PHANTASM SUCKS.

[Javakoala]

I clearly do not know what makes a good horror movie. I never would have guessed PUMPKINHEAD 2 was a better horror movie than the original PHANTASM. Heck, I didn't even know there was an objective standard you could use to rank horror movies! It's nice to learn new things.

Sic 'em, boy!

And as Chainsaw Midget says, most of the films on that list aren't nearly as good as PHANTASM.

Personally, I love PHANTASM, but not the sequels. The original is a great fever-dream of a young boy dealing with so much loss in his life (family and emotional grounding) that he launches himself into a delusional world full of horrors threatening the things he has lost, but in his dream world, he stands against these threats.

The sequels just cheapened what could have been a wonderful one-shot. But, hey, I'm not the creator, so maybe he really DID have a plan with all those half-assed, boring sequels.

[HappyGilmore]

Haven't yet seen Phantasm.

[retrorussell]

Phantasm definitely has its faults that I couldn't overlook if I wanted to.. actually, the movie is a bit of a mess.  I remember seeing it back in the day and being kinda creeped out, but nowadays it's really not too effective, just weird.  But there are definitely some good ideas in place, and they just weren't terribly well put together.  In the right hands (and with a few celebrities, like perhaps CHRISTOPHER LLOYD as the Tall Man) a remake could be very entertaining!

[skuts]

I dont think ive ever been so misslead in my whole life. Before I bought it and watched it today, I had heard nothing but GOOD thingS about this movie. Isnt this supposed to be a classic of its genre or something? Guys, its........BORING. With a NON-EXISTANT PLOT. I think I'd be more entertained watching mud dry!

So in conclusion, PHUCK PHANTASM. This one gets a skull. I want my 17 bucks back.

I don't get it. Everybody raves about this pointless POS.

[Chainsawmidget]

Phantasm is not a logical movie.  I think that's what throws people off.

Horrible things are happening and they don't always make sense, but that doesn't mean they aren't just as deadly.  It capitalized on a fear of the unknown.  You get just enough hints to suggest what's going on, but never enough to explain anything. 

It's a movie done in the style of a nightmare. 

[skuts]

It's a movie done in the style of a nightmare. 

That can work for a competent director like David Lynch, but for Coscarelli(sp) it's just an excuse for poor filmmaking.

[indianasmith]

I personally liked it quite a bit, although I will admit it has not aged well.

[Cthulhu]

Is Phantasm 2 any better?

[Javakoala]

Is Phantasm 2 any better?

I didn't think so, but it has a lot of fans. It's more of the same, but with a different Mike. The story is slightly more linear, but every one of the movies has basically the same ending.

[Skull]

Phantasm is not a logical movie.  I think that's what throws people off.

hehe that's somewhat true. Phantasm is a *concept horror film (it's similar to Beyond, Gates of Hell, Inferno, Suspiria).

* Sorry I believe the term is called concept horror film or maybe Absolute Horror Film.  The intent is to have the story loaded with scary images more then the plot.

I love the story for what it is and that the nightmare effects predates Nightmare on Elm Street :)

[retrorussell]

Is Phantasm 2 any better?

I think so.  The increased budget really helps IMO.  I would recommend checking it out.

[FatFreddysCat]

Way to bump an aged thread!

For the record, I haven't seen Phantasm in years 'n' years but even when I did back in the day, I remember wondering what all the whoop de doo was about. I've often thought about re-visiting it all these years later but haven't gotten round to it yet.

This discussion has got me interested in seeing "Phantasm" again after a quarter century, so I just reserved it (and "II") via the public library's web site. They have to have it shipped in from another town so I should have 'em by the end of the week.

....and if it turns out that I hate "Phantasm" after this re-watch, I'm blaming you guys! 

[Rev. Powell]

By complete coincidence, a writer just submitted a thoughtful essay on PHANTASM to my site. I doubt it will change any haters minds but it suggests a different, non-linear way to think about the movie. http://366weirdmovies.com/phantasm-a-psychogeography/

[Javakoala]

By complete coincidence, a writer just submitted a thoughtful essay on PHANTASM to my site. I doubt it will change any haters minds but it suggests a different, non-linear way to think about the movie. http://366weirdmovies.com/phantasm-a-psychogeography/

A very interesting take on the film.

Frankly, I just put my brain in a pickle jar and enjoy the movie for being weird, creepy and funny, all at the same time.

[FatFreddysCat]

This discussion has got me interested in seeing "Phantasm" again after a quarter century, so I just reserved it (and "II") via the public library's web site. They have to have it shipped in from another town so I should have 'em by the end of the week.

....and if it turns out that I hate "Phantasm" after this re-watch, I'm blaming you guys! 

So I re-visited "Phantasm" last night for the first time in dog years. Ehhhh... it was OK I guess. Didn't hate it, but didn't love it either. It didn't make a lick of sense but at least it wasn't boring.
I'm going to watch "II" tonight and if things don't improve in that one I won't be bothering to track down "III" and "IV," that's for sure.