Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Ariella Broughton It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

loomis78-815-989034 Writer Director Don Coscarelli returns to the Phantasm world 9 years later with a bigger budget, studio backing from Universal, and wisely picks this one up right where the original left off. A thrilling and scary opening segment has the dwarfs over running Reggie's (Banister) house as he barely has time to pull an unconscious Mike (LeGros) to safety. Mike and Reggie take to the road in search of hunting out the Tall Man (Scrimm) who has been robbing the dead and turning towns barren. Of course the Tall Man has his own plans as well. Mike has a psychic link to a girl named Liz (Irvine) who later connects with them. Coscarelli keeps the Phantasm world a strange one, by not always explaining the actions the movie, like the original plays like a bizarre nightmare and this helps in II as well. The bigger budget allowed for excellent and gory effects by mark Shostrom and Phantasm II does not disappoint in the gore department. It was fun seeing Bannister return as ice cream man Reggie in a expanded version of his character. This is a kick ass version of Reggie instead of the guitar playing hippie from the original. James LeGros as Mike is serviceable but Michael Baldwin was missed here. The ever Sinister Tall Man played brilliantly by Angus Scrimm is as menacing as ever and supplies most of the chills the movie has to offer. Credit is to be given to Coscarelli for not over using the Tall Man here. In order to please fans, many horror series feel the need to show more of the villain because they think this is what the fans want. By keeping the Tall man limited in screen time, he maintains the mystery and scary presence that made him so great in the original. Unlike the parody that Freddy Krueger became in the sequels, The Tall Man keeps his scary charm which helps the film considerably. Phantasm II is a worthy follow up to the now classic original and is a fun scary ride; just don't expect it all to make perfect sense.

ersinkdotcom "Phantasm II" is one of the best representations of the Hollywood horror movie boom of the 1980s. After years of genre filmmakers scrambling for cash to get their productions up and running, many studios were looking to cash in on the terror craze. Universal chose to throw money at "Phantasm" and give it the opportunity to go bigger and better."Phantasm II" picks up immediately after the first film. Mike convinces Reggie they must track down the Tall Man before he and his minions kill everyone in their path. The two go on the road, traveling one dead town to the next while following a trail of unearthed graveyards.Director Don Coscarelli did what any filmmaker would do in his position. He took the studio's money and ran with it. "Phantasm II" is a horror spectacle to be seen. He ups the ante on everything. There are huge explosions, more mechanical flying balls, and things get visually existential to the point of confusion. It's not a bad type of disorientation. It reminds me of a terrifying version of "2001: A Space Odyssey" and other films that don't fully explain what's going on."Phantasm II" will make viewers fear not only how they might die, but what could happen to their bodies and souls after wards. What could be worse than being conscience in your body but not have control over yourself? Thankfully, my beliefs give me a level of comfort the Tall Man would tell you is foolish and false."Phantasm II" serves as a nostalgic look back at a special era in the history of horror films. It was a time where practical effects still ruled and green screen didn't dominate every frame. Great gore and a truly creepy storyline make this a welcome addition to any genre fan's home movie collection.

skybrick736 I have mixed thoughts and feelings toward Part II of the Phantasm series. Starting with the fact that this could have been a great counter part with all the potential it had going for them. The script was definitely there and I loved the road type feel that the movie provided. They brought the typical 80's feel and characters into this movie that we are used to seeing in horror films. However, the fact of not bringing the original Michael back for Part II is a huge let down. I suppose the producers wanted a more eye appealing male actor but I feel Mike Baldwin was terrific. The Tall Man had some great scenes and one liners which highlights the movie for myself. Interesting cast, dialogue and scifi Phantasm kills that I recommend for all horror fans to see.

BA_Harrison Phantasm II continues in much the same vein as the original, with a totally illogical, anything goes plot, only this time the demented fun is taken to even greater heights with inventive Evil Dead-style camera-work (director Coscarelli even acknowledges Sam Raimi directly by showing his name on a prop), even more bonkers sphere action (this time with several types of deadly chrome balls), and a lot more gore.As Reggie (Reggie Bannister) and Mike (James LeGros) continue their hunt for The Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), armed to the teeth with a variety of home-made weapons (including a quadruple-barrelled shotgun and a flamethrower), they get to battle hordes of ugly dwarfs, hook up with a couple of babes (Samantha Phillips as Alchemy and Paula Irvine as Liz), survive not one, but two exploding houses, and get dragged through an inter-dimensional gate to an alien world.Working with a much bigger budget than on the first film, Coscarelli is able to really go to town with his visuals, offering up such awesome sights as a cemetery full of empty graves, a town left completely ravaged by The Tall Man, and a wicked chainsaw duel between Reggie and a gas-mask wearing 'graver' (beings who exhume bodies for The Tall Man) that sees Reggie apply his revving power-tool to his opponents nether regions (and if that hasn't sold this film to you, then nothing will).