Search - Phantasm 4: Oblivion on DVD

George P.
Reviewed on 11/6/2013...

Definitely the worst in the Phantasm series. If you've seen the first three, seeing this is like a mandatory chore. It's unbearably slow and seems to have no real purpose. I recently found an old article where the director bragged that the film's budget was on par with the original Phantasm. It's actually pretty obvious, since he padded this film with outtakes from the original...cutting room floor scraps that we were never supposed to see, stuff that makes no sense and has nothing to do with Phantasm (that's why it was cut!).

Phantasm IV is a lazy entry in the Phantasm series, one that Don Coscarelli should be absolutely ashamed of.

2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Jefferson N. from BLAIRSVILLE, GA
Reviewed on 3/1/2010...

This fourth installment of the series is all about backstory and setting up the rest of the series. It isn't nearly as action-packed as the rest of the series to this point. Therefore, fans of the Phantasm series will probably enjoy this film, but newbies might be lost or intimidated.

In this one, Mike has to confront the fact that he is from the same dimension as the Tall Man and possibly his heir. At the same time, Reggie and Jody race to save him before Tall Man can do something horrible to him. The problem is that Reggie isn't sure he can trust Jody since he has returned as one of the Tall Man's "death spheres". And Mike gets to see the origins of the Tall Man...from when he was a Civil War doctor until he entered the dimensional gate and returned as the Tall Man.

The movie is great if you're a fan, but as is obvious from the description, if you haven't seen the previous films, there's not going to be much for you here.

The ending can be a trifle disappointing, as well. Instead of concluding the series, it ends with a big cliffhanger. Add this to the fact that it's been over ten years since this one came out and they still haven't made another one, and it can be very frustrating. Still, if you're a Phantasm fan, this is a must-see.

0 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

All TRUE Phantasm fans will love this...

matts1979@webtv.net | Leominster, MA | 08/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Phantasm Oblivion can be a relatively challenging film if one isn't properly acquainted with the series. I don;t mean to talk down to casual Phantasm fans or those looking for a cheap scare, if you don't know the first three films rather well, part IV here will certainly confuse you.To those who have come to love these characters, Oblvion takes them all through quite the ride. Mike is struggling with his newfound 'power', the Tall Man wishes to seduce Mike into becoming like him while Reggie is still hot on his trail. There is a considerable amount of emotion evident here, director Coscarelli knows that at this point we know and care about our heros, the stakes are raised in this flick and hidden truths are finally revealed. The fascinating thing here is while some older questions are wrapped up, Oblivion opens many new questions up to the fans. There is enough happening in this film alone to keep them debating for years to come. It's all fasciating and Angus Scrimm as the Tall Man is still a very intimidating screen presence. The budget on this film was quite low (under 1 million), so you tell me, after watching this film, can you even begin to be impressed with what Coscarelli has done with his limited budget. If you know anything about filmmaking you must appreciate it, but of course, working miracles with no money still does not make a great film.Phantasm Oblivion is a success in every other way also, from the use of unused footage from the original, to the showcasing of Tall Man's origins, to the spectacularly sad ending, Oblivion may not be as scary as the orignal, but when you get this far into the series, being engrossed is much more important than being scared. Coscarelli engrossed me 10 times over and I'm hungry for more, the mark of a truly great film."

IT'S JUST THE WIND...

Anton Ilinski | Moscow, Russia | 12/14/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Being an avid "Phantasm" fan, I didn't like this film when I first saw it. Now, couple of years later, I watched it again and was slightly surprised because the impression improved. The forth installment to the series may not be as scary as the first one, not as gripping as the second and not as funny as the third, but Don Coscarelli made an unexpectable turn to thoughtfulness and philosophy. We are to discover many unknown and unexplored facts about the Tall Man and the nature of his abilities and creatures. We will be baffled about what's going on, because the story takes an unexpected turn and makes a loop returning to the very beginning. What was all that? A Nightmare? Some paranoid delusion? Just a dream? Or is it real? You'll learn the answers after watching but not all of them, certainly. "Phantasm" was always a kind of a movie where pretty much is left for your own imagination, so here you'll have to ponder too. By the way (in the next sentence there may be a spoiler, you may want to start reading the next paragraph), the ending of the forth part is the only one with no sudden Tall Man appearence and dwarves grabbing some of the characters. Here the finale is more like metaphysical.



The one ingenious discovery by Don Coscarelli here was that he inserted some of not previously used footage from the first "Phantasm". Those are the frames you didn't have a chance to see even in deleted scenes for the first film, and here they matched just right. Coscarelli tied the past and the present together, so we got this strange, sinister and global new phantasm.

But still this is far from seeming to be a closure of the series. The Tall Man is still undefeated, the cities are still being desolated, Jody is still half a man-half a ball :), Mike (who is not dead, but it's hard to say if he's alive either) and Reggie are lost somewhere in time between dimensions. So the forth part looks rather a preparation for the final battle than the end itself. So we are left in suspended animation to wait for the pay-off. I just hope studios will come to agreement, find the financing and help Don Coscarelli finish the quintology. And I hope the last one will finally be written by Roger Avery. Every story has to have an ending."

Phantasm IV: Excellent

Tim Lasiuta | Red Deer, Alberta | 08/26/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
Horror/slasher films can be so predictable. Toss in a villainous character, add a body count, include gruesome CGI, meld in a suspenseful soundtrack (although it can be heavy metal now), cast a beautiful young woman for titillation, and use light sparingly. If you are so inclined, plan at least two sequels so you can release director cuts and special editions. Toss in a good story for good measure.



It's a good thing Don Coscarelli is not predictable. The Phantasm series, while possessing some of the `standard' horror film characteristics, eclipses itself in the fourth and last film. There have been zombies, dwarf killers, and a truly outstanding villain in the `Tall Man'. "Oblivion", while a final film, answers the questions that fans have been asking. "What caused the Tall Man to become evil?" "What are the spheres anyway?" "Did Jody really die in the car crash?" Lastly, can Mike stop the Tall Man from becoming evil?



Coscarelli's response is almost poetic. Mike travels through crystal gateways into alternate time frames and realities based on his what-ifs. Jody, his late brother, returns to guide him. The Tall Man teases him with the past, and the offer to join him as he hastens a final death for all mankind. "Be careful what you search for, you just might find it." The ice Cream Man, Reggie, travels through an abandoned landscape only to realize that his final destination depends on Michaels' actions. There is gore, there is action, and there is a strong underlying theme in the film. Our past decides our future. Our decisions have consequences.



The film is immaculately produced. Visually, the photography and special effects are well done. Sharp TV fans will notice the improved 1313 Mockingbird Lane house from the Munsters (now Astoria Lane in Desperate Housewives). The Alabama Hills and Lone Pine sparkle. In a backhanded tribute to the Lone Pine area, Coscarelli includes a western scene where the Cisco Kid and Lone Ranger once galloped. For a horror film, the few spots of humor are well handled and appropriate.



Intelligent horror is rare. This film makes the grade. Bravo Mr Coscarelli.



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