Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998)

Mike travels through time and dimensions to find the Tall Man's origins.

Director:

Don Coscarelli

Writers:

Don Coscarelli (characters), Don Coscarelli

Stars:

A. Michael Baldwin, Reggie Bannister, Bill Thornbury

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
A. Michael Baldwin	...	Mike
Reggie Bannister	...	Reggie
Bill Thornbury	...	Jody
Heidi Marnhout	...	Jennifer
Bob Ivy	...	Demon Trooper
Angus Scrimm	...	The Tall Man / Dr. Jebediah Morningside
Christopher L. Stone	...	Music & Dwarf Creatures (voice) (as Christopher Stone)
Chloe Kay	...	Background Player
Sylvia Flammer	...	Background Player
David Gasster	...	Background Player
Sasha Kassel	...	Background Player
Aidan Kassel	...	Background Player
Eric Avary	...	13th Morningside Volunteer Infantryman
Andy John	...	13th Morningside Volunteer Infantryman
George A. Craig	...	13th Morningside Volunteer Infantryman

Storyline

Taking off immediately where the last one ended, in this episode Mike travels across dimensions and time fleeing from the Tall Man, at the same time he tries to find the origins of his enemy, and what really happened the night that his brother died. Meanwhile, Reggie (accompanied by a beauty he picked up on the road) battles the spheres and the undead in a quest to find Mike before the Tall Man can complete his transformation.

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Plot Keywords:

ice cream truck | alien invasion | interdimensional being | supernatural being | zombie cop | 

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Taglines:

From the Creators of the Original Phantasm comes the sequel "Phans" Have Been Screaming for!

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for horror violence/gore and some strong language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 October 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Phantasm: Phorever

Filming Locations:

Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$650,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Starway International Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

(at around 5 mins) Angus Scrimm was suffering from laryngitis during the filming of the opening scene. That's why his usually deep Tall Man voice sounds more like Orson Welles.

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Goofs

(at around 17 mins) When Reggie is pulled over, he gives the cop his license and registration through the window. As he is waiting he can't see the policeman in his rear-view mirror. As he is getting ready to get out of the car to check, the window is still cracked about 6 inches. But when the scene cuts to him opening the door, the window is all of the way up.

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Quotes

Jody: I didn't abandon you Mike. I was taken.

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Crazy Credits

THIS MOTION PICTURE IS PROTECTED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES. UNAUTHORIZED DUPLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, OR EXHIBITION MAY RESULT IN CIVIL LIABILITY, CRIMINAL PROSECUTION, AND THE WRATH OF THE TALL MAN.

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Connections

Featured in Movie Nights: Phantasm 3 and 4 (2010)

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Soundtracks

Have You Seen It?
Lyrics by Reggie Bannister
Performed by Reggie Bannister (as Reggie B) & the Jizz Wailin' Ya' Doggies
From the CD album "Fools Paradise"
Courtesy of Plan 10 Recordings
Executive Producer Terry J. Svejda
Produced by Doug Agee
Alpha Sound Services Geneva, Il.

User Reviews

Surprisingly Good

A horror movie that is fourth in a series should be terrible. This one actually stands on its own as a good movie, though perhaps not great as fourth in the series.

As other users have commented, this movie does not answer questions about the Phantasm series. It shows a little background on the tall man, and that's it.

On the other hand, looking at it as a stand-alone-movie, it works! It has very coherent and often beautiful art direction. There are very few characters (I assume to save money), but that works. It keeps the movie from bogging down in goofy dialogue and laughable characters like Phantasm III.

The movie actually gets rather artful at times. Just observe the desert scenes with the field of metal rods to see what I mean. The Tall Man doesn't seem too threatening in this one. He come across much more as a constant pressure instead of an acute danger.

The individual characters aren't really developed any more than the previous films. They are reaching archetypal roles of heros, seekers, fighters, etc.

This is not a slasher film. It almost is not a horror movie. Oddly enough, it is almost stepping out of its low-brow beginnings (except for the breast scene in the hotel) and nearly reaching art movie status. I would love to see Phantasm V taken further in this vein. Unfortunately, I think this is the last of the series. Enjoy it if you can find it!