Review of Phantasm (1979) by Erron S — 18 Jul 2007
Phantasm is a movie you should see for the first time when you are a teenager. By today's standards, it is not a graphically violent or gore-filled movie. However, in its depiction of a teenage orphaned 1970's protagonist, it's head and shoulders more daring than any PC crap you could see on TV or movies today.
Phantasm is really a surrealist movie that combines horror with sci-fi; one viewing is not enough--you need to watch it about 5-10 times to really get its subtle plot. The story setup is that two brothers from a small town have been oprhaned and the older one is preparing to leave his young brother behind to start his life.
The emotional contact of the siblings makes this movie eerily believable despite its fantastic and occasionally horrifying scenarios. When Michael, the younger brother, sees the undertaker lifting a solid oak coffin after a funeral has ended, the movie starts a roller coaster of terror that does not abate until the end of the movie.
The highlight of the movie has to be the scene with the shotgun shell; you won't ever see a scene like that again with a teenager!
This review of Phantasm (1979) was written by Erron S on 18 Jul 2007.
Phantasm has generally received positive reviews.
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