Phantasm

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1:52

Phantasm

R

Released Mar 28, 1979

1h 27m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

The residents of a small town have begun dying under strange circumstances, leading young Mike (Michael Baldwin) to investigate. After discovering that the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), the town's mortician, is killing and reanimating the dead as misshapen zombies, Mike seeks help from his older brother, Jody (Bill Thornbury), and local ice cream man Reggie (Reggie Bannister). Working together, they try to lure out and kill the Tall Man, all the while avoiding his minions and a deadly silver sphere.

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Critics Consensus

Phantasm: Remastered adds visual clarity to the first installment in one of horror's most enduring -- and endearingly idiosyncratic -- franchises.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It's put together rather curiously out of disjointed scenes, snatches of dialog, and brief strokes of characterization.

Rated: 1.5/4

Nov 28, 2023

Full Review

Perry Stewart

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

A fairly artful blending of traditional horror stuff and science-fiction.

Sep 27, 2022

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Gary Arnold

Washington Post

"Phantasm" will not be remembered as a masterpiece of the horror genre, but it sustains a gauche, hokey, desperately improvisational charm.

Oct 20, 2017

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Jared Mobarak

Jaredmobarak.com

Despite any production failings... one cannot deny the effective special effects and formal structure.

Rated: 7/10

Nov 28, 2023

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a relatively promising set-up that's employed to persistently (and increasingly) underwhelming and uninvolving effect by Coscarelli...

Rated: 1/4

Jan 22, 2021

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Coscarelli utilizes a disturbingly unstable reality that borders on a world of nightmares - the perfect setting for pondering life, death, and reincarnation.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 30, 2020

Full Review

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Robson C

Mike e seu irmão Jody estão sozinhos agora, depois que os seus pais morreram em um acidente. Mike passa a ter medo de ficar sozinho, achando que o irmão pode deixá-lo e passa a segui-lo. Assim, ele acba descobrindo coisas estranhas sobre o agente funerário da cidade, conhecido apenas como Homem Alto. Don Coscarelli escreveu, dirigiu, editou e fez a fotografia do filme. Colocou vários parentes em outras funções, como, por exemplo, sua mãe no design de produção. Amigos trabalham como atores na base da amizade. E assim nasce Fantasma, uma pequena pérola que mistura terror, ficção científica, humor e drama. Mesmo com o pouco orçamento, nós temos um bom design de produção, principalmente no mausoléu, que apesar de pequeno, ele foi filmado de forma que parecesse bem maior, além de ter uma estética bem bonita. Outro ponto positivo é a trilha sonora, a la Halloween e Sexta-Feira 13, usando de elementos eletrônicos e soando bem macabros. Além de acertar na direção, Coscarelli também mandou bem no roteiro. Os seus personagens são bem construídos e o Homem Alto não se tornou uma figura mais importante no terror, pois tem tudo, como uma figura que impressiona e a maneira que o ator Angus Scrimm diz os seus diálogos é bem marcante. Apesar de não ter sido bem distribuído, lucrou bastante e tem os seus fãs, como o diretor J. J. Abrahams. Talvez o filme perca público, com a sua edição, que mostra cenas sem explicação, como uma cena de um duo entre os personagens Jody e o seu amigo Reggie. Mike já é um protótipo do personagem adolescente dos anos 80. Outra marca registrada do filme é a famosa bola prateada voadora, cheia dos utensílios para matar os seus alvos. Possui bons efeitos especiais práticos, trucagens com a câmera. Fantasma é uma pérola a ser descoberta pelo público em geral.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/14/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Loved this as a teen. Thought is was spooky and had a lot of jump scares. This would be fun to see again in theater with a full house crowd.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/07/24

Full Review

Megan D

Dumbest movie I ever saw. If I could I would give it no stars.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/27/24

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Liam D

There are no other movie like this and it deserves its place in cult classic cinema for a reason

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/23/24

Full Review

Jared E

God I f'ing love this movie. The feel, the setting😅✨, the characters. It's a movie that truly sets a tone and vibe a la David Lynch's Twin Peaks. Dark and bleak but full of character. Made in an America long gone. 👋🤘 It does kind of get goofier and cornier as you go along but still real fun overall.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/04/24

Full Review

KING S

Great cinematography and just a mix of scary and bizarre in one , the Tall Man was one of the first franchise horror characters in 1979 and has several movies but this is the only one to watch besides the sequel.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/24

Full Review

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Don Coscarelli

Director

A. Michael Baldwin

Michael "Mike" Pearson

Bill Thornbury

Jody Pearson

Reggie Bannister

Reggie

Kathy Lester

Lady in Lavender

Terrie Kalbus

Fortune Teller's grandaughter

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Phantasm: Official Clip - Silver Death Sphere

2:43

Phantasm: Official Clip - Deadly Car Chase

2:19

Phantasm: Official Clip - Lurker Attack

1:00

Phantasm: Official Clip - Demonic Fly

2:16

Phantasm: Official Clip - Jam Session

1:16

Phantasm: Official Clip - Death on the Road

1:05

Phantasm: Official Clip - Reggie's Death

2:48

Phantasm: Official Clip - I've Been Waiting for You

1:51

Phantasm: Official Clip - Interdimensional Portal

2:54

Phantasm: Official Clip - The Tall Man Attacks

2:35

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Phantasm: Remastered: Trailer

1:52

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Synopsis

The residents of a small town have begun dying under strange circumstances, leading young Mike (Michael Baldwin) to investigate. After discovering that the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), the town's mortician, is killing and reanimating the dead as misshapen zombies, Mike seeks help from his older brother, Jody (Bill Thornbury), and local ice cream man Reggie (Reggie Bannister). Working together, they try to lure out and kill the Tall Man, all the while avoiding his minions and a deadly silver sphere.

Director: Don Coscarelli
Producer: Dac Coscarelli
Screenwriter: Don Coscarelli
Distributor: AVCO Embassy Pictures
Production Co: New Breed Productions Inc.
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 28, 1979, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 7, 2016
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 4, 2016
Runtime: 1h 27m

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