Phantasm
27. 8. 2013 // Stewart Home // Kategorie Randnotizen 2013
Phantasm is a 1979 American horror film directed, written, photographed, co-produced, and edited by Don Coscarelli. It introduced the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), a supernatural and malevolent undertaker who turns the dead into dwarf zombies to do his bidding and take over the world. He is opposed by a young boy, Mike (Don Coscarelli), who tries to convince his older brother Jody (Bill Thornbury) and family friend Reggie (Reggie Bannister) of the threat.
Phantasm is locally financed independent film; the cast and crew were composed of mostly amateurs and aspiring professionals. Although reviews were mixed, it was successful and became a cult film. Both positive and negative reviews focused on the dream-like, surreal narrative and imagery. It has appeared on several critics’ lists of best horror films, and it has been cited as an influence on later horror franchises. It was followed by three sequels: Phantasm II (1988), Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994), and Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998). The last two were released direct-to-video.