MOTW #4 Phantasm

[PackBacker]

MOTW#4

"Phantasm" 1979

Directed by: Don Coscarelli

Screenplay by: Don Coscarelli

Starring: Michael Baldwin, Reggie Bannister, Bill Thornbury, Angus Scrimm


Tagline: Beware the ball, beware the tall man, beware the never dead.

http://www.phantasm.com/secrets/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/dvd01.jpg


Have at it schmoes. The Tall Man, the orb, the freaky box, the carnivorous midget/Jawas, and the coolest freakin' ice cream guy on the planet.


Upcoming schedule

MOTW #5 The Haunting (original)
MOTW #6 Videodrome
MOTW #7 A Tale of Two Sisters

[!MorganOnyx!]

My second favourite film of ALL TIME, this is a genre classic and an absolute must own for all schmoes!

Everything about this film rocks, whether you're talking about the iconic TALL MAN, the haunting score, the kick ass hemi cuda or the ambiguous, incoherent craziness of the whole damn thing!

The two brothers and their ice-cream vendor pal make an unlikely but enthusiastic team determined to stop THE TALL MAN and his crew of "balls" and "lurkers". With real moments of suspence and terror this movie has the power to scare, unnerve and blow your socks off in the action department (considering the low budget)!

Featuring one of, if not THE BEST ENDING to a genre movie EVER I could watch it over and over again! :D

[teenkiller]

The film is great and tied with the sequel for my favorite in the series. Both getting a 10/10 from me. The surrealistic incoherency makes for an interesting and unique genre experience. We don't get to find out the connection between The Tall Man and Mike but I'm okay with that. I am bothered a bit by the ending, that the final encounter was all a dream and that Jody had already been dead. Otherwise I think it's pretty cool. I'm able to look past the shaky acting and sometimes silly effects because I know Coscarelli had no budget and took on many film tasks on his own. Kudos to him for pulling on such an amazing feat with his limitations. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[XCoRyX]

Awesome movie! I enjoy watching the 2nd on a more consistent basis but I can't deny how solid and unique of a time this movie is. Love the music,too.

[teenkiller]

Originally posted by XCoRyX
Awesome movie! I enjoy watching the 2nd on a more consistent basis but I can't deny how solid and unique of a time this movie is. Love the music,too.

Interesting... I thought you HATED this movie. Or am I thinking of Phantasm 3 and 4? Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[Kikabi]

I knew I was going to be the only nay-sayer of the group! Here goes nothing:

I watched Phantasm several times. First, of course, because it my first time seeing it, just to sit back and enjoy it. Except that I didn't enjoy it all that much. Then I watched it again to give it another chance, then two more times to try to understand the love for this movie.

It has a quirky charm, and it definitely has it's moments. The opening scenes and everything surrounding Tommy's funeral are creepy. The Tall Man is the Lady in Lavendar? Yikes! I appreciated it better when understanding that it's a supposed to all be a dream - or, rather, a nightmare. Mike's fears of the deaths of loved and abandonment (as how I see it.) I felt bad for him and his need to follow his brother every where he goes.

I like the how imaginative Phantasm is, and the visual bold set pieces, such as Mike's nightmare with the Tall Man standing over him. I never expected the places where the film went, a major plus. I liked the thick, yellow blood of the Tall Man and the dwarves; somehow it's grosser than human blood. But, in spite of all the positives the movie has going for it, overall, I found it a fairly bland movie.

The film kind of began to lose me a little when Jody and Reggie did their little guitar duet. Man bonding, yeah, but did I have to hear it? There's something self-indulgent about that scene. Other bonding scenes didn't work for me, either. The ice-cream food fight was too cute for my taste. Although Reggie being an ice-cream man is a bit of whimsy I appreciated, and he is my favorite character. Reggie Bannister has some charisma that helps make up for his lack of acting abilities.

Except for Angus Scrimm (what a stage-name), who is a pretty good actor, the acting talent of the rest of the cast is mediocre at best, which also took away from the enjoyment factor. The poor acting is, perhaps, the main reason the movie's bland to me. The direction's pretty good, but the editing, in many places, feels amaturish. In other places, it's pretty good, though.

I really wish I could like Phantasm as a whole film, rather than just being able to appreciate parts of it. It's strengths definitely lie in it's unique, quirky imaginative story. I'm left wishing it had been better executed, thus a better, more interesting movie. I'm also left wishing that more horror movies would attempt to be this imaginative. 6/10

[Cronos]

This is one of those films which everytime i see it i like it a little less, first time i loved it (gave it 9/10), second time, i loved it a little less and now it's down to a 6/10. I love the plot of the film, it's one of the most unique films i've seen and also one of the best bad guys in the form of The Tall Man brilliantly portrayed by Scrimm with his deadly shiny silver balls of death (gotta love those). The rest of the acting is mostly soso aside from A. Michael Baldwin who is very poor most of the time, I think that's part of the reason i prefer the second film, because they used a different actor to play Mike. Don Coscarelli shows he's a good director with some really cool scenes and set pieces, creating some very clever and also creepy moments.

I really hope they get to do Phantasm's End before Scrimm really gets too old to play the part (he can still play one of the most menacing characters IMO), and finally put an end to one of the most interesting film series out there.

6/10

I'm going to try and give the film another look this week so it's fresher in my mind, I'm trying to get my hands on the uber cool silver ball set first :D.

[Stabby McStab]

I really love this movie, always have. I recently picked it up on DVD like the day it was released. That silver ball set is really cool too. I'd like to get one of those too.

[countchocula]

I love, love, love this franchise taken as a whole, but the original is stale and for the most part, poorly acted. This is my least favorite Philm. Little Michael Baldwin is an annoying fuckstain, and his Oompa Loompa head needs to be lobbed off. I'm sorry, but I enjoy all of the sequels more than The Tall Man's debut.

[yorrick brown]

didn`t get the end?.is it a dream or what when he sees the tall man but reggies there etc .

i guess it did happen if theres a phantasm 2.

[rilocay]

I actually blind-bought this dvd the other day, i originally held out on the ball set because didn't know if iw ould be into any of the movies, but i got the first movie finally anyways.

I enjoyed it for what it was, some moments in the script seemed poorish (such as when reggie is told about what's going on and agree's to it like it's nothing new or special) but that could be partly due to the execution of the dialogue from the actors. I did love the whole mortuary and it's characters though, im glad to say i finally know the big deal on who the Tall Man is (never knwon what the character is like) and the effects were pretty cool and well done most of the time, especially considering what money was used. And maybe its just me but Reggie at the end came off a bit too close for me - if you follow my lead. But i think thats just due to the acting, i felt he was heartless even though he was saying "im gonna be the best role model yadayada"..but didn't sound liek he gave a shit and a quater.


But i do regret not having grabbed the disc set now, im thinking i'd really dig the further movies f they expand on what's in this. This seemed really good, mainly because there's a mad idea, and you can see where it heading, but needs a somewhat better excecution. If i ever come across the sequels i'll be sure to pick them up (Australia is sucking balls but have no phantams movies out on dvd though). Oh, and before i forget, even though they looked like Jawas, i'm suprised that they wern't as riduculous under those rags.


Definatly worth seeing simply for it's content and because it is; Phantasm.

[Frank the Tank]

This is really good.

Only negative things I can say is that it's somewhat dated (That damn bug), and some of the acting is pretty horrible ("No Fear"). It's also kind of slow, with some pointless scenes. Especially, the girl and her grandmother at the beginning. I loved that guitar jam session that Jody and Reggie do. But, that's one of the pointless scenes that should've been cut.

This is very atmospheric and chilling at points. Angus Scrimm is pretty frightening as The Tall Man. The way he runs is freaking chilling. The scene at the beginning where he lifts up the very heavy coffin with easy is a nice simple chill that always gets me. The dwarves are pretty creepy. The ending gave me nightmares when I first saw it. Also, the score is great and one of the top 5 horror film scores ever.

8/10

[Romero&Juliet]

Originally posted by countchocula
his Oompa Loompa head needs to be lobbed off..

QUOTED FOR TRUTH!

[JJFlamingo]

Originally posted by yorrick brown
didn`t get the end?.is it a dream or what when he sees the tall man but reggies there etc .

i guess it did happen if theres a phantasm 2.

It was a dream until they showed Mike waking up at the end and talking to Reggie about Jody's death. To find out what REALLY happened, you have to watch Phantasm 4: Oblivion, which features previously unseen footage in flashback of the events that actually transpired with The Tall Man before Mike's dream, including Jody's death and a really creepy scene where Mike outsmarts The Tall Man and hangs him from a tree...

As for the original, while it pales next to the sheer coolness of Part 2, it's still alot of fun, with lots of surrealism, and as stated, a simply fantastic score which rivals Halloween and Exorcist as the best of the genre. Baldwin is weak, while Thornbury and Bannister are decent (Reggie would really step up his game in the sequels), but Scrimm as Tall Man kicks all ass, simply one of the Greatest Horror Villains Of All Time. I too, anxiously await a final installment to wrap it all up...:D

[XCoRyX]

Originally posted by teenkiller
Interesting... I thought you HATED this movie. Or am I thinking of Phantasm 3 and 4? Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

Yeah,thats right - I hate the 3rd one big time and didn't enjoy the fourth,but with the fourth its been a long time and I was young when I checked it out.

[Ratlehed]

I am currently groovin' to the Phantasm disco theme found on the spec. ed. DVD.

I just rewatched this again. I forgot how many times I saw it by now. Its been more than a few. I still dont understand alot of it, but I still find it enjoyable.

