Phantasm (1979)
[movie]
The first film by Don Coscarelli, who was just 23 at the time. Lucky bastard had a banker dad who funded this madness, so with a budget slightly bigger than a crate of beer and total creative freedom, Don decided to cram EVERY SINGLE IDEA he had into one film. And fuck me, does it show…
The film’s coherence is constantly shredded—scenes feel dreamlike one moment, real the next; pacing swings from sluggish to hyperactive. It’s a small-town story centered around a cemetery and a funeral home, yet there’s shootouts, a car chase, erotic bits, kidnappings, and even a goddamn portal to another planet.
This movie is one of those "way more fun hearing your buddy describe it than actually watching it" deals. Sadly. I’d love to hype it up, but I won’t.
In 1979, maybe it felt groundbreaking; now it just lands flat. Sure, there are stylish shots and a killer soundtrack here and there. But as entertainment? Nope. Maybe through an arthouse lens, then? Still nope—the lack of cohesion ruins that. Could we call it surrealist, at least? No chance—it doesn’t touch Lynch, Cronenberg, or other mindfuck masters.
But I gotta give it props for sheer audacity. This might be among the earliest attempts to blend sci-fi, fantasy, and horror into one film. It’s a shaky mix, but it sorta works.
⚠️ Watch strictly out of historical curiosity.