Review of Phantasm

Phantasm (1979)
7/10
Hokey but entertaining mix of sci fi and horror
17 November 2021
I've never understood why the film has this reputation as been scary because it really isn't. Take away the that one scene with the orb (along with the two brief topless scenes which are totally unnecessary) and there is no way this would have been X or R rated. That's not to say though that its not entertaining because it most certainly is. The story does gets a little incoherent at times, probably due to how much it was cut down in the editing from nearly 3 hours to 88 mins!. The ending left me totally confused when I first watched this on on VHS as a teen in the late 80's and it was only because a more observant friend was present that I got what had gone down! It also relies a little too much on the hoary old horror trope of characters stupidly splitting up when they should stay together to drive the narrative along in places. But all in I enjoyed it and its a slice of horror history for sure if you've not seen it previously.
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