The Phantom Empire is a 1988 sci-fi fantasy horror film about man-eating cave creatures and a vein of valuable diamonds.
The movie was directed and co-produced by Fred Olen Ray (Piranha Women; Super Shark; Dire Wolf; Glass Trap; The Unliving/Tomb of the Werewolf; Evil Toons; Haunting Fear; Alienator; Cyclone; Deep Space; Star Slammer; The Tomb; Biohazard; Scalps) from a screenplay co-written with T.L. Lankford. Also produced by Tony Brewster. The cinematography was by veteran Gary Graver.
The American Independent Productions movie stars Ross Hagen, Jeffrey Combs, Dawn Wildsmith, Robert Quarry, Suzy Stokey, Russ Tamblyn, Sybil Danning, Michelle Bauer and Tony Lorea.
Fred Olen Ray got the idea for this movie while filming in a cave in Bronson Canyon for his previous film Commando Squad (1987). He co-wrote the script over a weekend and then started filming the day after finishing Commando Squad, using the same crew and most of the cast. He then oversaw editing and final production for Commando Squad, before editing this one when it was complete.
Plot:
When a man-eating cave creature appears with a fortune in uncut diamonds around his neck, Doctor Chambers’ daughter Denae (Suzy Stokey) hires a salvage company to find the underground source of the gems.
Accompanied by archaeological intern Andrew Paris (Jeffrey Combs), mineralogist Professor Strock (Robert Quarry), and the salvage company’s Cort Eastman (Ross Hagen) and Eddy Colchilde (Dawn Wildsmith), Denae’s hopes of emerging from her famous father’s shadow become as remote as getting out of the caves alive!
Choice dialogue:
Denae Chambers: “Oh, it’s as black as caviar in here.”
Professor Strock: “Never look a gift cave girl in the mouth.”
Denae Chambers: “Oh my God. Is there no end to this nightmare?”
Cort Eastman: “It’s champagne time and I’m buying!”
Cast and characters:
Ross Hagen … Cort Eastman; Jeffrey Combs … Andrew Paris; Dawn Wildsmith … Eddy Colchilde; Robert Quarry … Professor Strock; Suzy Stokey … Denae Chambers; Russ Tamblyn … Bill; Sybil Danning … The Alien Queen; Michelle Bauer … Cave Bunny; Tony Lorea … Pedro
Technical specs:
1 hour 23 minutes
Mono
Aspect ratio: 1.85: 1
Filming locations:
Bronson Caves, Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park – 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California (shot over six days)
Vasques Rocks, Santa Clarita, California (additional footage requested by a distributor)
Film facts:
The giant spit Suzy Stokey is tied to was originally made for and used in Mel Brooks’ History of the World: Part I (1981).
Robby the Robot is credited as ‘Himself’, even though he is supposed to be another alien robot; is wearing a different head and is never referred to as Robby.
The alien vehicle was a Landmaster originally created for Logan’s Run (1977).
Includes footage from Planet of Dinosaurs (1977).
The end credits begin with: “Filmed on location at the centre of the Earth.’
External recommended trustworthy reviews:
Blu-ray.com
Geek Legion of Doom [YouTube]
The Gentlemen’s Blog to Midnite Cinema
Naturalistic! Uncanny! Marvelous!
Rivets on the Poster
The Schlock Pit
The Video Vacuum
Weird Wild Realm
For the trailer and loads more Fred Olen Ray movies please visit page 2
MOVIES & MANIA provides previews of new films, our own movie reviews/ratings, and links to other reviews from trustworthy recommended sources - all in one handy web location. Plus, links to legitimately watch 1000s OF MOVIES FREE ONLINE via platforms such as Amazon Prime, Plex, Roku, Tubi and on YouTube. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a very tiny amount from any qualifying purchases.
