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.
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).
Also, I think the Texas Chainsaw massacre reboot in the early 2000s is genuinely scary, no matter what anybody says. But I have a great love for slasher films from the 70s and 80s.
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.
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.
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!
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/
Great list.
My own list:
Man Bites Dog (1992)
The Blob (1988)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Devils Rejects (2005)
Also pretty much any John Carpenter film will provide a great fright
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).
Also, I think the Texas Chainsaw massacre reboot in the early 2000s is genuinely scary, no matter what anybody says. But I have a great love for slasher films from the 70s and 80s.
I’ll check it out
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!
John Carpenter is an amazing filmmaker, especially in the horror genre. He did a lot with very little and almost never profited from it.
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.
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.
John Carpenter is a great talent that’s is overlooked in many ways.
The Blob (1988) is genuinely scary in a way its predecessor wasn’t. It also addresses late Cold War paradigms in a very visceral way.
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.
I like those old 50s movies.
We love the Phantasm films and watch them often
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.
"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!
Tbh any horror (or other) film recommended by Red Letter Media is worth watching. Aside from Thomas, it’s how I found a lot of the films I love today.
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.
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/
Bubba Ho-Tep is a criminally underrated film.
Whenever you recommend horror films I'm reminded that you're a pretty dark guy. Good lord, the plot summary for Found is disgusting