In 1979, Phantasm, an independent film, premiered as a decidedly strange and ambiguous horror movie with lesser-known actors. It would become a testament to the power of indie films as, four decades later, audiences still hail it as one of the best horror movies ever made. Viewers interested in the horror series can use our guide to find out how and where to watch every Phantasm movie in order.
Written and directed by Don Coscarelli, Phantasm centers on the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), a superhuman mortician who begins shrinking, reanimating, and enslaving corpses. When a young boy, Mike Pearson (A. Michael Baldwin), catches on to what Tall Man is doing, he sets out to convince his brother, Jody (Bill Thornbury), of the conspiracy and defeat the mortician.
Phantasm was eerie, over-the-top, and incredibly ambiguous, the perfect formula for attracting a cult following. It invokes nostalgia for childhood and capitalizes on a bizarre plot. However, its most considerable appeal was its ambiguity and the way that viewers across decades have watched and come to different interpretations of its meaning.
After ending on a cliffhanger, Phantasm quickly received a sequel, Phantasm II. In this sequel, Mike (James LeGros) continues his mission to defeat the Tall Man. While most dismiss his claims as delusions, he finds allies in his brother’s friend, Reggie (Reggie Bannister), and Liz (Paula Irvine), a woman with whom he has a psychic connection. The sequel moved more towards conventional horror as it ramped up the gore and campiness, although it maintained its surreal, dream-like premise, earning mixed reviews from critics.
Phantasm’s subsequent two sequels, Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead and Phantasm IV: Oblivion, were direct-to-video releases that brought back Baldwin as Mike. These movies delve more into sci-fi as Mike and Reggie probe the Tall Man’s dabbling in dimensions and even travel back in time to witness his origin story as Jebediah Morningside.
After Phantasm IV: Oblivion, Coscarelli took an 18-year break from the Phantasm franchise. The final film, Phantasm: Ravager, premiered in 2016. While Coscarelli produced and co-wrote the movie, David Hartman took over as director. In the film, Reggie is now in a nursing home, though he continues to access different dimensions through his dreams of pursuing the Tall Man with Mike. While the film received some criticism for its convoluted plot and poor CGI, it served as a worthy conclusion as it continued probing its theme of death/grief while still leaving viewers questioning whether the story is reality or a dream. It also marked the final appearance of Scrimm as the legendary horror icon Tall Man before his passing in 2016.
Where to watch the Phantasm movies streaming online
Check out our list below to find out where to watch the Phantasm movies online in the U.S.! The films are listed in release date order, which is also the films’ chronological order.
