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PLOT: A resourceful boy, Mike, his older brother, Jody, and their friend, an ice cream vendor by trade named Reggie, stumble onto an evil sect led by the terrifying Tall Man, which preys on small towns, digs up dead bodies, and transforms the living, to fulfill their mysterious purpose.
REVIEW: Shot in 1979 on a shoestring budget, directed by Don Coscarelli, PHANTASM has a gritty independent feel that gives it its sense of realism. A dream-like pace and surreal imagery add a psychological component to a tactile, tangible world, with a physical horror that plays out before our very eyes.
J.J. Abrams is a particular fan of Phantasm, so much so that he named Captain Phasma from Star Wars: The Force Awakens after the series, and lended his support and resources to meticulously oversee a frame by frame restoration of the original piece. Up until this point, even the most die hard “Phans” of the series, as they are affectionately referred to, haven’t seen the original presented with such clarity.
Phantasm Remastered marks a true reawakening of the series, allowing a further exploration into the work that inspired a cult-like die hard phan-base and spawned four sequels over the course of 37 years.
The restoration itself is flawless and miraculous. Details emerge that previously had been blurred by poor VHS and DVD-quality. Colors are richer. Visuals have been cleaned up.
Some special effects have been modified, most notably with the flying death sphere sequences.
And yet, nothing feels “replaced.” Some footage still remains blurred, dirty, and flawed, such as nighttime shots of Mike and Jody‘s house. It seems with today’s technology, this could easily have been cleaned up. And yet, it seems there was a very specific intention to not alter anything shot in camera, only to fix accidental mistakes.
Indeed, it’s those flaws, the unpredictable camera movements, the grit, juxtaposed against the polished marble inside the mausoleum, that gives the film it’s unique style and feel.
The real treat with the restoration is in the digital remastering of the audio. Sound effects are crisper, louder, the bass is deeper, and this enriches the haunting aspect of the film. I knew the moment was coming when the Tall Man slaps his hand down on Jody’s shoulder for the first time, and I still jumped during the screening.
The unique, poetic, timeless musical score resonates much more strongly.
Overall, we get a much deeper, more enriching cinematic experience with this updated version of the original. Having been shot in ’79, of course, to newcomers, the film is going to feel “dated,” but with the restoration, it doesn’t feel “outdated.” This could easily be Stranger Things, the Netflix television series shot today depicting the early ’80’s.
Therefore, while longtime Phans will rejoice in seeing such respectful treatment to a beloved film, there is also an opportunity for newcomers to discover this series from the very beginning. If you’ve never seen the film, this is the version to watch.
Phantasm is a wholly unique cinematic experience. The world it depicts, its inventiveness and creativity, the scares that are unleashed, and a horror icon in The Tall Man make this film equally as worthy as some of the more mainstream films that came out around that time, such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or a few years later, A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Whether you’ve seen the film before, or if this will be your first time, this is one you will watch more than once, and will continue to put on for years to come.
Grade: A