Horror discussion #7 - Phantasm II (1988)

[Alien Redrum]

IMDB Synopsis:

Mike, following his release from a psychiatric hospital, teams up with old pal Reggie to hunt down the Tall Man, who is at it again. A mysterious, beautiful girl has also become part of Mike's dreams, and they must find her before the Tall Man does. They reach an Oregon cemetery that has had all the bodies dug up and removed. Realizing this is the work of the Tall Man, they venture inside armed heavily. But the Tall Man still has his deadly flying spheres - and a couple of cronies who will stop at nothing to keep their evil plans a secret.

[Alien Redrum]

Been forever since I've seen this, so I'll refrain from voting until I sit down and watch it. I remember really liking it, though.

[Neon Maniac]

The first time I saw it, I was really disappointed in it. Over the years though, it's grown on me I put Highly Reccomended for two reasons:

1) It's a Phantasm movie.
2) It's got the archetypical Sensitive Ponytail Guy from Singles, James LeGros.

Shiki is going to say he reccomends it because Beth from The Real World, Venice Beach was a PA on it.

[Alien Redrum]

[DarkCellar]

Not as good as the original, but it was pretty good. It's annoying that it's PAL only. But at least you can convert the cheap Phillips players to region free.

[The Hitman]

I really like this one, but as I've never gotten around to a region-free/etc. player, I don't have it.

[Neon Maniac]

AB didn't release this as an R1? Did they just do 1 and 3?

[damnationdoormat]

AB didn't release this as an R1? Did they just do 1 and 3?

Yep. R2 is rather cheap though.

[DarkCellar]

From what I understand, there was a feud between the producer and the distributor, so there will never be a North American release of part 2.

[Spez]

I've only seen the first Phantasm and I wasn't impressed enough to seek out the sequels.

[Alien Redrum]

AB didn't release this as an R1? Did they just do 1 and 3?

Yep. R2 is rather cheap though.

Didn't you suggest this? Is this all you have to say about it?

Well at least tell if it's in DTS.

[Neon Maniac]

Damnation doesn't discuss things. He just posts pics and copies and pastes specs.

[Alien Redrum]

And wrong specs, at that.

[zigzag]

I really enjoy this film. It opens up the original mythos and steps up the production values nicely. Import the UK dvd (or hope Universal will loan the title) and enjoy a great movie. The import sphere has all 4 movies in anamorphic DTS plus a Phantastic (nerd) documentary on the series.

[Atrium Pool]

I watched it once and I know it has a lot of fans... but God did this suck! I said it right after I finished the movie 2 years ago, this is the movie that spearheaded the age-old saying that all Part 2's are inferior to their originals. This movie created "Sequels suck!" I don't remember the music but I will say all the special effects were pretty good. And the film was shot very well. And I even got scared a couple of times. When the characters were in that town / on the street where nothing was happening. To me- that's when most horror movies really cook. When there's time to build up the unknown. But, Reggie ruined the movie. As did the new Mike and the female lead. Mostly Reggie though. They tried to make him an action hero and I'm not impressed. Even William Katt in House (which I think is underrated, compared to this movie which is a huge cult sensation) was more thrilling than Banister is in any Phantasm movie. Hell- even George Wendt is more Bruce Campbell than Reggie Banister will ever be in my eyes. And of course, there's Michael Gross in Tremors. Sorry, Coscarelli. I haven't seen Bubba Ho-Tep yet but I'll take Incident On and Off a Mountain Road over this wretched sequel any day.

Shiki is going to say he reccomends it because Beth from The Real World, Venice Beach was a PA on it.

That was Phantasm III.

Unless she did both. But you're talking to a The Real World fanatic (circa- the seasons worth sitting through, basically 1 through 9 only). The director's marker-board thingy said "Phantasm III."