Phantasm

First chapter of a long-running sci-fi horror pentalogy (1979-2016) springing from the imagination of Italian-American director Don Coscarelli, “Phantasm” encapsulates a reflection on the difficulties of adjusting to adulthood, drawing considerable inspiration from the fears and anxieties of his own adolescence.

It’s therefore a rather personal work, rich with surreal influences that make it almost dreamlike, a consideration which justifies, at least in part, the fragmentary nature of events, the diffuse inconsistencies, and the fact that numerous scenes don’t seem to make a lot of rational sense.

A nocturnal, heartbreaking film immersed in death – the theme of how grief is processed takes on a key role – “Phantasm” is dominated by a sense of ineffable precariousness. At the heart of it all lies the threat of the “Tall Man” (role of a lifetime for actor Angus Scrimm), lugubrious invader who, with his cryptic dealings, serves as an almost Lovecraftian symbol of the horror of the unknown. Additionally, the tuning fork as an interdimensional gateway is reminiscent of the importance that sound waves – resonance and vibration first and foremost – take on in the lonely Providence writer’s fiction (in this regard we would cite cult stories such as “From Beyond” – 1920, “The Music of Erich Zann” – 1921, and “The Dreams in the Witch House” – 1932).

The sad truth is that not everything works the way it should: the pacing too often drags, and the silly, repetitive dialogue leaves a lot to be desired. At any rate, if these potential weaknesses are attributed to the nightmare dimension, then they ultimately have their own “raison d’être” as well – consider the time dilation or the repetitive elements typical in the realm of dreams.

Finally, a couple of famous scenes deserve mention – the caretaker operating a floating, blade-equipped sphere getting his skull drilled into was particularly cool – as well as the haunting main theme midway between John Carpenter and Goblin.

Extraordinary box-office success: it grossed $15 million in the US alone, compared with a budget of about 300,000.