Phantoms (Video 1990)
"Meridian" (original title)

Two American students go to Italy after graduating from art school, one to work in restoration of paintings, the other because she's inherited her father's castle. When the restorer visits ... See full summary »

Director:

Charles Band

Writers:

Charles Band (story), Dennis Paoli (screenplay)

Stars:

Sherilyn Fenn, Malcolm Jamieson, Charlie Spradling

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sherilyn Fenn	...	Catherine
Malcolm Jamieson	...	Lawrence / Oliver
Charlie Spradling	...	Gina (as Charlie)
Hilary Mason	...	Martha
Phil Fondacaro	...	Dwarf
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Priest
Alex Daniels	...	Beast
Vito Passeri	...	Adriana
Angelo de Bianchi	...	Lunatic Man
Salem Badr	...	Strong Man
Walter Colombaioni	...	Fire Eater
Nashira	...	Belly Dancer
Gianluca Tramboni	...	Boy
Fernando Cerulli	...	Master
Isabella Celani	...	Ghost

Storyline

Two American students go to Italy after graduating from art school, one to work in restoration of paintings, the other because she's inherited her father's castle. When the restorer visits her friend at the castle, they invite the players of a traveling sideshow to dinner, and are slipped drugs, leading to an orgy of abandon. The woman who owns the castle keeps having visions of a young woman who has been stabbed in the castle. After talking to her nanny, she finds that the "vision" woman is her father's sister, who was murdered brutally as the consequence of a 15th Century curse put on her family, and that she is the next in line, and the troupe they have entertained is a part of the curse.

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Plot Keywords:

castle | curse | italy | sideshow | supernatural power | 

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Taglines:

Seduced by something less than human. In love with something more.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

13 April 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Meridian: Kiss of the Beast

Filming Locations:

Bomarzo, Viterbo, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Full Moon Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Test Tube Teens from the Year 2000 (1994)

User Reviews

An Eye Candy Snippet

The film Meridian is basically a live version of the classic cartoon "Beauty and the Beast" but without the singing teapot, candle, and clock and some other plot changes. The heroine, as played by Eye Candy Hall of Fame inductee Sherilyn Fenn, inherits a creepy castle. One day, she and her friend (fellow inductee Charlie Spradling) venture down to the village and watch a creepy little circus. They proceed to invite the creepy performers back to the castle for dinner. The creeps then drug our two ladies, and while in an altered state, the creepy ringmaster disrobes them to engage in a carnal act. Here at the academy we deplore the concept of date rape or any other act of sexual aggression within a film to justify a nude scene. In this case it is an important plot development, the film is of the horror genre, no physical abuse is incorporated in the scene, and the fact that it proceeds at a snail's pace causes us to forget what triggered the event. Putting our bias aside, upon viewing the de-clothed heroines, we realize that Sherilyn looks Fenn-tastic and Ms. Spradling ain't such a bad thing. In fact hold onto your beer while admiring the natural talents of Ms. Spradling. This scene alone fulfills the requirements of the academy but the film alone does not (no more worthy scenes of nakedness). As for the film itself, the story then proceeds along to answer the following questions: Can the curse of the Man-Beast be lifted?, Why are there strange happenings at the castle?, Will Ms. Fenn's character find true love?, and How come some of the castle walls are made of cardboard?