Phantasm II is the 1988 sequel to Phantasm. It was written and directed by Don Coscarelli, and stars Angus Scrimm, James LeGros and Reggie Bannister.
Universal provided a budget of $3 million, about ten times that of the original, but it was a difficult production as the producers demanded a more linear and action-oriented, less dreamlike approach. It grossed nearly $6 million in the US and more sequels followed.
Plot:
Reggie (Reggie Bannister) and Mike (this time played by James LeGros who replaces Michael Baldwin from the original) are hunting down The Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) in a time period that begins only shortly after the original Phantasm had ended.
They have since discovered that The Tall Man travels from town to town, enslaving the dead and they remain hot on his trail (or is The Tall Man hot on their trail?).
With the help of a hitchhiker named Alchemy (Samantha Phillips) and a young girl named Liz (Paula Irvine) that Mike has some sort of supernatural connection with – they once again try to put a stop to The Tall Man, his evil silver spheres and dwarf minions…
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- Five Phantasm movies together on Blu-ray for the first time!
- Limited Edition Bonus Disc featuring Exclusive Pheatures
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for all films
- Exclusive 152-page book with new writing on the Phantasm universe from Kim Newman and Bill Ackerman alongside a wealth of archive material, all fully illustrated with original stills and posters
- Replica Phantasm Sphere
- Limited Edition Packaging with newly-commissioned artwork from Gary Pullin
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Reviews:
” …a damned fine sequel, expanding on some aspects and upping the pace in a way that gives the film a distinct identity of its own. It delivers on action, it delivers on horror, and it’s a coffin full of generic fun.” Cineoutsider
“It’s the steel ball that reigns and rains (blood, that is) as it burrows into a man’s back, chews up his insides and comes out his mouth. At times this has the feel of the graveyard and mausoleum to it.” John Stanley, Creature Features
“It doesn’t do anything new like its predecessor being another helping of the Tall Man and his sphere chasing the same people and killing them the same way. It’s a creature of the eighties, giving in to those trappings as well with corny dialogue, big hair, and at least one gratuitous boobie shot.” DVD Verdict
“If on the off chance you’ve let Phantasm II slip you by, or you haven’t seen it in ages, I strongly recommend giving it a visit. Fans of the original are bound to enjoy it, and even the crazy few that aren’t too fond of the original are sure to enjoy its sequel. Highly recommended!” Horror Digital
“The 1988 sequel is almost as screwy and weird as the original with lots of gruesome special effects. Do not expect the plot to make sense. Coscarelli’s not interested. His story just rolls along from one bizarre event to the next, finally arriving at a predictable ending.” Mike Mayo, The Horror Show Guide
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“The target audience for Phantasm II obviously is teenagers, especially those with abbreviated attention spans, who require a thrill a minute. No character development, logic or subtlety is necessary, just a sensation every now and again to provide the impression that something is happening on the screen.” Roger Ebert
Cast and characters:
James Le Gros … Mike
Reggie Bannister … Reggie
Angus Scrimm … The Tall Man
Paula Irvine … Liz
Samantha Phillips … Alchemy
Kenneth Tigar … Father Meyers
Ruth C. Engel … Grandma
Mark Major … Mortician (as Mark Anthony Major)
Rubin Kushner … Grandpa
Stacey Travis … Jeri
J. Patrick McNamara … Psychologist
A. Michael Baldwin … Young Mike (as Michael Baldwin)
Phil Fondacaro … Hooded Dwarf (uncredited)
Ed Gale … Hooded Dwarf (uncredited)
Filming locations:
San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California
Highland Park, Los Angeles, California
Long Beach, California
Santa Paula, California
Pico Canyon Rd, Valencia, California
Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California
Hawthorne, California
Filming dates:
Principal photography commenced on 9th December 1987.
Technical details:
97 minutes
Aspect ratio: 1.85: 1
Audio: Dolby
Trailer:
