with the help of ice-cream truck driver Reggie, take it upon themselves to investigate the strange goings-on at the funeral home. What they uncover include lethal floating silver balls, little hooded dwarves that look like the Jawas in Star Wars, and a severed finger that transforms into the most laughably cheap looking monster you'll ever see.

Even the low budget isn't enough to hamper Phantasm's many endearing qualities. The atmosphere is perfect. It starts out as being 1970s laidback like an Eagles song, but becomes more desolate and sinister as the film progresses. Angus Scrimm (6'4" minus the platform shoes) is flawless as The Tall Man. Why he isn't as famous as the braindead Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers I'll never know. And what about that half-goofy / half-spooky organ heavy soundtrack? I wish it was on CD.

Overall rating: 5 stars, BOOOOOOOYYYYYYY!!!

Dark dreams are made of this...
If good films are like waking dreams, then good horror films are like waking nightmares. Few can match the power of Phantasm in this regard. Masquerading as a B-shocker, it gradually develops a kind psychological depth shared only by the best in the genre - films like The Exorcist and Silence of the Lambs.

To begin with, the story is frankly outrageous: after the death of a close friend, two brothers (Mike and Jody, played by Michael Baldwin and Bill Thornbury) discover some strange things about the Morningside Funeral Home where their friend - and their parents, who died two years earlier - are interred. It seems the dour funeral director (a character known only as The Tall Man, indelibly rendered by Angus Scrimm) is not quite human. He's able to lift fully occupied coffins by himself, as the younger Mike secretly observes; he bleeds yellow blood; he has a strange reaction to cold; and he is aided by small silver spheres that roam the halls of the mausoleum, doing unspeakably gruesome things to intruders. It seems his main activity, though, involves a novel use of the corpses of the dearly departed - a use we learn in the striking left-turn the film takes in the third act.

Somehow, what could have been a very silly film takes on an unnerving, Lynchian kind of surreality, thanks in large measure to a well-developed subtext about abandonment, isolation, despair, and guilt. These are the anxieties that drive nightmares, and - despite the frequent humor throughout - writer/director Don Coscerelli infuses the proceedings with a poignant sense of sadness and dread. Like Herzog's Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht, or Lynch's Mulholland Drive, Phantasm isn't just a scary film; it has the authentic texture of a dark, disturbing dream.

And this, in a film where a major sequence involves a large, obviously rubber insect flown around on a fishing line! It could have been a real Ed Wood moment, but instead, we buy into it somehow. Amazing.

In The Tall Man, Angus Scrimm has created a classic horror film villain, in the Frankenstein's monster/Dracula/Wolfman/Mummy sense, rather in than the Freddy/Jason tradition. There is no sense of irony in his conception or performance. No camp. No winking, wisecracking, or self-aware irony. Just a powerful, implacable, evil presence.

Reggie Bannister rounds out the cast as a musician/ice cream vendor (!) who assists the brothers in their quest to rid the world (or at least their town) of the evil that has descended.

The performances (a couple of minor characters notwithstanding) are remarkably skilled, walking that fine line between believability and exaggeration virtually demanded by the genre.

The DVD is crisp and well produced. There is a delightful introduction by The Tall Man himself, Angus Scrimm, to get things rolling. There is a good deal of supplemental material to be found on the disc, and a thorough commentary track by Coscarelli, Scrimm, Baldwin, and Thornbury.

All told, an excellent addition to any horror fan's collection.

Beware the Tall Man, Booooyyyy!
"If this one doesn't scare you, you're already dead." Or so goes one of the taglines used in the promotions for PHANTASM, the 1979 low-budget film from auteur Don Coscarelli that has become a much-loved horror classic. By today's standards, the film doesn't quite reach the level of fright promised by that slogan. But PHANTASM is nonetheless a well-made indie flick that has always been a real crowd-pleaser due to its enigmatic, unpredictable script; the ingenious and effective low-budget special FX; excellent directing and cinematography by Coscarelli; good acting, especially from the four principals; and a very memorable, haunting score.

PHANTASM follows precocious 13-year-old Michael (Michael Baldwin), his older brother Jody (Bill Thornbury), and friend Reggie (Reggie Bannister) as they investigate the enigmatic goings-on at the creepy nearby funeral parlor. Just who or what is that terrifying Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) that seems to have the run of the place? What is his part in the recent disappearance of corpses at the mortuary, and what is his relationship to the elfish eidolons lurking in the graveyard shadows?

PHANTASM's script is loosely structured and rather weak in spots, but this actually heightens the unpredictability of the plot and thereby gives the film an unnerving surrealistic quality. And when combined with bizarre imagery (e.g., an airborne chromed sphere drilling into a human head); gloomy, atmospheric sets and on-location sites; and a genuinely creepy, inscrutable antagonist like the Tall Man, the movie transcends the script and evolves into a 90-minute spine-tingling nightmare-on-film.

The excellent musical score also adds much to the nightmarish quality of PHANTASM. Composed by Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave, it is stylistically reminiscent of John Carpenter's score for his groundbreaking film HALLOWEEN, released a year earlier. But unlike Carpenter's one-man synthesizer score, Myrow and Seagrave's music is performed on multiple instruments, delivering a rich, three-dimensional sound that makes PHANTASM's aural atmosphere seem much more ominous than that of HALLOWEEN.

Though it has been over 20 years since its initial release, PHANTASM has aged surprisingly well. As with its aforementioned predecessor HALLOWEEN, the gore is minimal, especially when compared to the wave of bloody horror films that splashed up on the cinematic shore in the 1980s and beyond. But the eerie, surreal ambiance of PHANTASM can still make a viewer's skin crawl, and the malignant Tall Man, with all his accursed accoutrements and paranormal paraphernalia, is still pretty damned creepy. Yes, PHANTASM has a certain ineffable 1970s drive-in quality that identifies it as a product of its era, but rather than being an annoyance, this seems to add yet another layer of "otherworldliness"--at least from a contemporary standpoint.

MGM's DVD release of PHANTASM offers the film in a non-anamorphic letterbox format in the film's original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The digital transfer is pretty clean, with only moderate filmic and digital artifacts sometimes apparent. Colors are bright and vivid, though darks are a bit on the muddy side. Soundtrack audio options include a new Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound remix, which sounds good, or the film's original 2.0 mono.

The supplements on MGM's DVD release of PHANTASM are outstanding. First off, the disc comes packaged with a very nice booklet that contains a note from writer/director Don Coscarelli, as well as a myriad of interesting tidbits about the film and its stars. On the disc itself, a really cool alternate audio track offers a feature commentary with Coscarelli and the film's principal actors. Also included are outtakes, deleted scenes, trailers and TV spots, TV interviews with Coscarelli and Angus Scrimm, and much more! These extras alone are worth the very reasonable retail price, but buyers get the cool film, too!

To recap, PHANTASM is a minor cult classic that both ardent horror fans and casual viewers alike will find genuinely enjoyable, and the loaded-with-extras DVD from MGM is nothing short of Phantastic!

Boooooy! This film is good
One of the hardest parts about writing a review of a film I love is conveying my feelings into written words. Why does the music in this movie haunt me? Why do the characters seem so real and why does the Tall Man seem so scary? He is just a tall, older man, but he is creepy to the extreme. I can't tell you why, but I know these things to be true.

Phantasm has a wildly imaginative story; one of the most original ideas for a horror film in ANY decade. Two brothers and their ice cream vending friend face down a tall, gaunt, creepy, mortician and his army of hooded dwarves (called "Jawas" by many because of their resemblance to the Star Wars critters, even though the Phantasm creatures were actually designed first). The Morningside Funeral Home is creepy in itself (the house they used is the same one featured in Burnt Offerings). The Tall Man's arsenal also includes the infamous "Spheres" which fly thru the halls of the funeral home, guarding against intruders and viciously eliminating anyone who gets in the way. What at first looks like another undead movie turns into more of a sci-fi premise when the origin of the Tall Man is partially revealed (the full origin has still only been hinted at after 4 films).

The name Phantasm hints at the dream-like unreality that saturates the story, music, direction, and cinematography. By the end you are left not knowing exactly what was real and what was a dream as the red lettering of the credits appear.

Phantasm's synth score adds so much to the film. I cannot stress this enough. Even in scenes not actively trying to scare you, the haunting music carries you along, never letting you lose the uneasiness the movie has already built up.

The special edition DVD is a great package with a commentary track featuring the director and 3 primary actors, PLUS Angus Scrimm (the Tall Man) is in the commentary too, even though he is not listed for some reason. Scrimm also introduces the movie in a rather hammy chat with the audience. Special features also include trailers and an extensive gallery of promotional materials from it's theatrical release. I hate to mention "interactive menus" because I don't see them as an actual feature, but the menus on the Special Edition DVD are fantastic. Accompanied by the great music of the film, the menus are easy to navigate and have an interesting design. Chapters are presented inside graphics of the spheres and are animated to you can see the exact scene as it plays out. The 4th Phantasm film, Phantasm: Oblivion, used a lot of deleted scenes from the original movie in it's time hopping sequences. This DVD includes even more deleted material not shown in the past-scenes of the 4th movie. They must have cut a ton of stuff from this. Most of the scenes are character scenes and give you more reason to like the characters. Well worth a look.

Amazon lists this DVD as out of print. If you don't have it, find it any way you can. Maybe it will be released again in a new form, but I can't see them improving on this great DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Major Disappointment
I want to start off by saying that I'm a huge fan of the original film and I thought Phantasm II (not on DVD yet) was a good sequal. The original Phantasm is a classic horror movie. There is much good about Phantasm 4. The original characters are all back, including the ageless Reggie Bannister (why this guy never had more work in films is beyond me). The film was clearly shot on a limited budget, but it doesn't look cheap. It expertly uses outtake footage from the original film. I sat glued to my seat while I watched this film, usually a good sign for me. So with all that what's wrong? The script. Unbelievably weak. The movie teases us with a possible explanation for the Tall Man's origin, yet ultimately the film goes nowhere. This film explains little in the series, and what little it touches on is only vague hints. Just like Phantasm III, which I was also VERY disappointed in, this film does nothing to resolve the character's fates, with the possible exception of big brother Jody. I have no doubt that there could be a Phantasm V as this film does nothing to tie up any loose ends. Frankly, I'm getting tired of the past 2 films in the series going nowhere and not really resolving anything and I'd prefer not to see another film if it just going to be like this one. The only people who should watch this film are hardcore fans who've seen all the other films in the series.

The Best In The Series (Hopefully Not The End)
Phantasm IV is by far the best in the series. 5 out of 5. Phantasm Phans will enjoy this. Don Coscarelli made this film as a love letter to the Phans. The film uses deleted footage from the original Phantasm movie to further enhance the story line and it works. Phantasm IV begins right where Phantasm III left off. Mike leaves on a quest to escape his transformation, while Reggie fights to save him from The Tall Man. Mike, Reggie and The Tall Man are modern day representations of mythological characters and their adventures are reminders of stories about quest, heroes and villains. Mike must confront his past and the secret of The Tall Man is reviled. I have to say that in the opening of the movie, when Mike gives his speech about "The Last Perfect Day", I was on the verge of tears. Phantasm IV is a masterpiece of film.

One for the fans, and only for the fans.
Mike, a Silver Sphere imbedded in his skull, is starting a bizarre transformation of sorts - while Reggie is left hanging, literally. The Tall Man hints that this may all be part of a larger design.

Director/writer Don Coscarelli's fourth Phantasm movie is a mixed bag of ideas, concepts, and characters. Once again picking up at the ending of the previous entry, this chapter looks the least like a Phantasm movie and, with its jumbles of flashbacks and dimension hopping, it is arguably the most surreal. It is also a radical departure in the series visual tone, as it is set entirely in a desert, with not a graveyard or mausoleum in sight. Mike spends most of the movie having visions while Reggie has repeated seriocomic run ins with The Tall Man's evil helpers (zombies, spheres, and dwarves) as he attempts to catch up with Mike. Why Reggie has carted his ice cream uniform from the first movie around and waited until now to put it back on is beyond me, but it does give the movie a goofy returning to its roots, full circle kind of feel.

Ideas take the place of plot. Granted, after Phantasm 2 and 3, the need to bring in yet another cast of characters to tag along with Reggie seems needless (though Coscarelli does a nice bait and switch in that department, and he also drops a hint that the world might be far more decimated than our characters think it is). What Phantasm 4 offers is a glimpse at the world after the Tall Man has emptied it and we get to see a gentle mortician moonlighting as sorcerer transformed into The Tall Man. It also shows that Angus Scrimm can do far more than just scowl and growl "Boooooy!"

