A Classic
Added 11/7/2009
Becoming a "classic" horror movie is very difficult. Mainly because each generation becomes more desensitized to violence, and more used to horror conventions. As such, they come to expect the gore and monster jumping out of nowhere tactics. This is why Phantasm's ability to achieve classic status, especially given its modest budget and production value is such a feat. Unlike most, I did not see this movie until very recently, meaning I've seen a very large amount of horror flicks prior to this so did not expect to find anything new in an old low budget horror flick. How wrong I was.
Phantasm is a creepy, scary, psychological movie. The movie is more interested in playing with your mind than with a body count, which is the way I prefer it. There's an air of mystery throughout the movie, some of which is not resolved. I liked that a horror movie, especially one from a few decades ago, found ways to surprise me and keep me on the edge of my seat. Sure the effects and makeup is a bit dated, but that doesn't stop this from being a classic movie. If you haven't seen this, I highly recommend giving it a chance.
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The Anchor Bay Edition
Added 9/23/2009
PHANTASM has fared pretty well on home video over the years with 3 VHS editions that I am aware of, 3 laserdisc issues and so far two (region 1) DVD releases (where's the bluray?). This latest version from Anchor Bay is the first time we have gotten an anamorphic release and it sure is nice to have it. Anchor Bay generally does an amazing job at putting together all sorts of cool extras and animated menus for their releases and they do a fairly good job here. The anamorphic transfer on this DVD does not seem to me to be the same print used for the MGM and laserdisc releases. I think this transfer looks a little more grainy and the color a little more off than the previous DVD. It looks okay but it isn't remarkable in any way. I suppose this could be because I'm now watching on a large HD screen and flaws are more apparent than before. It is difficult to compare this print accurately with the previous non-anamorphic ones. The Dolby 5.1 soundtrack sounds the same as the previous releases and it is quite good however this new DVD DOES NOT include the original mono soundtrack that was provided on the MGM release. There are a couple of new extras exclusive to this Anchor Bay edition. There is a short version of the PHANTASMAGORIA documentary and some interview segments called ACTORS HAVING A BALL. Those are the only features that are exclusive to this release. The commentary track is the same one I have been listening too since the collectors edition LaserDisc. Strangely, there are things MISSING from this Anchor Bay DVD that were on the LaserDisc and MGM DVD. There are ten minutes of deleted scenes on the MGM and only 8 minutes here (2 deleted scenes are missing). Angus Scrimm in australia doing his tall man schtick is not included on this release. The Coscarelli/Scrimm TV interview is here though, as are cleaned up versions fo the trailers and TV ads. There are NO radio spots included on this one, also gone is the Angus Scrimm introduction to the film (an especially sad ommission by Anchor Bay). The stills gallery is not included and neither is the complete version of "Sittin Here At Midnight" by Bill Thornbury, or the "Disco Phantasm" music tracks. We do get the Fangoria convention footage. One big improvment is the restoration of the original poster art for the front cover. This is also a two sided DVD cover in a transparent keepcase that has cool inside cover photography and a disc that looks like a silver sphere. This is a far from a definitive video release of PHANTASM but the anamorphic transfer makes this the best edition we have gotten so far. And by the way, I think PHANTASM is the greatest horror film ever made.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Scary in 1979, hilarious now, but still a treasure
Added 6/5/2009
This movie is a classic. I am sure it scared the heck out of the viewers the first time it was released. It is funny for us now in 2009, but it is still a treasure for collectors of movie memorabilia. I collect horror movies from the original "Nosferatu" until the stuff like "Drag me to hell". It is not that I like to be frightened, but it is exciting to scream and laugh afterwards because of how silly was what got us scared. Excellent movie to see the traditional middle 70s to middle 80s horror movies.
1 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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Great movie, I met Angus once...
Added 5/18/2009
One tall man, three heroes, several small jawas, one black Plymouth Cuda, a flying ball that'll drill ya, and a partridge in a pear tree!
Great movie. Weird as heck, but fun! I met Angus Scrimm at a Fangoria horror movie convention as a teen back in 1987. Wow. What fun. He was really adept at being able to laugh about the Tall Man character and enjoying the role for what it was. He talked about how little dialogue he actually had in Phantasm I and II. He actually had it all memorized and said it to us...something like, "Boy! Boy! Boy! You play a good game boy but the game is finished, now you die! Boy!" and a few other lines. It took him like fifteen seconds lol. We all cracked up. I got his autograph. It was my first convention for sci fi/horror.
Reggie Bannister is the greatest. "We're hot as love!" oh man, classic
And for corn's sake, the CUDA! Plymouth Cuda! Oh baby! That and the Dodge Challenger, the two greatest cars ever made!
