Phantasm II poster & wallpaper

James LeGros, Reggie Bannister, Samantha Phillips

Armed with his lethal band of flying silver spheres, the deadly mortician known as the "Tall Man" returns to wreak more murderous havoc as he seeks new recruits for his grisly army of the undead.

Flixster Users

63% liked it

7,060 ratings

Critics

33% liked it

15 critics

R, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: Don Coscarelli

Release Date: January 1, 1988

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DVD Release Date: September 15, 2009

Stats: 336 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (336)

  • SirPant
    September 29, 2009
    SirPant
    Better than the first but still not fantastic.
  • bradwest
    December 3, 2008
    bradwest
    Not up with the first, but still interesting.
  • creepfreak
    March 27, 2008
    creepfreak
    Photobucket
  • stopitgoaway
    August 29, 2007
    stopitgoaway
    In the tradition of other horror movie franchises, Phantasm takes the action route for this sequel. The horror and sci-fi are still there but there's more combat, stuff blowing-up and gore than there was before. I suppose it does keep things fresh but it does get a bit too tongue...( read more)-in-cheek sometimes. Kinda like Evil Dead II, I'm not sure if this really fits in with the tone set by the first film.

    Phantasm II begins right after where the first film left off. The freaky dwarfs have invaded Mike's home and Reggie must foil the Tall Man's attempts at kidnapping him. Flash forward seven years and Mike is in a mental institution. He is released upon admitting that the whole Phantasm experience was made up only to find that in his absence the Tall Man has been plundering many of America's small towns and thousands of graves are empty.

    After the Tall Man kills Reggie's family in a gas explosion, Reg teams up with Mike to hunt him down and kick his head in...again. All they have to do is follow the trail of dead people, right? And this time they are ready for whatever outlandish tricks he's ready to play on them, armed to the teeth with quadruple-barrelled shotguns, flame-throwers and chainsaws. Complicating matters are Mike's inexplicable visions of the future and psychic connections to a mysterious girl he has never met before.

    As before, the Tall Man is the best thing in the film. Angus Scrimm is so wonderfully silent and unholy that no matter how slick and entertaining the rest of the film is he'll come out on top.

    Don Coscarelli was given a budget 10 times that of the original by Universal, but they did interfere with production quite a lot, much to his annoyance. They said that only one of the original cast members could return, so he chose Reggie Bannister and re-cast Mike with James LeGros (after turning down Brad Pitt!). It does kind of ruin the continuity a bit but it's not terribly distracting.

    They also demanded a more simple and linear story, so don't expect any of the bizarre dream sequences and flashbacks. If you're a big fan of the first this might seem disappointing but you know how studios love to think less of their audiences.

    The higher budget helps Phantasm to have a bigger scope than the original. The first half of the film feels like a road movie with lots of pretty scenery while the rest is kind of like a low-rent Ghostbusters/Lost Boys clone. Which sounds like a negative point, but the hokey tone of the film vanishes when it heads off into HP Lovecraft territory.

    If you're looking for answers as to what the first film was all about then you won't find many. In fact it raises more questions than anything else. But it's still a fun ride. I'm just kind of annoyed that the music took the more generic synth approach that was common in the 80's instead of the funky 70's beats we got before. The main Phantasm theme is still there for your enjoyment however and gets a great finish on the end credits.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    June 7, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    This movie raises the Phantasm series another notch, with a higher budget and lots of gory action. This first film was groudbreaking and lighthearted, but this one goes to the max with tons of innovative gore effects done realistically. The scenery and tone is dark and spooky, wi...( read more)th enough black humour to keep it going. This is the most satisfying film in the Phantasm series. It's very well done and highly recommended for horror fans.
  • garysobekmusic
    September 27, 2009
    garysobekmusic
    FINALLY Phantasm II comes out in a shitty bare bones release! Amazing movie, though!
  • benzgl
    September 5, 2009
    benzgl
    calssic horror.. ayus to.
  • betomovies
    August 21, 2009
    betomovies
    A la caza del Hombre Alto
  • wataki2
    August 8, 2009
    wataki2
    I've seen all the films in the Phantasm series..........
  • MichelleasaurusRex
    July 15, 2009
    MichelleasaurusRex
    Didn't quite understand this movie. Too many weird creature things. But I liked the ending though. I think this movie could of been a lot better and shorter, but oh well, its old. I may have missed something thought cause I don't get how there can be that many sequels.

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Critic Reviews

October 31, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

There's little to enjoy about this second outing save for Scrimm's deliciously menacing specter of death. full review

View more Phantasm II reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • LPB66
    November 21, 2007
    LPB66
    "Not it`s not!"
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Phantasm II Trivia

  • Phantasm II With parts in Living in Oblivion, Singles, Drugstore Cowboy, Near Dark and Solarbabies, he stars as Mike  Answer »
  • Phantasm II With parts in Wishmaster, Bubba Ho-tep, Necronaut, The Mangler Reborn and Carnies, he plays Reggie  Answer »
  • Phantasm II With parts in Scream Bloody Murder, Chopping Mall, Transylvania Twist, Subspecies and I Sell the Dead, The Tall Man is played by  Answer »
  • Phantasm II Samantha Phillips plays  Answer »
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