It is clear that Coscarelli made this movie strictly for the fans - it's almost like a fan movie in and of itself, as it is less interested in repeating the formula than doing something interesting with its characters and world. The viewer needs a solid knowledge of the series history and its characters to fully appreciate it and any attempting to watch it without it will only wind up scratching their heads at the confusing twists and turns. So I can only recommend this to the series most serious fans.

Reggie must find Michael in Death Valley.
You were left with a cliff-hanger in the earlier film. This film will end that segment for you and give you a new Phantasm story. Once again, A. Michael Balwin, Reggie Bannister, Bill Thornbury and Angus Scrimm delight you with more silver spheres, suspense, horror and laughter. Angus Scrimm plays a dual role with the other role being quite different than the "Tall Man". He actually plays a role as a decent, nice man. Reggie once again must find Michael and help him. Michael has already entered the world of Phantasm and is in Death Valley. What is a neat idea about this film is that footage from the first film in 1979 is re-used nicely and ties-in to this forth film. I won't say anything more about this film so you can be surprised. Nice boob job though. A fifth Phantasm film is currently in limbo. By the way, 2004 will be Phantasm's 25th Anniversary.

The Nightmare Lives On...But Humanity May Not!
I thought this fourth, and supposedly final, sequel was lacking something...like a plot. It tended to plod along, with little or no direction. As with the other movies in this series, this one tends to create more questions than it answers, which I thought was strange as how this is supposed to be the last Phantasm movie. Somewhat annoying....fans will be happy to see all the original cast members are back, but may be disappointed in the lack of thrills, action, scares, and coherent storyline. The previous movies played the game of leaving things open ended, making things appear not as they seem, but at least there was a fairly linear story to follow. Not here....

As I said, the original cast members are back, all showing their age, especially the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), and I still enjoy seeing him and hearing him utter his line "Booooy!". This movie sort of picks up where the third installment left off. We do find out more information about what's happening to Mike. We also get a little more information about the Tall Man, his origins, but not nearly enough to satisfy fans of the series. I don't know, he just didn't seem as menacing as he did in previous movies, but he did appear to be more powerful, so it was really odd. Reggie is back, and is the one character to appear in all the movies. His role in this movie is less than I would have wanted, as he really didn't get to do too much and wasn't integral to the story. The whole movie seemed thrown together, without much effort given to the story or the characters. One scene that comes to mind is when Reggie gets pulled over by a police car on a lonely road while pursuing Mike. The policeman takes his license and registration, and then disappears. Reggie goes to investigate, and gets attacked by a sort of zombie cop. Reggie takes refuge in the squad car, and attempts to remove the shotgun that's secured to the dash. He's unable to free it, but that's okay, as the zombie cop has conveniently decided to get on top of the roof and try to attack Reggie from that awkward vantage point through a window. Seeing as how the zombie cop is now on the roof, Reggie doesn't need to free the shotgun, but only to pull the trigger. As there was no reason for the zombie cop to get on the roof, it was all a set up to show that cool scene where Reggie is able to use the locked down shotgun and fire through the roof. The filmmaker also used a lot of scenes that were cut out from previous movies to create flashbacks. While it was really cool to see these scenes, the flashbacks got pretty longwinded and tedious and didn't seem to really add to the story. I would have rather seen these scenes re-edited into the movies they came from, or put into an extra features sections, but here they grew tiresome and seemed like a way to pad out the movie. We also see Jody, and Mike. Most of the movie seems to center on Mike, and his 'evolution'. We get to see his use his new powers, but kind of lame as these new powers are pretty useless when he goes against the Tall Man.

I didn't really talk a lot about the actual story, as it was so sloppy and slap dash, so I would recommend sticking to the first movie in this series, as it's the best. The next two were pretty good, and had a lot of action, but lacked the creepiness of the first movie. This last movie should probably be avoided, as it's pretty poor and looks more of an effort to cash in on the franchise than a labor of love. I think the fans deserved better.

