IMDb > Phantasm (1979)
Phantasm
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Phantasm (1979) -- A young boy and his friends face off against a mysterious grave robber known only as the Tall Man, who keeps a mysterious arsenal of terrible weapons with him.

Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   7,497 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 13% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Don Coscarelli
Writer:
Don Coscarelli (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Phantasm on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
28 March 1979 (USA) more
Genre:
Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi more
Tagline:
If you're looking for horror that's got balls...IT'S FOUND YOU. more
Plot:
A young boy and his friends face off against a mysterious grave robber known only as the Tall Man, who keeps a mysterious arsenal of terrible weapons with him. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 win & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(93 articles)
Uncle Bob Martin: A Long Thank-You to Frank, Part One
 (From Dread Central. 16 November 2009, 4:05 PM, PST)
Gay Of The Dead 26: Big Bear Horror Film Fest Recap, Part 2
 (From Fangoria. 28 October 2009, 10:00 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Bizarre horror highlight more (221 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
A. Michael Baldwin ... Michael 'Mike' Pearson (as Michael Baldwin)
Bill Thornbury ... Jody Pearson

Reggie Bannister ... Reggie
Kathy Lester ... Lady in Lavender
Terrie Kalbus ... Fortuneteller's Granddaughter
Kenneth V. Jones ... Caretaker (as Ken Jones)
Susan Harper ... Girlfriend
Lynn Eastman-Rossi ... Sally (as Lynn Eastman)
David Arntzen ... Toby
Ralph Richmond ... Bartender
Bill Cone ... Tommy
Laura Mann ... Double Lavender
Mary Ellen Shaw ... Fortuneteller
Myrtle Scotton ... Maid
Angus Scrimm ... The Tall Man
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Don Coscarelli ... Funeral Guest (uncredited)
Kate Coscarelli ... Funeral Guest (uncredited)
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Directed by
Don Coscarelli 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Don Coscarelli  writer

Produced by
Don Coscarelli .... producer (as D.A. Coscarelli)
Paul Pepperman .... co-producer
 
Original Music by
Fred Myrow 
Malcolm Seagrave 
 
Cinematography by
Don Coscarelli 
 
Film Editing by
Don Coscarelli 
 
Production Design by
Kate Coscarelli  (as S. Tyer)
 
Art Direction by
David Gavin Brown 
 
Costume Design by
Kate Coscarelli  (as Shirl Quinlan)
 
Makeup Department
Kate Coscarelli .... makeup artist (as Shirley Mae)
 
Production Management
Robert Del Valle .... unit manager
 
Art Department
Mark Annerl .... graphic artist
Doug Cragoe .... set construction supervisor
Willard Green .... silver sphere constructor
Stephen Miller .... set construction supervisor
Marc Schwartz .... set construction supervisor
Kurt Tiegs .... set construction supervisor
 
Sound Department
Gene Corso .... sound effects creator
Michael Gross .... sound recordist
Robert J. Litt .... sound re-recording mixer
Lorane Mitchell .... sound effects creator
Colin Spencer .... boom operator
 
Special Effects by
Paul Pepperman .... special effects
 
Visual Effects by
Roberto A. Quezada .... visual consultant
 
Stunts
George W. Singer Jr. .... stunts
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Mori Biener .... grip
Steven Chandler .... best boy grip
Daryn Okada .... grip
Roberto A. Quezada .... gaffer
Marc Schwartz .... first assistant camera
George W. Singer Jr. .... key grip
Jacalyn Welan .... second assistant camera
John Zumpano .... grip
 
Editorial Department
James Becker .... assistant editor
Bruce G. Chudacoff .... assistant editor
Roberto A. Quezada .... assistant film editor
Dena Roth .... assistant film editor
 
Music Department
Paul Ratajczak .... music recordist
 
Other crew
Wendy Kaplan .... script supervisor
Adele Lustig .... production coordinator
Dena Roth .... script supervisor
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Never Dead (Australia)
more
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
88 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
UK:15 (video re-rating) (2005) | UK:18 (video rating) (1989) | UK:X (original rating) | Norway:16 (video rental version) | Iceland:16 | West Germany:18 (cut) | Germany:(Banned) (2002) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Singapore:PG (heavily cut) | Italy:VM14 (new rating) | Italy:VM18 (original rating) (VHS) | Australia:R | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | USA:R
Filming Locations:
Dunsmuir House & Gardens - 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, California, USA more
Company:
New Breed Productions Inc. more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Don Coscarelli rented all of the filming equipment used to make this movie, always on Fridays so he could use it all weekend and return it on Mondays, all the while only actually having to pay one day's rental on the equipment. more
Goofs:
Continuity: While the Caretaker is being drilled by the flying ball it shoots a large stream of blood. Then the camera angle changes and we see the floor there is no blood. more
Quotes:
The Tall Man: You play a good game boy, but the game is finished, now you die. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Sleaze (1982) more
Soundtrack:
Sittin' Here At Midnight more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
12 out of 21 people found the following comment useful.
Bizarre horror highlight, 14 June 2004
7/10
Author: Coventry from the Draconian Swamp of Unholy Souls

Phantasm and its sequels is a popular horror-series, but not as big as the obvious franchises such as Nightmare on Elm street, Halloween or Friday the 13th. And that's a good thing because you can't really compare this ingenious muddle with mainstream slashers. Phantasm is a complete one-man Don Coscarelli project with a good share of morbidity, humor and extravagance…all brought together in one major cool looking packing. The plot simply has to be to be believed. The Tall Man (terrific charismatic performance by Agnus Schrimm) is some sort of nightmarish grave robber. Immensely strong and ghoulish as he turns corpses into ugly little dwarfs, before shipping them out as intergalactic slaves! How does this rate on your originality scale?!? Phantasm contains other (already legendary) elements such as the deadly flying spheres that plant themselves into the victim's forehead and then perpetrates the brain. A pretty violent thing to see, but even more appealing when you're a horror fan. Regretfully, Phantasm also suffers from a few overwhelming negative aspects. Like the uninteresting main characters of the boy and his older brother. The stress isn't laid on The Tall Man in this first episode yet, and the ultra-cool Reggie (an ice-cream vending guitar player with a ponytail) hasn't got that much screen time, neither. The finale is a big letdown and a bit too confusing for a late 70's horror film. So far, 4 sequels have been produced. The first one (released in 1988) is a highly recommended film with an overload of macabre splattering and black humor. At times, this first sequel was even funnier to look at than the original. All the other sequels can easily be skipped.

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Does anyone know where I can get the Phantasm 3 end theme? cloyesds
I found a great review! prop_fan
Anyone seen the new movie the The Box ? rdmills
other films with the same vibe - recommendations please reversi
Wow unbelievable... jasonV888
Has this confused the hell out of anyone? Petersonrob16
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