This is a fun frightfest. My wife is just terrified of this flick so it's fun to watch at Halloween.
I think it's an UTTER TRAVESTY that Phantasm II is STILL not available on Region I! Total blasphemy folks!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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It was little and brown and low to the ground!
Added 4/18/2009
Right from the first scene in the movie you know this isn't going to be your average horror movie. There really isn't much of a plot, but what little there is isn't revealed until about halfway through the movie. The acting is sub-par, but it's not to the point of turning the whole movie into a joke. The cinematography is interesting to say the least. It isn't bad or anything, just really weird. The special effects are pretty corny and laughable, but they have their uses. The soundtrack is one of the better ones I've heard in a horror movie. The movie has it's moments, but they are few and far between and very short. Horror fanatics will want to watch this once through just for the heck of it, everyone else probably shouldn't bother.
0 out of 4 people found this helpful.
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A Classic
Added 11/7/2009
Becoming a "classic" horror movie is very difficult. Mainly because each generation becomes more desensitized to violence, and more used to horror conventions. As such, they come to expect the gore and monster jumping out of nowhere tactics. This is why Phantasm's ability to achieve classic status, especially given its modest budget and production value is such a feat. Unlike most, I did not see this movie until very recently, meaning I've seen a very large amount of horror flicks prior to this so did not expect to find anything new in an old low budget horror flick. How wrong I was.
Phantasm is a creepy, scary, psychological movie. The movie is more interested in playing with your mind than with a body count, which is the way I prefer it. There's an air of mystery throughout the movie, some of which is not resolved. I liked that a horror movie, especially one from a few decades ago, found ways to surprise me and keep me on the edge of my seat. Sure the effects and makeup is a bit dated, but that doesn't stop this from being a classic movie. If you haven't seen this, I highly recommend giving it a chance.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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The Anchor Bay Edition
Added 9/23/2009
PHANTASM has fared pretty well on home video over the years with 3 VHS editions that I am aware of, 3 laserdisc issues and so far two (region 1) DVD releases (where's the bluray?). This latest version from Anchor Bay is the first time we have gotten an anamorphic release and it sure is nice to have it. Anchor Bay generally does an amazing job at putting together all sorts of cool extras and animated menus for their releases and they do a fairly good job here. The anamorphic transfer on this DVD does not seem to me to be the same print used for the MGM and laserdisc releases. I think this transfer looks a little more grainy and the color a little more off than the previous DVD. It looks okay but it isn't remarkable in any way. I suppose this could be because I'm now watching on a large HD screen and flaws are more apparent than before. It is difficult to compare this print accurately with the previous non-anamorphic ones. The Dolby 5.1 soundtrack sounds the same as the previous releases and it is quite good however this new DVD DOES NOT include the original mono soundtrack that was provided on the MGM release. There are a couple of new extras exclusive to this Anchor Bay edition. There is a short version of the PHANTASMAGORIA documentary and some interview segments called ACTORS HAVING A BALL. Those are the only features that are exclusive to this release. The commentary track is the same one I have been listening too since the collectors edition LaserDisc. Strangely, there are things MISSING from this Anchor Bay DVD that were on the LaserDisc and MGM DVD. There are ten minutes of deleted scenes on the MGM and only 8 minutes here (2 deleted scenes are missing). Angus Scrimm in australia doing his tall man schtick is not included on this release. The Coscarelli/Scrimm TV interview is here though, as are cleaned up versions fo the trailers and TV ads. There are NO radio spots included on this one, also gone is the Angus Scrimm introduction to the film (an especially sad ommission by Anchor Bay). The stills gallery is not included and neither is the complete version of "Sittin Here At Midnight" by Bill Thornbury, or the "Disco Phantasm" music tracks. We do get the Fangoria convention footage. One big improvment is the restoration of the original poster art for the front cover. This is also a two sided DVD cover in a transparent keepcase that has cool inside cover photography and a disc that looks like a silver sphere. This is a far from a definitive video release of PHANTASM but the anamorphic transfer makes this the best edition we have gotten so far. And by the way, I think PHANTASM is the greatest horror film ever made.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Scary in 1979, hilarious now, but still a treasure
Added 6/5/2009
This movie is a classic. I am sure it scared the heck out of the viewers the first time it was released. It is funny for us now in 2009, but it is still a treasure for collectors of movie memorabilia. I collect horror movies from the original "Nosferatu" until the stuff like "Drag me to hell". It is not that I like to be frightened, but it is exciting to scream and laugh afterwards because of how silly was what got us scared. Excellent movie to see the traditional middle 70s to middle 80s horror movies.
1 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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