Phantasm (1979)

After the funeral of a friend, a young boy witnesses something horrifying. At first, no one seems to believe him, but then they get a taste of it. With the help of his older brother and a family friend, young Mike will confront the mysterious "Tall Man" who seems to be behind it. One of the biggest issues with horror films these days is a lack of ingenuity. You go see a lot of genre films at the theatre and for the most part you see the same things. It's sad to see so much time and money go into something that borrows so heavily from better films.

Films with a supernatural angle seem to be really hot right now. From the Paranormal Activity series to  clunkers like The Unborn, the multiplexes have been bombarded with movies about ghosts and demons. Once in a while something comes along that stands out from the pack. Undoubtedly one of the biggest breaths of fresh air for the genre is the 1979 cult classic Phantasm. Rather than be the same old haunted house type horror film, it's unlike anything we'd seen before. Instead of blood and guts or big gooey monsters, it's like a 90 minute surreal nightmare.

This was writer/director Don Coscarelli's third feature film, but his first foray into horror. You'd never know it considering how masterfully done this is. He sure knows how to create and maintain a chilling atmosphere, even during the day. The cast was made up of virtually unknowns, each member giving a solid performance. Angus Scrimm, who plays the imposing Tall Man, sunk his teeth into the role and is especially creepy. To finish it off, the film has a very effective score that thankfully never becomes overpowering.

By this point there had already been films involving cemeteries and the dead coming back to life. However, the way these devices are used here is totally original. There are many surprises along the way that you won't likely see coming. This includes some nightmarish imagery that is like something out of a nightmare or bad acid trip. The flying silver sphere and what it can do are especially mind-blowing. And Coscarelli does well at spreading things out, keeping the film going at a steady instead of roller coaster pace.

There are really only two glaring flaws I see in this film. The lesser of the two is that ridiculous looking fly monster. Granted it was the late 70s and the film's budget was low, but they still could have done better. The bigger issue is that the film doesn't make much sense and you may find yourself scratching your head. But if you're looking for something different from the norm, these may be easy to overlook. Phantasm is both bizarre and scary, taking us to a world many filmmakers wouldn't dare go.

10/10