PHANTASM is such a great Halloween flick. Jody is the older brother I always wanted. I like the 'travel/buddy' aspect of the second film as well. Reggie is the hardest ice cream man to ever live.
This is crazy…all my life I’ve had this vague memory of a truly fucked up movie I watched as a little kid, too little, and it had some creepy menacing old dude who controlled these spheres that threatened these little kids. No idea how I came across it and for years I would vaguely remember it and wonder what the movie was. It was Phantasm! Now that I know it influenced Refn I’ll have to go back and rewatch. Crazy blast from the past, gave up a long time ago trying to figure out what it was
Other movies I watched around that time (I must have been like 8-10 years old) were The Gate and Pet Semetary and man…as a little kid Pet Semetary fucked me up! Also, there’s another movie you are the only person I’ve ever seen discuss, in addition to phantasm, which was that movie with the guy who had a drill on the end of his guitar. My neighbors older brother showed us that and waking home that night was hell. I ran top speed
"Phantasm" is such a fantastic movie. The first time I sat down and watched it, I was really drawn into the experience. It was just so UNIQUE, with great characters, not to mention that crucial element of horror at the time... the memorable and catchy theme song. Several years ago, I was lucky enough to catch a theatrical screening of "Phantasm", and it was the fancy pants 4K restoration financed by JJ Abrams, and Coscarelli and most of the cast were on hand for Q & A!
Just watched Xtro. Britain in the 80s was pretty depressing, but what’s worse is the nostalgia I now feel for them. It looks like a better place than what we have now.
You'll probably be as tickled by this as I was: in reading about FOUND, I came across a Bloody Disgusting review wherein the reviewer says in earnest that the most disturbing scene in the movie is I guess there's a racist diatribe. This guy has such *total* lack of ownership of his own mind, that he is genuinely more disturbed by the dreaded n-word than a depiction of a man raping and killing his own mother.
That dickkhead also totally MISSED the point - setting of the film is the 1990s. RACE RELATIONS are at the WORST they/ve been since the 1970s.
Steve probably DOESN'T particularly like Black folks - but the whole jive of his RANT is that he's trying to rationalize being a MONSTER to his lil bro (''These are 'BAD PEOPLE' who I am taking out''.).
But yeah - its comedic. The ''HORROR'' of the movie to these faggots isn't SERIAL MURDER or Matricide being depicted. Its a guy using bad language.
1988 was a GREAT summer for movies. I saw ''THE BLOB'' remake in the theatre in VENTURA, CA. I also saw THE DEAD POOL that summer - which is the BEST of the Dirty Harry movies. I don't give AF what anyone says.
Here's an UNDERRATED flick for you - ''LEATHERFACE: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III'' (1990).
The trailer for LEATHERFACE: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III is one of my all time favorite pieces of film advertising.
I wanted to see that movie SO badly back then...and I did see it eventually, but was greatly saddened to learn that in the actual film, the chainsaw is not, in fact, a redneck Excalibur come outta some backwoods Texas pond.
Not was the film some kinda serial killer Grail quest--which is what my young brain was imagining back then.
Tsk tsk.
Still enjoyed LEATHERFACE, tho. I'm a fan of the whole series. It remains the only film series to feature a chainsaw duel between a coked up Dennis Hopper and some kind of Phoenix Program produced transvestite, and that counts for something.
I love his rendition of The Thing (and others), fantastic stuff. Also, I am going to see the '88 version of the Blob at my local ruined movie palace for Halloween, it should be great!
CARPENTER'S problem is he lost his GOD damned mind (alcoholism legit makes people go INSANE). ''ESCAPE FROM LA'' is a piece of shit - and a slap in the face to the FANS that kept his work product alive when HOLLYWOOD shunned him. Other than VAMPIRES, he never made a correct film after IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS.
I mean - his alcoholism is OBVIOUS. The Dude became incoherent and began claiming GARBAGE like, ‘‘Escape from L.A.’’ was his own ‘‘BEST’’ work.
ESCAPE FROM NY, PRINCE of DARKNESS = PEAK CARPENTER. The DEEP LORE especially of EFNY is fascinating - the WORLD BUILDING in the original script and the novelization. It delves into the state of WORLD WAR THREE and how HAUCK and PLISSKEN know each other (they served on the Eastern Front in Special Forces).
Hauk’s own SON is also an inmate of NEW YORK CITY PRISON - Hauk periodically goes into the depths of the city to try to FIND him.
Yeah and that YEAR (1988) the IRAN-IRAQ war was on the news everynight - with HORROR stories about MODERN chemical warfare and BIOWEAPONS. THE BLOB 1988 version is tight AF. The ORIGINAL is pretty good too tho I must say - STEVE McQUEEN'S first starring role.
PHANTASM is such a great Halloween flick. Jody is the older brother I always wanted. I like the 'travel/buddy' aspect of the second film as well. Reggie is the hardest ice cream man to ever live.
PHANTASM is also the ONLY film of its kind of seen where the guys in it act like GUYS who are buddies actually act.
The older bro, the kid - and REGGIE the older dude are like guys you KNEW if you grew up then. Its a great movie.
The 1971 HEMI CUDA is one of the STARS of the movie too. THAT is a fine, fine WHIP.
https://www.phantasm.com/
This is crazy…all my life I’ve had this vague memory of a truly fucked up movie I watched as a little kid, too little, and it had some creepy menacing old dude who controlled these spheres that threatened these little kids. No idea how I came across it and for years I would vaguely remember it and wonder what the movie was. It was Phantasm! Now that I know it influenced Refn I’ll have to go back and rewatch. Crazy blast from the past, gave up a long time ago trying to figure out what it was
Other movies I watched around that time (I must have been like 8-10 years old) were The Gate and Pet Semetary and man…as a little kid Pet Semetary fucked me up! Also, there’s another movie you are the only person I’ve ever seen discuss, in addition to phantasm, which was that movie with the guy who had a drill on the end of his guitar. My neighbors older brother showed us that and waking home that night was hell. I ran top speed
I think it was called Slumber Party Massacre
SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II. Its DOPE.
