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IMDbPro

Phantasm

  • 19791979
  • XX
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
36K
YOUR RATING
Phantasm (1979)
Trailer 3
Play trailer2:00
3 Videos
75 Photos
HorrorSci-Fi

A teenage boy and his friends face off against a mysterious grave robber, known only as the Tall Man, who employs a lethal arsenal of unearthly weapons.A teenage boy and his friends face off against a mysterious grave robber, known only as the Tall Man, who employs a lethal arsenal of unearthly weapons.A teenage boy and his friends face off against a mysterious grave robber, known only as the Tall Man, who employs a lethal arsenal of unearthly weapons.

IMDb RATING
6.6/10
36K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Don Coscarelli
  • Writer
    • Don Coscarelli
  • Stars
    • A. Michael Baldwin
    • Bill Thornbury
    • Reggie Bannister
Top credits
  • Director
    • Don Coscarelli
  • Writer
    • Don Coscarelli
  • Stars
    • A. Michael Baldwin
    • Bill Thornbury
    • Reggie Bannister
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 356User reviews
    • 235Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations

    Videos3

    Phantasm
    Trailer 2:00
    Phantasm
    Phantasm: Remastered
    Trailer 1:53
    Phantasm: Remastered
    Phantasm
    Trailer 1:44
    Phantasm

    Photos75

    A. Michael Baldwin and Angus Scrimm in Phantasm (1979)
    Angus Scrimm in Phantasm (1979)
    A1
    Phantasm (1979)
    Angus Scrimm in Phantasm (1979)
    Angus Scrimm in Phantasm (1979)
    Angus Scrimm in Phantasm (1979)
    Angus Scrimm in Phantasm (1979)
    A. Michael Baldwin and Angus Scrimm in Phantasm (1979)
    Angus Scrimm in Phantasm (1979)
    Reggie Bannister in Phantasm (1979)
    Bill Thornbury in Phantasm (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    A. Michael Baldwin
    A. Michael Baldwin
    • Mikeas Mike
    Bill Thornbury
    Bill Thornbury
    • Jodyas Jody
    Reggie Bannister
    Reggie Bannister
    • Reggieas Reggie
    Kathy Lester
    Kathy Lester
    • Lady in Lavenderas Lady in Lavender
    Terrie Kalbus
    • Fortuneteller's Granddaughteras Fortuneteller's Granddaughter
    Kenneth V. Jones
    Kenneth V. Jones
    • Caretakeras Caretaker
    • (as Ken Jones)
    Susan Harper
    • Girlfriendas Girlfriend
    Lynn Eastman-Rossi
    Lynn Eastman-Rossi
    • Sallyas Sally
    • (as Lynn Eastman)
    David Arntzen
    • Tobyas Toby
    Ralph Richmond
    • Bartenderas Bartender
    Bill Cone
    • Tommyas Tommy
    Laura Mann
    • Double Lavenderas Double Lavender
    Mary Ellen Shaw
    • Fortunetelleras Fortuneteller
    Myrtle Scotton
    • Maidas Maid
    Angus Scrimm
    Angus Scrimm
    • The Tall Manas The Tall Man
    Dac Coscarelli
    • Funeral Guestas Funeral Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Kate Coscarelli
    • Funeral Guestas Funeral Guest
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Don Coscarelli
    • Writer
      • Don Coscarelli
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    Mike, a young teenage boy who has just lost his parents, afraid to lose his brother follow him to a funeral, where Mike witnesses the Tall Man lifting a coffin on his own. Mike decides to investigate, and discovers that the Tall Man, protected by his flying spheres, is shrinking dead bodies down to half their normal size and reanimating them as slaves. It is then up to Mike, his brother, and Reggie the ice cream man to stop the Tall man.
    sex outdoorstall mansex on the floorpicking up a girlcult film240 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • If you're looking for horror that's got balls...IT'S FOUND YOU.
    • Genres
      • Horror
      • Sci-Fi
    • Certificate
      • X
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Don Coscarelli rented all of the filming equipment used to make this movie, always on Fridays so he could use it all weekend and return it on Mondays, all the while only actually having to pay one day's rental on the equipment.
    • Goofs
      When The Tall Man breaks down the door of Mike's house, at the bottom of the door, a crew person's feet are visible running and pushing the door.
    • Quotes

      The Tall Man: Boooy!

    • Crazy credits
      With the exception of the title Phantasm appearing on-screen, there are no opening credits.
    • Alternate versions
      New Line/Image Collector's Edition laserdisc features a separate section with one deleted scene (struck from a what appears to be a work print as there is no music and sound is limited to dialogue only). The scene has Mike telling big brother Jody about weird goings-on he has witnessed at the cemetery. Jody then gets Mike drunk and takes him to Reggie's ice cream parlor, where they start a food fight. Then it cuts to a scene the next day where Jody stops by the bank where he works and visits his girlfriend.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Boulevard Nights, Phantasm, Last Embrace, Voices, Get Mean, The Great Bank Hoax (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      Sittin' Here At Midnight
      by Bill Thornbury

      Thornbury Music

    User reviews356

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A Weird and Original Cult Movie
    After the death of Tommy (Bill Cone), who was stabbed by a woman at the cemetery, Jody (Bill Thornbury) and his friend Reggie (Reggie Bannister) attend the funeral at the Morningside funeral home. Jody is followed by his teenage brother Mike (Michael Baldwin), who has just lost his parents and is afraid of losing his big brother that intends to travel.

    Mike snoops around the cemetery and sees the mortician known as The Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) carrying Tommy's coffin alone without any help. Mike breaks in the mortuary to investigate the mystery and discovers weird dwarf creatures with yellow blood and dangerous flying spheres that protect the location. When he is chased by The Tall Man, he cuts his finger and brings it home to show Jody to convince his big brother that there is a dark secret in the mortuary. Jody, Reggie and Mike discover that The Tall Man is from outer space and is transforming dead bodies in dwarfs to work as slave in his world. Now they decide that The Tall Man must be destroyed. Will they succeed in their intent?

    "Phantasm" is one of the most weird and original cult movies that I have ever seen. The surrealistic and dreamlike story entwines horror with sci-fi with many twists and bizarre characters and situations.

    I saw "Phantasm" for the first time on VHS in the early 80's and I have just seen it again on DVD and surprisingly the film has not aged, only the clothing, the hair style and the special effects. But for fans like me, it is still attractive and entertaining. My vote is seven.

    Title (Brazil): "Fantasma" ("Phantasm")
    helpful•24
    8
    • claudio_carvalho
    • Dec 23, 2012

    FAQ17

    • What does the title mean?
    • Is "Phantasm" based on a book?
    • Where can I get a copy of Kate Coscarelli's novel?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 25, 1979 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Morningside
    • Filming locations
      • Dunsmuir House & Gardens - 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • New Breed Productions Inc.
      • Bad Robot
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $300,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $11,988,469
    • Gross worldwide
      • $11,988,469
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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