Phantasm (1979)
Directed by Don Coscarelli
Of all the scary movie franchises of my youth, Phantasm scared me the most. Told from the perspective of a 13-year-old boy named Mike (A. Michael Baldwin), writer and director Don Coscarelli’s passion project is a weird amalgamation of hallucinatory imagery, grief exploration, and a child’s fear of death. The latter of these is famously exemplified in the presence of “The Tall Man” (played with terrifying and mysterious menace by Angus Scrimm), a ghoulish undertaker who Mike becomes suspicious of. Adding to Coscarelli’s eccentric sense of horror and visual panache is the presence of a bizarre gang of hooded minions and a flying silver orb equipped with grisly implements of torture. Phantasm is out there, but if you can get over its somewhat nonsensical plot and forgive its other glaring faults, you might find it’s a fever dream worth exploring.
Phantasm II (1988)
Directed by Don Coscarelli
Nearly a decade after the original was released, Phantasm II continues the story of Mike (an older version now played by James LeGros) and Reggie (a peripheral character from the original who became a fan favorite, played by Reggie Bannister) as they battle The Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) and his evil designs. While not nearly as inspired as its predecessor, Phantasm II still manages some decent scares (I watched it all by myself in the basement when I was eleven, and the flying silver orbs legit terrified the shit out of me), albeit in a much more goofy and gun-toting way than before. Where the nightmarish nature of Part One worked well with its themes and subject matter, Part Two fails to use this same surrealism to a worthwhile effect. I’m not mad at Coscarelli’s attempt, but very little about Phantasm II adds up in a meaningful way. The real prize here, though, is Reggie, who gives off some serious “Ash from The Evil Dead” (Bruce Campbell) vibes a full five years before Army of Darkness. For this alone (and certainly if you enjoyed the first installment), I recommend having a look.
At Close Range (1986)
Directed by James Foley
This under-the-radar neo-noir from director James Foley (who would go on to direct Glengarry Glen Ross and even an episode of Twin Peaks) wouldn’t be worth mentioning if it weren’t for a pair of strong performances and a score to die for. Sean Penn was at the top of his acting game in 1986 despite his run-ins with the law, and his chops are definitely on display here. Acting opposite Penn is Christopher Walken, who tackles his role as a small-time crime boss and absent father with all the bravado one might expect from the veteran actor. The score, composed by Patrick Leonard, is a haunting affair that mixes ‘80s pop with emotive drama, and was so well-liked by Madonna (then married to Penn) that she used it as the backbone for her hit “Live to Tell.” The story, supposedly based on true events, thins out over time but remains solid enough to stay compelling and even offers some surprisingly disturbing twists that allow Walken to revel in the kind of unhinged acting he does so well.
James is a writer, skateboarder, record collector, wrestling nerd, and tabletop gamer living with his family in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the North Carolina Film Critics Association, and contributes to The Daily Orca, Razorcake Magazine, Mountain Xpress, and Asheville Movies.