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PHANTASM

With Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Reggie Bannister, Kathy Lester, Angus Scrimm
Directed by Don Coscarelli

As with other low budget ingenious horror movies like the original Evil Dead and Halloween, Phantasm took limited resources and created timeless classics with cinematic resourcefulness. Coscarelli tells a tale drifting between reality and the dream world where a boy witnesses and investigates strange goings-on at the cemetery where a friend of his brother was buried (or was he?). The creepy shape-shifting mortician (the brilliant Angus Scrimm) seems to be behind this, his minions creepy little hooded figures doing his dirty work. With a brilliant atmosphere and fantastic soundtrack accompanying the cool scenes, this classic is a must-see. While some of the late-'70s styles do show, this doesn't matter as the eerie tale is so well executed. Scrimm is also one of cinema's great scary figures who needs more recognition.

6 / A
- PB


1 2 3 4 5 6
A - B - C


never let a review decide for you, but for those who need a rating, see the Flamedrop scale below
6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temperature
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A: Multi-Viewing Potential

B: Could Enjoy A 2nd Look

C: Once Should Suffice



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