"You think you go to heaven when you die? You come to us!". It took me 3 times to fall in love with this franchise. They used to have a Phantasm festival every year and I would always just would "not get it" until I went to High School and then I totally got it. Also, my deputy headmaster literally looked like and spoke like The Tall Man. He's so creepy. He used to stand in the corridors and call you "Boooy!" I swear he was so creepy. So cut to years later at film school and we have to bring in film soundtracks to study and of course I bring in the Phantasm theme (and stuff from Marco Beltrami in Scream). It's so funny how some movies find you and hound you until you pay attention and they become a part of you.
Nightmare on elm street got the 'pull em through the window' gag from Phantasm. Phantasm influenced Nightmare on Elm Street. Myrtle was the housekeeper, but all her shots but one were cut. I cant describe how scary this movie was when released in 1979. It's not scary at all to modern audiences, but to a 10 year old kid, this movie was life changing scary. For years my mom would tease me by saying things like, "gee, when mike woke up in the graveyard with The Tall Man looming over him, it sure was scary! Especially when the arms came out from under his bed!.. .hope that doesnt happen to you tonight! Now go to bed, its a school night!"
This was a cool reaction! And I'm glad you enjoyed the flick, I made sure to leave a like. It can certainly be a tricky one to get into at first. Especially since Phantasm was originally 3 HOURS LONG hahah. After rewatching many times it's possible to break down the metaphors and the meaning behind them. Phantasm is about a boy who lost his parents mysteriously to an unknown cause of death. Jody takes care of him until one night he gets in a car wreck. Jody was already dead before the movie started, this movie is the result of that car wreck. This movie is Mike's dream from his overwhelming grief and attempt to cope with the concept of abandonment, that turns into a nightmare because of his fear of death (The Tall Man) but fails to do so at the end, his fear of death still defeated him. His "brother Tommy" was actually Mike's deluded way of replacing the memory of Jody's funeral, since it was Jody's grave, not Tommy's at the end. It's kind of a sad story, honestly. Not many people pick up on this in their first watch which is understandable haha. As for The Tall Man, he is a bit of a mystery. Is he real? Is he not real? The answer is he's a being without boundaries, he can exist in or outside of dreams, similar to Freddy Krueger but for both concepts, altering reality like Freddy does in a dream that makes you question if it's real or not. He can resurrect the dead, control them and make them appear alive to trick/seduce people, and then kill them. He confirms in the sequels that he controls both life and death and that he's beyond time-space and mortality, which makes him kind of a god. So he's not exactly an alien. We don't know his ultimate goal, but we do know that he's trying to build an army. There is so much more about this particular movie and the franchise, I could get into it for hours, but this comment is already long enough hahah.
WOW! I didn't know any of that. That's awesome, I appreciate the larger context for some of the more confusing aspects of this movie. Now I'm curious what the 3 hour cut would've been like haha
@@madeofmoviemedia Oh yeah no problem! It's even more of a mind blowing when you watch Phantasm 3! I'll subscribe to check out your other content, and if you plan to react to the sequels that would be a plus. Thank you for reading.
Part of the fun of the Phantasm franchise is that it diverges into multiverse/alternate reality territories. Or, it's all in Mike's head and the trauma from losing his parents drove him insane.
6:02 Hand in the box scene- “Fear Is The Mind Killer” The box scene is from the book “DUNE” When Paul Atreides is being tested- He is directored by “Reverend Mother” To “PUT YOUR HAND IN THE BOX!” When he asks “what’s in the box?” She replies - “Pain” As Paul is bring tasted with pain- he repeats a mantra - subconsciously The quote is- “ I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” Phenomenal book- The original movie is wild- lots of mechanical effects- The acting is terrible and the score atrocious- Herbert completely distanced the book from the film- However - It grows on you- if you’ve read the book. Dune is a masterpiece of Science Fiction with huge cultural & geo-political overtones mixed with conservation of natural resources
Dune is one of those books that has been on my list of things I need to read for-ev-er. And I've only seen certain parts of the original movie. I should add that to my watch-along list, actually! It's funny you bring that up though because I did just see the new Dune (Part One) film a couple days ago, and I recognized the pain box scene.