Cookieman108 ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Major Disappointment
I want to start off by saying that I'm a huge fan of the original film and I thought Phantasm II (not on DVD yet) was a good sequal. The original Phantasm is a classic horror movie. There is much good about Phantasm 4. The original characters are all back, including the ageless Reggie Bannister (why this guy never had more work in films is beyond me). The film was clearly shot on a limited budget, but it doesn't look cheap. It expertly uses outtake footage from the original film. I sat glued to my seat while I watched this film, usually a good sign for me. So with all that what's wrong? The script. Unbelievably weak. The movie teases us with a possible explanation for the Tall Man's origin, yet ultimately the film goes nowhere. This film explains little in the series, and what little it touches on is only vague hints. Just like Phantasm III, which I was also VERY disappointed in, this film does nothing to resolve the character's fates, with the possible exception of big brother Jody. I have no doubt that there could be a Phantasm V as this film does nothing to tie up any loose ends. Frankly, I'm getting tired of the past 2 films in the series going nowhere and not really resolving anything and I'd prefer not to see another film if it just going to be like this one. The only people who should watch this film are hardcore fans who've seen all the other films in the series.

The Best In The Series (Hopefully Not The End)
Phantasm IV is by far the best in the series. 5 out of 5. Phantasm Phans will enjoy this. Don Coscarelli made this film as a love letter to the Phans. The film uses deleted footage from the original Phantasm movie to further enhance the story line and it works. Phantasm IV begins right where Phantasm III left off. Mike leaves on a quest to escape his transformation, while Reggie fights to save him from The Tall Man. Mike, Reggie and The Tall Man are modern day representations of mythological characters and their adventures are reminders of stories about quest, heroes and villains. Mike must confront his past and the secret of The Tall Man is reviled. I have to say that in the opening of the movie, when Mike gives his speech about "The Last Perfect Day", I was on the verge of tears. Phantasm IV is a masterpiece of film.

One for the fans, and only for the fans.
Mike, a Silver Sphere imbedded in his skull, is starting a bizarre transformation of sorts - while Reggie is left hanging, literally. The Tall Man hints that this may all be part of a larger design.

Director/writer Don Coscarelli's fourth Phantasm movie is a mixed bag of ideas, concepts, and characters. Once again picking up at the ending of the previous entry, this chapter looks the least like a Phantasm movie and, with its jumbles of flashbacks and dimension hopping, it is arguably the most surreal. It is also a radical departure in the series visual tone, as it is set entirely in a desert, with not a graveyard or mausoleum in sight. Mike spends most of the movie having visions while Reggie has repeated seriocomic run ins with The Tall Man's evil helpers (zombies, spheres, and dwarves) as he attempts to catch up with Mike. Why Reggie has carted his ice cream uniform from the first movie around and waited until now to put it back on is beyond me, but it does give the movie a goofy returning to its roots, full circle kind of feel.

Ideas take the place of plot. Granted, after Phantasm 2 and 3, the need to bring in yet another cast of characters to tag along with Reggie seems needless (though Coscarelli does a nice bait and switch in that department, and he also drops a hint that the world might be far more decimated than our characters think it is). What Phantasm 4 offers is a glimpse at the world after the Tall Man has emptied it and we get to see a gentle mortician moonlighting as sorcerer transformed into The Tall Man. It also shows that Angus Scrimm can do far more than just scowl and growl "Boooooy!"

It is clear that Coscarelli made this movie strictly for the fans - it's almost like a fan movie in and of itself, as it is less interested in repeating the formula than doing something interesting with its characters and world. The viewer needs a solid knowledge of the series history and its characters to fully appreciate it and any attempting to watch it without it will only wind up scratching their heads at the confusing twists and turns. So I can only recommend this to the series most serious fans.

Reggie must find Michael in Death Valley.
You were left with a cliff-hanger in the earlier film. This film will end that segment for you and give you a new Phantasm story. Once again, A. Michael Balwin, Reggie Bannister, Bill Thornbury and Angus Scrimm delight you with more silver spheres, suspense, horror and laughter. Angus Scrimm plays a dual role with the other role being quite different than the "Tall Man". He actually plays a role as a decent, nice man. Reggie once again must find Michael and help him. Michael has already entered the world of Phantasm and is in Death Valley. What is a neat idea about this film is that footage from the first film in 1979 is re-used nicely and ties-in to this forth film. I won't say anything more about this film so you can be surprised. Nice boob job though. A fifth Phantasm film is currently in limbo. By the way, 2004 will be Phantasm's 25th Anniversary.

