Phantasm (film)

Phantasm
A woman screams and covers her eyes, which are then superimposed over her hands
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDon Coscarelli
Written byDon Coscarelli
Produced byD.A. Coscarelli[1]
Starring
CinematographyDon Coscarelli
Edited byDon Coscarelli
Music by
Production
company
New Breed Productions
Distributed byAVCO Embassy Pictures[1]
Release date
  • March 28, 1979 (1979-03-28)[1]
Running time
89 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$300,000[3]
Box office$22 million[4] or $6.8 million[5]

Phantasm is a 1979 American science fantasy horror film that was directed, written, photographed, and edited by Don Coscarelli. The first film in the Phantasm franchise, it introduces the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), a supernatural and malevolent undertaker who turns the dead of Earth into dwarf zombies to be sent to his planet and used as slaves. He is opposed by a young boy, Mike (Michael Baldwin), who tries to convince his older brother Jody (Bill Thornbury) and family friend Reggie (Reggie Bannister) of the threat.

Phantasm was a locally financed independent film; the cast and crew were mostly amateurs and aspiring professionals. Though initial reviews were mixed in regard to the dreamlike, surreal narrative and imagery, later reception was more positive and the film became a cult classic. It has appeared on several critics' lists of best horror films, and it has been cited as an influence on later horror series. It was followed by four sequels: Phantasm II (1988), Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994), Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998) and Phantasm: Ravager (2016).

  1. ^ a b c "Phantasm (1979)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  2. ^ "PHANTASM (X)". British Board of Film Classification. April 26, 1979. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  3. ^ Snider, Mike (July 9, 2007). "'Phantasm' up for Grabs". USA Today. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference gross was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-8357-1776-2. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada