Phantasm
USA 1979 Directed by Don Coscarelli.Starring: A. Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Reggie Bannister, Angus Scrimm.
When a friend to the brothers Jody and Michael Pearson dies mysteriously on a cemetery, they start go more closely into the matter. Theyīre soon discovering that it radiate supernatural evil from the mortuary in Morningside. It begin more and more be like a nightmare the more they are involved. Inside the mortuary they encounter ill-disposed killer dwarves and flying spheres, that will bore oneīs way into them and drain them of blood. In the centre of the nasty things stands the tall mortician, who especially is after the younger brother, Michael. They get deeper into trouble, until it may be too late to escape. Or is it just a bad dream?
I remember what weird dreams I had when I was younger. They were incoherent and completely without logic. When they were at their worst, I woke up in terror and in cold sweat. "Phantasm" could been taken from one of my worst nightmares. Don Coscarelli wasnīt old when he both wrote, produced and directed "Phantasm". I guess he got inspiration from his own dreams.
Coscarelli introduced quite a lot original elements as the flying silver spheres, the white room and The Tall Man, that later on been trademarks for the whole Phantasm series. But itīs the first film that has the creepiest most dreamlike atmosphere. Angus Scrimm is phenomenally wicked as The Tall Man, though he has a limited role. Goofy doesnīt need to say so much, itīs enough that he sometimes turn up and with a shrill voice says, Boooyyy!!!.
"Phantasm" blend horror and fantasy, which at the time was very original and innovative. Unfortunately has time now caught up "Phantasm". There are scenes that are embarrassing bad and laughable, which reminds you that this was a film made with a very small budget. The classic cachet hasnīt however get lost. "Phantasm" is still the best filmed dream/nightmare Iīve seen.
Rating: 
Review by Kent Palmgren.
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