The Nightmare Lives On...But Humanity May Not!
I thought this fourth, and supposedly final, sequel was lacking something...like a plot. It tended to plod along, with little or no direction. As with the other movies in this series, this one tends to create more questions than it answers, which I thought was strange as how this is supposed to be the last Phantasm movie. Somewhat annoying....fans will be happy to see all the original cast members are back, but may be disappointed in the lack of thrills, action, scares, and coherent storyline. The previous movies played the game of leaving things open ended, making things appear not as they seem, but at least there was a fairly linear story to follow. Not here....

As I said, the original cast members are back, all showing their age, especially the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), and I still enjoy seeing him and hearing him utter his line "Booooy!". This movie sort of picks up where the third installment left off. We do find out more information about what's happening to Mike. We also get a little more information about the Tall Man, his origins, but not nearly enough to satisfy fans of the series. I don't know, he just didn't seem as menacing as he did in previous movies, but he did appear to be more powerful, so it was really odd. Reggie is back, and is the one character to appear in all the movies. His role in this movie is less than I would have wanted, as he really didn't get to do too much and wasn't integral to the story. The whole movie seemed thrown together, without much effort given to the story or the characters. One scene that comes to mind is when Reggie gets pulled over by a police car on a lonely road while pursuing Mike. The policeman takes his license and registration, and then disappears. Reggie goes to investigate, and gets attacked by a sort of zombie cop. Reggie takes refuge in the squad car, and attempts to remove the shotgun that's secured to the dash. He's unable to free it, but that's okay, as the zombie cop has conveniently decided to get on top of the roof and try to attack Reggie from that awkward vantage point through a window. Seeing as how the zombie cop is now on the roof, Reggie doesn't need to free the shotgun, but only to pull the trigger. As there was no reason for the zombie cop to get on the roof, it was all a set up to show that cool scene where Reggie is able to use the locked down shotgun and fire through the roof. The filmmaker also used a lot of scenes that were cut out from previous movies to create flashbacks. While it was really cool to see these scenes, the flashbacks got pretty longwinded and tedious and didn't seem to really add to the story. I would have rather seen these scenes re-edited into the movies they came from, or put into an extra features sections, but here they grew tiresome and seemed like a way to pad out the movie. We also see Jody, and Mike. Most of the movie seems to center on Mike, and his 'evolution'. We get to see his use his new powers, but kind of lame as these new powers are pretty useless when he goes against the Tall Man.

I didn't really talk a lot about the actual story, as it was so sloppy and slap dash, so I would recommend sticking to the first movie in this series, as it's the best. The next two were pretty good, and had a lot of action, but lacked the creepiness of the first movie. This last movie should probably be avoided, as it's pretty poor and looks more of an effort to cash in on the franchise than a labor of love. I think the fans deserved better.

Cookieman108 ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Marginal "Thriller"
This movie purports to be a thriller, but it is really schizophrenic. It has multiple personalities. At the beginning it can't seem to decide whether it's a spoof, or a T&A movie, or a thriller. During the latter three-quarters of the movie it tries hard to be a thriller, but by that time it's too late to redeem itself.

Here's what you need to know about this movie if you are thinking of spending money on it: 1) It's a "B" movie, so there is no big budget, polished script, etc; and 2) Despite a few gratuitous bare-chest scenes, this is NOT a T&A movie either.

This movie does have a couple of things going for it, however. It does have a coherent plot and a surprise ending. The quality of the acting was also pretty darn good for a "B" movie. If the writers and director had stuck with the thriller concept from the beginning and ditched the schizo beginning this would have been a decent thriller. As it is, it ends up being marginal at best.

Now don't get me wrong--I own and appreciate good T&A movies (like Bikini Carwash, for example). In my book though, if a movie starts down that path then it needs to be honest and commit itself to being a good T&A movie. I don't appreciate a few "teaser" scenes to try to spice up a poorly made movie. That just doesn't cut it.

Not worth the time
I was looking
forward to a typical "beautiful lady cops who lose their
clothing a lot" type of film. But somehow, that movie
failed to materialize. Schade.

Descent film, but no cigar
The beauty of the women in this movie is without doubt it's plus, it's makes you forget the averige acting. The storie is nice and has it's up's and down, it's not in every movie that you get to see a "tittycam". Enjoyable are the fighting scenes, there's one in where a girl beats-up two men, a catfight and more. For the price you won't be disappointed ... Read more