The book/ Is so EXPANSIVE - there’s no way to describe DUNE on film. It’s truly impossible to convey all the messages inside the novel, which is also steeped in Middle Eastern thought / practices/ It’s a gorgeous novel- it’s for SIPPING though- “DUNE” it’s far better to read a chapter then let it sit in your mind- the next day- Than reading multiple chapters consecutively- The “Conan The Barbarian “ series- on the higher hand- its much more enjoyable as a “Romp”- the essence of the series is frenetic- so it’s a “fast reading world “ Grab a copy of DUNE and just like a rare sipping Bourbon- just a little and let it linger in your minds eye. The Original DUNE film/ I own two copies so obviously I’m a huge fan- however the Herbert estate distanced itself from the film as it’s really nothing like the book/ The mechanical effects are tremendous abd much of the set design / costume design is super cool/ The acting is just atrocious- even from PATRICK STEWART- which is shocking the screenplay and directing could’ve SO BAD, as to make him look bad- All that said On a big screen- in HD- It’s a STUNNING visual movie - The Vangelis score is overbearing to me- I’ve not seen the new version Waiting to be in the mindset. I might watch the original tonight though ! Heres a recommendation you’ll either love or hate - “MUTANT CHRONICLES “ 2008- It reminds me of Dune in that regard- I LOVE IT- but it’s a live or hate film- Fantastic sci-fi
I’ve heard that about the book and that it was pretty widely considered to be one of those “unmakable movies”, as well. Maybe that’s why it’s taken so long for me to start the book - it seems a little daunting, given all the hype around it. Though I do love an expansive universe.
The cold, he likes the cold 11:20. Why would they go during the day. The tall man is out taking walks.The funeral home is a place caled the Dunsmuir Mansion, (Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate) also appears in Bond film A View To A Kill,
Searching sense in old horror movies is pointless. Jason, Krueger etc hadn't gotten any goal or motive but to kill. 2nd Phantasm was good as I remember.
Yeah not a lot of logic there, but I didn’t feel genuinely confused after those movies haha. Although, I feel like Kreuger’s goal was to kill the kids of the parents that murdered him, which makes sense. It’s been a minute since I’ve watched the original. Maybe I got that from the 2010 movie.
This was a rated R movie aimed at 11 year old boys. 43 years later & i still love it :)
"You think you go to heaven when you die? You come to us!".
It took me 3 times to fall in love with this franchise. They used to have a Phantasm festival every year and I would always just would "not get it" until I went to High School and then I totally got it.
Also, my deputy headmaster literally looked like and spoke like The Tall Man. He's so creepy. He used to stand in the corridors and call you "Boooy!" I swear he was so creepy. So cut to years later at film school and we have to bring in film soundtracks to study and of course I bring in the Phantasm theme (and stuff from Marco Beltrami in Scream). It's so funny how some movies find you and hound you until you pay attention and they become a part of you.
Nightmare on elm street got the 'pull em through the window' gag from Phantasm. Phantasm influenced Nightmare on Elm Street. Myrtle was the housekeeper, but all her shots but one were cut.
I cant describe how scary this movie was when released in 1979. It's not scary at all to modern audiences, but to a 10 year old kid, this movie was life changing scary. For years my mom would tease me by saying things like, "gee, when mike woke up in the graveyard with The Tall Man looming over him, it sure was scary! Especially when the arms came out from under his bed!.. .hope that doesnt happen to you tonight! Now go to bed, its a school night!"
This was a cool reaction! And I'm glad you enjoyed the flick, I made sure to leave a like. It can certainly be a tricky one to get into at first. Especially since Phantasm was originally 3 HOURS LONG hahah. After rewatching many times it's possible to break down the metaphors and the meaning behind them. Phantasm is about a boy who lost his parents mysteriously to an unknown cause of death. Jody takes care of him until one night he gets in a car wreck. Jody was already dead before the movie started, this movie is the result of that car wreck. This movie is Mike's dream from his overwhelming grief and attempt to cope with the concept of abandonment, that turns into a nightmare because of his fear of death (The Tall Man) but fails to do so at the end, his fear of death still defeated him. His "brother Tommy" was actually Mike's deluded way of replacing the memory of Jody's funeral, since it was Jody's grave, not Tommy's at the end. It's kind of a sad story, honestly. Not many people pick up on this in their first watch which is understandable haha.
As for The Tall Man, he is a bit of a mystery. Is he real? Is he not real? The answer is he's a being without boundaries, he can exist in or outside of dreams, similar to Freddy Krueger but for both concepts, altering reality like Freddy does in a dream that makes you question if it's real or not. He can resurrect the dead, control them and make them appear alive to trick/seduce people, and then kill them. He confirms in the sequels that he controls both life and death and that he's beyond time-space and mortality, which makes him kind of a god. So he's not exactly an alien. We don't know his ultimate goal, but we do know that he's trying to build an army. There is so much more about this particular movie and the franchise, I could get into it for hours, but this comment is already long enough hahah.
WOW! I didn't know any of that. That's awesome, I appreciate the larger context for some of the more confusing aspects of this movie. Now I'm curious what the 3 hour cut would've been like haha
@@madeofmoviemedia Oh yeah no problem! It's even more of a mind blowing when you watch Phantasm 3! I'll subscribe to check out your other content, and if you plan to react to the sequels that would be a plus. Thank you for reading.
@@baruchbelmont5821 Thanks for the sub! The sequels are definitely on my list 👍👍
@@madeofmoviemedia Awesome! It's my pleasure. 👍
Part of the fun of the Phantasm franchise is that it diverges into multiverse/alternate reality territories. Or, it's all in Mike's head and the trauma from losing his parents drove him insane.
6:02
Hand in the box scene-
“Fear Is The Mind Killer”
The box scene is from the book “DUNE”
When Paul Atreides is being tested-
He is directored by “Reverend Mother”
To
“PUT YOUR HAND IN THE BOX!”
When he asks “what’s in the box?”
She replies -
“Pain”
As Paul is bring tasted with pain- he repeats a mantra - subconsciously
The quote is-
“ I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past
I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.”
Phenomenal book-
The original movie is wild- lots of mechanical effects-
The acting is terrible and the score atrocious-
Herbert completely distanced the book from the film-
However -
It grows on you- if you’ve read the book.
Dune is a masterpiece of Science Fiction with huge cultural & geo-political overtones mixed with conservation of natural resources
Dune is one of those books that has been on my list of things I need to read for-ev-er. And I've only seen certain parts of the original movie. I should add that to my watch-along list, actually! It's funny you bring that up though because I did just see the new Dune (Part One) film a couple days ago, and I recognized the pain box scene.
The book/
Is so EXPANSIVE - there’s no way to describe DUNE on film.
It’s truly impossible to convey all the messages inside the novel, which is also steeped in Middle Eastern thought / practices/
It’s a gorgeous novel- it’s for SIPPING though-
“DUNE” it’s far better to read a chapter then let it sit in your mind- the next day-
Than reading multiple chapters consecutively-
The “Conan The Barbarian “ series- on the higher hand- its much more enjoyable as a “Romp”- the essence of the series is frenetic- so it’s a “fast reading world “
Grab a copy of DUNE and just like a rare sipping Bourbon- just a little and let it linger in your minds eye.
The Original DUNE film/
I own two copies so obviously I’m a huge fan- however the Herbert estate distanced itself from the film as it’s really nothing like the book/
The mechanical effects are tremendous abd much of the set design / costume design is super cool/
The acting is just atrocious- even from PATRICK STEWART- which is shocking the screenplay and directing could’ve SO BAD, as to make him look bad-
All that said
On a big screen- in HD-
It’s a STUNNING visual movie -
The Vangelis score is overbearing to me-
I’ve not seen the new version
Waiting to be in the mindset.
I might watch the original tonight though !
Heres a recommendation you’ll either love or hate -
“MUTANT CHRONICLES “
2008-
It reminds me of Dune in that regard-
I LOVE IT-
but it’s a live or hate film-
Fantastic sci-fi
I’ve heard that about the book and that it was pretty widely considered to be one of those “unmakable movies”, as well. Maybe that’s why it’s taken so long for me to start the book - it seems a little daunting, given all the hype around it. Though I do love an expansive universe.
The cold, he likes the cold 11:20. Why would they go during the day. The tall man is out taking walks.The funeral home is a place caled the Dunsmuir Mansion, (Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate) also appears in Bond film A View To A Kill,
You can’t make sense of it. The whole thing is kind of a fever dream. Still, great movie.
Searching sense in old horror movies is pointless. Jason, Krueger etc hadn't gotten any goal or motive but to kill.
2nd Phantasm was good as I remember.
Yeah not a lot of logic there, but I didn’t feel genuinely confused after those movies haha. Although, I feel like Kreuger’s goal was to kill the kids of the parents that murdered him, which makes sense. It’s been a minute since I’ve watched the original. Maybe I got that from the 2010 movie.