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Phantasm 4: OblivionRating:
Release Date: 17 July, 2001 Retail Price: $14.95 OUR Price: $13.46 You SAVE: $1.49! Cast: Complete Cast (9 total) |
Phantasm 4: Oblivion Reviews
Major Disappointment
I want to start off by saying that I'm a huge fan of the original film and I thought Phantasm II (not on DVD yet) was a good sequal. The original Phantasm is a classic horror movie. There is much good about Phantasm 4. The original characters are all back, including the ageless Reggie Bannister (why this guy never had more work in films is beyond me). The film was clearly shot on a limited budget, but it doesn't look cheap. It expertly uses outtake footage from the original film. I sat glued to my seat while I watched this film, usually a good sign for me. So with all that what's wrong? The script. Unbelievably weak. The movie teases us with a possible explanation for the Tall Man's origin, yet ultimately the film goes nowhere. This film explains little in the series, and what little it touches on is only vague hints. Just like Phantasm III, which I was also VERY disappointed in, this film does nothing to resolve the character's fates, with the possible exception of big brother Jody. I have no doubt that there could be a Phantasm V as this film does nothing to tie up any loose ends. Frankly, I'm getting tired of the past 2 films in the series going nowhere and not really resolving anything and I'd prefer not to see another film if it just going to be like this one. The only people who should watch this film are hardcore fans who've seen all the other films in the series.
All TRUE Phantasm fans will love this...
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.
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