Horror Movie Reviews
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Title: Phantasm (1999) |
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Review of Phantasm
- Jody is the kind of guy that every 1970s teen looked up to. He's in his early 20s, has a cool car, splendid '70s hair, leather jacket, plays guitar and (naturally) snags all the girls. His little brother, Mike, in particular, admires him and emulates him at every turn. Things start to go astray, however, when the two brothers and their friend Reggie attend a funeral for a friend. Mike notices a tall man working at the funeral home; in the course of his snooping, he sees the tall man put a loaded coffin into the back of a hearse as easily as if it was a shoebox. Jody doesn't believe his little brother's stories, though, until he brings home the tall man's severed finger, 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 the sequel-ripe twist ending.
Phantasm was one of the first horror movies to break the unspoken rule that victims were supposed to scream, fall down, and cower until they were killed. Instead, Mike and Jody are resourceful and smart, aggressively pursuing the evil inside the funeral home with a shotgun and Colt pistol. Furthermore, the script has a great deal of character development, especially in the relationship between the two brothers. The film even has a surprisingly glossy look, despite its low-budget origins, and little outright gore (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, and spawned three sequels. Little wonder; it includes an inventive story, likable characters, a runaway pace, and, of course, evil dwarves cloaked in Army blankets. 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 of 1960s muscle cars, rounding out his status as a Cool Guy. --Jerry Renshaw
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Comments for Phantasm
- Posted on 2008-04-18
5-Star Independent Classic Horror. See it, it's good for ya.
Don Coscarelli's intensely dreamlike "Phantasm" is a very original and startling horror film from the late 70's. A lot of horror classics were produced in the 70's, but this one in particular stands out because it is the only one that does not hearken back in some way to earlier established archetypes. All the details are more or less original, so you are not looking at a retread of the conventional Frankenstein/Dracula/Zombie stories. The main baddie is an exceptionally tall undertaker from another planet, for starters. His dwarf slaves are essentially zombies (reanimated dead people he has crushed "down to half size") but in their behavior and appearance do not really resemble zombies from other myths. This is a movie trying to be as different as possible.
All the strange elements and images here add up to a high-octane creepy sense of the bizarre that, in my opinion, has never quite been matched. But if you find yourself chuckling at the absurdities here and there--or just straight-up laughing--that's no accident. There are some very funny moments ("Yahhhhh!! My FOOT, man!"), and these tend to hone the fine edge of the film's unpredictability.
In the opening scenes, we see that spooky shenanigans are going on over at that Morningside Mortuary, including murder, appearances of strange hooded dwarf creatures, and kid-hero Mike (Michael Baldwin) riding his motorcycle around in the cemetery, apparently for kicks. After just a few minutes have elapsed, "Phantasm" is already a tapestry of weirdness, and it generally gets stranger, scarier and funnier as it goes along. The youthful hero Mike, in order to save his older brother and their friend Reggie from the eerie monsters invading their home town, is ready to jump into the action and fight. Will the Tall Man, with his hordes of undead minions, be conquered? With a villain this strange and this powerful, their valiant, 70's-macho efforts may not be enough.
Not surprising that it was a big theatrical hit when it came out originally. It was totally unlike any other movie, and audiences could see clearly that this low-budget oddity was bending over backwards to deliver its roller-coaster-style entertainment.
Excellent on DVD with its stereo-surround remix and special features. This movie has had a number of sequels--all of which are interesting and worth a look. But the original first film establishes the ambiguous myth in a pure, inspired way, and is the most perfect of the series.
Score: 5
- Posted on 2008-03-26
Peew!
I saw this movie when I was 15 or 16 in 1979 and it scared me to pieces. It scared me so bad that I made the guy who took me to this movie stay on the phone with me all night after he dropped me off at home. I woke to the sound of his snoring on the other end. I couldn't look at, let alone buy, a full length mirror for years. But seeing it again in 2008...wow, what a bad film! Maybe I've gotten jaded by today's horror films because the effects in this one are horrible.It's good for the nostalgia and camp: a movie to watch with your friends, drink a few beers, while each and every one of you proclaim that even you can act better than the actors in this movie.
Score: 1
- Posted on 2008-03-08
Difference between horror and horrible?
Is this movie.
It's not often I give a horror movie 4 stars,but this one has a likability and freshness that makes it watchable.
Unlike other horror films(i.e. Jeepers Creepers)this one is genuinely not stupid or cliche.
For what it is,I have no major dislikes.
Score: 4
- Posted on 2008-03-05
this movie rocks
I like so much the atmosphere of this movie. It is not a movie for everybody because it is movie weird movie. But if you are open, you will enjoy this movie I tell you!!
Score: 5 - Posted on 2008-02-28
Phantasm DVD
Difficult DVD to find! Great price,fast Shipment, good communucation and the product arrived in good condition! What more could you want? Recommend this seller! Thanks!
Kevin
Score: 5