Phantasm
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Movie Details
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Videos & Photos
- Trailer 3 (01:59)
- Trailer for Phantasm (01:43)
Movie Info & Cast
Synopsis
Newly orphaned teenager Mike Pearson, his older brother Jody, and their friends face off against a mysterious grave robber known as the Tall Man, who employs a lethal arsenal of unearthly weapons in their southern California town.
Cast
- A. Michael Baldwin
- Bill Thornbury
- Reggie Bannister
- Kathy Lester
- Terrie Kalbus
- Kenneth V. Jones
- Susan Harper
- Lynn Eastman-Rossi
- David Arntzen
- Ralph Richmond
Letterboxd User Reviews
3.3
103.4K
45.8K
27.8K
- Aug 27, 2018
In the early to mid 90's I was an expert at sneaking around my Dad's VHS collection... one day while in extra snoop mode I came across something he had taped off tv... a vhs tape with big block letters that read "PHANTASM". I thought it was the coolest word ever so, as…
Ian WestSep 2, 2014Mike is a little kid who lost his parents in a tragic accident a couple years back. His hero is Jody his super-cool bell bottom jeans wearing older brother. Together along with Reggie the most gangsta ice cream truck driver known to man they must fight an evil like no…
Todd GainesMay 8, 202183 Have you ever had a nightmare where you're against an almost insurmountable force, but instead of being alone, you have a few friends and family there to back you up? To help fight whatever it is that's evil? Phantasm captures this, all while evoked in liminal spaces,…
SilentDawn - Aug 12, 2018
I had this rated at 4.5 stars and I’m so sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking because this is without a doubt a 5 star masterpiece of surreal nightmarish 70’s cinema and it has possibly the best atmosphere of any horror movie made during a time known for amazingly…
Tony the TerrorAug 29, 2013I love how this film makes no sense. The plot basically follows the premise of boy discovering evil in hometown and tries to fix it. As simple as that sounds, it truly does not do justice to the completely bonkers nature of the narrative. It is anarchic, creative and…
DirkHSep 3, 2021Phantasm: The delusion of a disordered mind. A Phantom. A Spirit. A Ghost.
Ian West - Jun 7, 2026
Finally got around to seeing phantasm and I'm so happy that I did it was so good. The story was so interesting and cool, the visuals were very original and futuristic for it's time. Also the acting was pretty good as well. Can't wait to watch the sequels and I'm hoping that…
horrormikaAug 3, 2021i need more silver orb, so it’s time to watch 2 and 3….
sarah squirmOct 13, 2016my partner suggested we go out to see this & i am bad at leaving the house (panic etc) & was resistant, but i'm so glad we went & i appreciate her Persistence & Kindness because this was such an Amazing opportunity & undoubtedly one of the best Movie Theater experiences…
clare
Queue Community Reviews
74%
Community 787
Top Reviews
- Tavin Shurtliff likedPhantasm
I liked it and I was pretty impressed with some of the stuff for its age. I think if I would have watched it years ago it would have been more impactful. I was left a little confused on the plot but the general themes are there and I’m sure the sequels help explain a lot of it.
MovieDaddy is "meh" onPhantasmOne of the few horror franchises that I’m just not sold on. The presentation comes across as sloppy, storytelling is jittery at best, and the overall plot just seems to go from best to beat without any real connection. It’s a shame they couldn’t make this better.
Atticus dislikedPhantasmHonestly, I am happily surprised by what they could pull off for the year it came out. But nothing interesting, in my humble opinion, happens, it felt like it lasted an eternity which is never a good sign for a 89 minutes movie. It does look phenomenal visually.
- CvptvinHowdy lovedPhantasm
Angus Scrimm doesn't get enough credit for playing one of the most iconic horror villains. This is one of my all-time favorite films, not just in horror but in general. Me and my dad always quote this and make memories, and we will continue to do so every year.
hornets_nest6 dislikedPhantasmI didn’t love it I didn’t hate it it definitely had that older feel to it which I loved and it held up decently. But in the end it was definitely on the fence of being mid and just under and I ranked it just under in numbers 2.4/5 but in stars ⭐️⭐️
ChungiBoi likedPhantasmA film with refreshingly creative ideas, further improved by having smart and fun leads as well as an awesome soundtrack. Some of the plot is confusing (especially towards the back half) but that doesn’t ruin it for me
- Valak lovedPhantasm
Pretty odd movie, but personally I love weird and unexplainable movies. If you don’t like confusing stuff don’t recommend. But if you like weird old horror media I highly recommend!!! 9.5/10
Damien likedPhantasmIt started slow. I started to get into it and got curious about the lore and it kind of ended fast. I also need more death and violence. But I’m gonna try part 2 and on. See how they go.
Ash Williams lovedPhantasm10/10 A surreal horror masterpiece! It’s hard to believe that Don Coscarelli was only 22 when he made this movie. It plays like a waking nightmare with a great soundtrack.
Atom Users Reviews
Metacritic
Phantasm remains a pretty effective fright fest.
Soren Andersen
The Seattle Times
Over the course of three wild sequels, Coscarelli expanded his bizarre universe in a variety of imaginative and deliriously entertaining ways – but the original set the standard. [Remastered]
Tom Huddleston
Time Out London
It deliberately makes no sense, but it has more bizarro gimmicks to the minute than any other horror picture of 1979.
Kim Newman
Empire
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phantasm (1979) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is Phantasm (1979)?
The movie is 1hr 29min long.
What's Phantasm (1979) about?
Newly orphaned teenager Mike Pearson, his older brother Jody, and their friends face off against a mysterious grave robber known as the Tall Man, who employs a lethal arsenal of unearthly weapons in their southern California town.
Who's the cast of Phantasm (1979)?
- A. Michael Baldwin as Mike
- Bill Thornbury as Jody
- Reggie Bannister as Reggie
- Kathy Lester as Lady in Lavender
- Terrie Kalbus as Fortuneteller's Granddaughter
- Kenneth V. Jones as Caretaker
- Susan Harper as Girlfriend
- Lynn Eastman-Rossi as Sally
- David Arntzen as Toby
- Ralph Richmond as Bartender
Who's the director behind Phantasm (1979)?
Don Coscarelli directed Phantasm (1979).
Who produced Phantasm (1979)?
Dac Coscarelli produced Phantasm (1979).
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