The movie has quite alot of good things going for it. The music is great. We get some creepy organ stuff going and other odd sound bytes. The mortuary is really neat looking. It's kind of like a labryinth inside. Which helps give the movie a fantasy element. The Tall Man is a great villian and has some good lines. Not in just this one but in the sequels as well. The 'Cuda is also kick a$$. They dont make them like that anymore.

The downside to the film is the choppiness. Alot of scenes dont blend together nicely. The part where the kid is under the car and the jack stands kick out is a really bad scene. I heard that the movie was originally 3 hours long or something like that. Then they crushed it down to around 90 minutes. Thats why it's edited badly.

I remember hearing/reading that the Lady in Lavender was her own charectar. But do to time restraints they just made her an extension of the Tall Man. She should've stayed as her own charectar.


The movie is strange and weird enough to be enjoyable. There really isnt any dull moments in the film. Parts 2 & 3 are easier to follow. But bring up just as many questions as answers. Part 4 is similar to 1 but not as good.



Phantasm2 3/4 stars
Phantasm 2.5/4 stars
Phantasm3 2/4 stars
Phantasm4 2/4 stars

I wonder how many people tried taping a shot gun shell to a hammer and smacking something with it. I am sure more than a few.

[Kings-Rook1]

Originally posted by Ratlehed
I wonder how many people tried taping a shot gun shell to a hammer and smacking something with it. I am sure more than a few.

Without a barrel to direct the force, all you'll get is a puff-o-smoke, a bit of a flash and a bit of noise...and a dent in whatever you hit (that’s to the best of my knowledge, never tried it and never will).

I failed this week’s assignment. I’ve started it twice still haven't gotten through it yet. I’ve scene it about a dozen times (ten years ago!). Labor Day and the first of the month are to blame.

It is a classic and I’m aching to get 90 minutes to catch all of it again. One of the things I really like about it that hasn’t been hit on is the vigilante attitude of the brothers. Kind of like the Hardy Boys on acid with shotguns and gore.

[Kikabi]

Originally posted by Kings-Rook1
Kind of like the Hardy Boys on acid with shotguns and gore.

Lol! Great analogy!

To Ratelhead's point about the Lady in Lavendar - it's hard now to imagine her as a separate character. I liked the weird shapeshifting aspect of the Tall Man there, but it's pretty disturbing!

So, was it really all a dream? Everything about the movie makes better sense if it were a dream, well, nightmare. I like how Mike feels the need to follow Jody everywhere - it makes sense in the context of a dream. But I understand that the idea that it's all a dream was jettisoned because of the sequels.

Oh, The Haunting just arrived in my mailbox! I've been so looking forward to seeing this!

[Ratlehed]

Originally posted by Kings-Rook1


One of the things I really like about it that hasn’t been hit on is the vigilante attitude of the brothers. Kind of like the Hardy Boys on acid with shotguns and gore.

The brothers where quite brave/stupid. Mike breaks into the mortuary with only a lighter and a hunting knife. Then Jody breaks in with only a pistol and flashlight.

Which reminds of another great scene: Jody has a dwarf on his back chocking him. Then Jody raises his gun and shoots about an inch above his own head to take down the dwarf. That was some good shootin.

[PaddieT]

Wow Phantasm, a unique film for sure... like the Evil Dead, NOTLD or TCM its rawness and rough around the edges feel only add to the film. Its flawed but uniquely and that gives it character. A great sureal atmosphere and some nice gore.
Great.

[PackBacker]

Better late than never....

I love "Phantasm". Y'all have captured a lot of the reasons for it's attraction and charm. It's not paint by numbers. There's plenty of questions out there as well as some amazing creepiness.

The Tall Man is one of my favorite "recent" horror icons. No crazy one liners, no masks, and no hairbrain shit. Quiet, menacing, and dream like is the way to go. Add in his crazy orb of death and the Jawas along with his mortuary setting and it's a slam dunk.

I really like the Hardy Boys with shotguns analogy. It fits well except they've got an ice cream salesman tagging along as well.
Some of the effects show some age (the fly!) and the budget. Otherwise I thought they did well with what they had.

The score is also fantastic. Menacing and melodic without being overbearing.

What I've never figured out is the grandma psychic/box/chick with the star thing angle? Seriously, what the fuck was that?

[Kings-Rook1]

Originally posted by PackBacker
What I've never figured out is the grandma psychic/box/chick with the star thing angle? Seriously, what the fuck was that?

The whole scene hit me as a Frank Herbert rip off. The box, the fear, the mystic shit = Dune's Bene Gesserit fear is the mind killer deal.

[therealjohng]

I fucking LOVE this movie. I don't know why, the first time I saw it I just loved it. Everything about it rules.



BBBBBBBOOOOOOYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!