Phantasm

Critics Consensus

Phantasm: Remastered adds visual clarity to the first installment in one of horror's most enduring -- and endearingly idiosyncratic -- franchises.

73%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 45

67%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 24,565

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Movie Info

The remastered original classic that started it all, in which two brothers discover their local mortuary hides a legion of hooded killer dwarfs, a flying drill-ball, and the demonic mortician who enslaves the souls of the damned.

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Cast

A. Michael Baldwin
as Mike
Reggie Bannister
as Reggie
Bill Thornbury
as Jody
Angus Scrimm
as Tall Man
Bill Cone
as Tommy
Lynn Eastman
as Sally
Terrie Kalbus
as Granddaughter
David Arntzen
as Toby
Kathy Lester
as Lady in Lavender
Terri Kalbus
as Granddaughter
Ken Jones
as Caretaker
Susan Harper
as Girl Friend
Ralph Richmond
as Bartender
Laura Mann
as Double Lavender
Mary Ellen Shaw
as Fortune Teller
Myrtle Scotton
as Maid
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Critic Reviews for Phantasm

All Critics (45) | Top Critics (9)

  • "Phantasm" will not be remembered as a masterpiece of the horror genre, but it sustains a gauche, hokey, desperately improvisational charm.

    Oct 20, 2017 | Full Review…

    Gary Arnold

    Washington Post
    Top Critic

  • While holding onto the handmade charm of the original, the 4K version makes the image less murky and the seams less visible, giving the picture back the vividly nightmarish quality of its original theatrical run.

    Oct 6, 2016 | Full Review…

    Noel Murray

    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic

  • Freshly refurbished with better sound and digitally sharpened visuals for this latest rerelease, "Phantasm" remains a pretty effective fright fest.

    Oct 6, 2016 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    Soren Andersen

    Seattle Times
    Top Critic

  • Phantasm is wildly imaginative and legitimately creepy, confronting death and mourning as part of the coming-of-age process while also delivering nutty Jawa-type critters and blood spurting out of peoples' faces.

    Oct 6, 2016 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

    Katie Rife

    AV Club
    Top Critic

  • One of the most idiosyncratic movies in the horror canon.

    Oct 3, 2016 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    Tom Huddleston

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • Strong point of the feature is that it's played for both horror and laughs.

    May 6, 2008 | Full Review…

    Variety Staff

    Variety
    Top Critic
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Audience Reviews for Phantasm

  • May 09, 2018
    Silly and with no sense of structure, this movie is basically a series of random scenes put together and with a bunch of random creatures attacking the characters over and over until boredom is all that is left, with the Tall Man being one of the most stupid and unscary villains ever.
    Carlos M Super Reviewer
  • Jun 18, 2017
    "Phantasm" is a surprisingly well-done film for a low-budget, amateur project. It's original and thrilling to watch. Unfortunately, the acting and dialog are too weak to garner five stars.
    Christian C Super Reviewer
  • Jun 08, 2014
    Don Coscarelli's cult classic is admittedly disjointed. It's not quite the sum of its parts, but there are many individual scenes that are wonderfully conceived and executed, some even with unexpected humour. The amateurish acting, odd transitions, and plot holes keep Phantasm from being great in my eyes, but the film is an exercise in creativity and ingenuity, not to mention in showcasing the coolest flying killing device in recent memory.
    Edward B Super Reviewer
  • Oct 30, 2012
    "Phantasm" is hailed as one of horror's best, but I just don't see it. It has aged awkwardly and feels confused and strange, and it doesn't even seem like there was an attempt made by its creators to make it scary. Even the infamous "silver sphere" scene contains very little gore. On top of this, the main villain has less than five minutes of actual screen time, the acting is questionable and there are too many elements left unexplained. This is sad news because "Phantasm" has an awesome premise and Don Coscarelli has a great, macabre sense of humor, but it just ends up being pretty average.
    Stephen E Super Reviewer
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