1988 | Dir. Don Coscarelli | 97 Minutes
"Small towns are like people. Some grow old and die a natural death. Some get murdered."
Seven years after their first battle with the Tall Man, Mike and Reggie hit the road in pursuit of the monstrous mortician and his minions. Heading northwest, the duo venture through numerous dead towns left behind in their enemy's trail. Liz, a childhood friend of Mike with whom she shares a psychic bond, reunites with Mike after her family falls victim to the supernatural threat. Accompanied by a mysterious hitchhiker named Alchemy, the heroes attempt to destroy the Tall Man once and for all.
Though it boasts a considerably larger budget than its predecessor, with financial backing from Universal Pictures, Phantasm II is an entertaining horror action road picture that is unfortunately compromised by studio involvement. The ethereal quality of the original film is largely absent, and though some viewers may prefer the rather conventional straightforward storyline of this picture - playing almost like a remix of the iconic visuals of the first movie with higher production value (even Fred Myrow's musical score featuring the signature Phantasm motif is considerably beefed-up) - the sequel is less psychologically interesting, trading in subtext for flamethrowers, chainsaws, modified four-barrel shotguns, and thrills that look more-polished but feel cheaper.
Despite its drawbacks, the film is not without its share of creative moments. Notable sequences include an encounter with a decoy Liz with the Tall Man's face growing out of her back, a chainsaw duel between Reggie and a psycho in a gas mask, a longer glimpse into the nightmarish hellscape beyond the dimensional fork featuring an oozy dwarf that spilled out of its canister, and the Tall Man disintegrating after our heroes pump him full of hydrochloric acid.
The deadly spheres from the first film make a gruesome return with new features. Most memorably, Phantasm II introduces the golden sphere, armed with a deadly laser beam and rotating blades capable of busting through doors and tunneling through flesh. Point-of-view shots from the perspective of the spheres as they pursue their prey bring a new level of intensity to the mausoleum chase scenes.
James Le Gros does a serviceable, if somewhat dull, job as Mike; his performance never quite capturing the same vibe as A. Michael Baldwin from the first film. Paula Irvine takes on an equally thankless role as Liz, spending most of the movie in peril and doing little else to forward the plot, not much to work with for any actress. Reggie Bannister is truly the co-lead of this picture and the movie is all the better for it. Turns out the character of Reggie is a bit of a horndog, allowing for comedic situations in which Bannister excels, especially in scenes that pair him with the strange-yet-alluring Alchemy played by model Samantha Phillips. Angus Scrimm returns as the menacing Tall Man, again taking full ownership of the role and of the picture whenever he is on screen. The film also features veteran character actor Kenneth Tigar in a relatively early role as a troubled priest with a drinking problem who meets a grizzly fate when he confronts the Tall Man.
Phantasm II is a leaner, shinier, more expensive sequel that in some ways pales in comparison to the low-budget original. It's entertaining and action-packed, but some of the magic is stripped away owing to major studio demands. It isn't a bad follow-up but it lacks the independent charm and earnestness that made the first film a unique and adventurous experience.
FRAGMENTS
- Director Don Coscarelli was forced by Universal Pictures to choose between keeping only one of the two stars from the first Phantasm film, A. Michael Baldwin as Mike or Reggie Bannister as Reggie (A. Michael Baldwin reprises the role of Mike in all subsequent Phantasm films)
- Other compromises Coscarelli was required by the studio to make include maintaining a linear storyline for the film, eliminating dream sequences from the final cut, and having to create a love interest for Mike
- A bag of ashes in the crematorium scene is labeled "Mr. Sam Raimi, Male 170 lbs., Deliver in brass urn" as a tribute to director Sam Raimi (most famous for directing the Evil Dead film and television series and the Spider-Man film trilogy starring Tobey Maguire), a close friend of Don Coscarelli who frequently visited the set of this film during production
- Special effects makeup master Greg Nicotero, currently best known for his work on the television adaptation of The Walking Dead, was as a member of the makeup team on this film
- At the tail end of the film's closing credits reads this disclaimer regarding film piracy:
"This motion picture is protected under the laws of the United States and other countries. Unauthorized duplication, distribution, or exhibition may result in civil liability, criminal prosecution and the wrath of the Tall Man."
MCU CONNECTIONS
- Kenneth Tigar (Old German Man in The Avengers)