We love the Phantasm films and watch them often
Just looked up Don Coscarelli's filmography and saw he directed John Dies at the End.
Highly recommend, it's a really fun movie.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1783732/
OUTSTANDING movie and great novel too. The novel is a bit ‘‘darker’’. VERY much in the vein of old school, surreal and ‘‘weird’’ fiction.
"Phantasm" is such a fantastic movie. The first time I sat down and watched it, I was really drawn into the experience. It was just so UNIQUE, with great characters, not to mention that crucial element of horror at the time... the memorable and catchy theme song. Several years ago, I was lucky enough to catch a theatrical screening of "Phantasm", and it was the fancy pants 4K restoration financed by JJ Abrams, and Coscarelli and most of the cast were on hand for Q & A!
Just watched Xtro. Britain in the 80s was pretty depressing, but what’s worse is the nostalgia I now feel for them. It looks like a better place than what we have now.
Bubba Ho-Tep is a criminally underrated film.
Great stuff. Will watch with the girl.
Remember around 4 years ago you tweeted "The primary basis upon which I judge other people's character is their opinion of the film 'X-TRO'."
Can confirm that X-TRO is dope 👍
YES. Indeed. Its a FLAWLESS test.
Whenever you recommend horror films I'm reminded that you're a pretty dark guy. Good lord, the plot summary for Found is disgusting
Its a ROUGH movie. But its a legit ‘‘HORROR’’ film.
How's the book
''FOUND''? Its alright - the MOVIE hits harder IMO, but its not terrible. Not great, not terrible. FAR superior film to novella.
You'll probably be as tickled by this as I was: in reading about FOUND, I came across a Bloody Disgusting review wherein the reviewer says in earnest that the most disturbing scene in the movie is I guess there's a racist diatribe. This guy has such *total* lack of ownership of his own mind, that he is genuinely more disturbed by the dreaded n-word than a depiction of a man raping and killing his own mother.
That dickkhead also totally MISSED the point - setting of the film is the 1990s. RACE RELATIONS are at the WORST they/ve been since the 1970s.
Steve probably DOESN'T particularly like Black folks - but the whole jive of his RANT is that he's trying to rationalize being a MONSTER to his lil bro (''These are 'BAD PEOPLE' who I am taking out''.).
But yeah - its comedic. The ''HORROR'' of the movie to these faggots isn't SERIAL MURDER or Matricide being depicted. Its a guy using bad language.
1988 was a GREAT summer for movies. I saw ''THE BLOB'' remake in the theatre in VENTURA, CA. I also saw THE DEAD POOL that summer - which is the BEST of the Dirty Harry movies. I don't give AF what anyone says.
Here's an UNDERRATED flick for you - ''LEATHERFACE: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III'' (1990).
The trailer for LEATHERFACE: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III is one of my all time favorite pieces of film advertising.
I wanted to see that movie SO badly back then...and I did see it eventually, but was greatly saddened to learn that in the actual film, the chainsaw is not, in fact, a redneck Excalibur come outta some backwoods Texas pond.
Not was the film some kinda serial killer Grail quest--which is what my young brain was imagining back then.
Tsk tsk.
Still enjoyed LEATHERFACE, tho. I'm a fan of the whole series. It remains the only film series to feature a chainsaw duel between a coked up Dennis Hopper and some kind of Phoenix Program produced transvestite, and that counts for something.
There is a Dude who was mocking up WORKING Excalibur Chainsaws that were EXACT replicas of the movie prop. It is glorious.
I love his rendition of The Thing (and others), fantastic stuff. Also, I am going to see the '88 version of the Blob at my local ruined movie palace for Halloween, it should be great!
CARPENTER'S problem is he lost his GOD damned mind (alcoholism legit makes people go INSANE). ''ESCAPE FROM LA'' is a piece of shit - and a slap in the face to the FANS that kept his work product alive when HOLLYWOOD shunned him. Other than VAMPIRES, he never made a correct film after IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS.
In the Mouth of Madness is great film though. May well be the best cinematic treatment of Lovecraftian horror.
Also, since we're on Carpenter... Let's not overlook the obvious:
They Live (nothing more needs said to people here heheh) and
The Thing (perhaps his best work?).
Sorry to hear he's a drunk though. Damnit.
I mean - his alcoholism is OBVIOUS. The Dude became incoherent and began claiming GARBAGE like, ‘‘Escape from L.A.’’ was his own ‘‘BEST’’ work.
ESCAPE FROM NY, PRINCE of DARKNESS = PEAK CARPENTER. The DEEP LORE especially of EFNY is fascinating - the WORLD BUILDING in the original script and the novelization. It delves into the state of WORLD WAR THREE and how HAUCK and PLISSKEN know each other (they served on the Eastern Front in Special Forces).
Hauk’s own SON is also an inmate of NEW YORK CITY PRISON - Hauk periodically goes into the depths of the city to try to FIND him.
Its DOPE.
Also his composing which I love! I remember being so excited when his lost themes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Themes) came out in 2015.
Yeah and that YEAR (1988) the IRAN-IRAQ war was on the news everynight - with HORROR stories about MODERN chemical warfare and BIOWEAPONS. THE BLOB 1988 version is tight AF. The ORIGINAL is pretty good too tho I must say - STEVE McQUEEN'S first starring role.