Phantasm

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Phantasm

R

1979

1h 27m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

50 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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Steve Simels

Entertainment Weekly

Oct 15

A

Low budget, influential, and unforgettable.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

11/28/2023

1.5/4

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

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Perry Stewart

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

09/27/2022

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

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Oct 26

2/4

Yes, the flying sphere is a nifty creation. Yes, The Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) makes for a decent horror film icon, especially when he turns “boy” into a six-syllable word (“Booooooy!”). But here’s one cult classic that’s always left me cold.

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Jared Mobarak

Jaredmobarak.com

11/28/2023

7/10

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

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

01/22/2021

1/4

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

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J H

@UpstateNYThriller Aug 7

6.5/10 Sci fi, late 70s Strange movie about Tall man slender man who turns corpses into zombie dwarves Very confusing but music and creepy scenes are good. Love the late 70s aesthetic

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Garry A

@heavyg Aug 1

The tall man, midgets, and metal spheres...need I say more?

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Wyatt F

@RT17845314 Jul 30

Wacky and weird, that’s the only way to describe this movie.

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Mason L.

@sheepwhorns Jun 13

Had a lot of potential but flopped on execution. A 90 minute run time feels like an eternity with nothing happening for 95% of the movie. Only got an extra star because of the performance of Angus Scrimm as the Tall Man.

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Steve C.

@NeverNotHorror Jun 1

A classic of 70’s horror with cool imagery and a dreamlike quality to the admittedly choppy and nonsensical plot. Phantasm oozes 70’s charm and is a blast to watch, so long as you don’t get caught up in plot holes. Shut your brain off and enjoy, BOY!!!!!

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Erock T

@Erock1991 Apr 18

Don't really understand all the love for this movie. It's very slow paced and not very scary at all. Angus Scrimm is good as "The tall man" but that's about it. Can't recommend

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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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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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