Phantom

As you know, as a freelance filmmaker you have few opportunities to get funding, but Stephan always manages to make the best of the few resources available. "Phantom" clearly differs from his previous work in terms of style, presentation and story and that's very good! So he succeeds in a thriller, although in some points also like to 007, but it encourages to think and take care, because you will learn only in the last 5 minutes, who did it in the end. You really have to be careful because you would not guess who it really is.

Stephan sets his characters very strong and you realize how important character development is to him. The young reporter Madeline starts as an inexperienced scriptwriter, who is looking for her first big story and is changed by the events, while the young commissioner Wagner, whom Stephan plays this time, sometimes allows feelings from the hard, emotionless guy through her.

You really have a story - albeit not entirely new - that is captivating and thrilling, and the new actors Melanie and Stephan Finger are doing a great job! They are supported by great supporting actors who make "Phantom" a round thing!

(9/10)

I became aware of Stephan Taubert and his films by chance and looked at some of his works. At first I was a bit skeptical, but his earlier works can no longer be compared with the latter. *Phantom* is his last film from 2018 so far and hopefully not the last. He always plays a role himself and also directs it, which I think is pretty cool and I enjoy watching it. Compared to some others in the freelance film scene, you at least get good stories from him that make you think or can simply be entertaining. You can't reinvent the wheel today, but the story of *Phantom* in particular may not be new, but in my opinion it's a good cinematic experiment, and it's a success. He directs well, has good actors and the whole thing looks much more exciting in black and white. Let's take a good mix of Psycho and James Bond, paired with a story of its own and we have *Phantom*. It's only in the last few minutes that you'll be able to guess who the killer is anyway, and then some things that might seem strange are explained, but at the end they're well explained. Good work Stephan, I hope to be able to see new films from you in the future and that Corona hasn't ruined everything.

I have been following Stephan Taubert's work for several years and after his last movie "The Power of Dreams" he needed a creative break to find a new project. You have to know that as a freelance filmmaker he always tries to get the best out of very little money and after the great success of his last movie he succeeded again. "Phantom" is a stylish thriller filmed in black and white like old Alfred Hitchcock films, combined with some modern aspects of action, thriller and suspense.

This time the focus is on young reporter Madeline, who is in search of her first big story and is supported by the young commissioner Ben Wagner, who is committed to providing a murderer who has been unknown for years, also from a personal point of view. "Phantom" is one of Stephans best films so far and even though he was sometimes inspired by other films, he has turned for his possibilities an exciting thriller in which you learn only in the last five minutes, who is now the real killer ,

Well done, great movie! Hope he comes out with his work really big. (8/10)

It is a pity that Stephan Taubert's films are not better known through cinema and television. Someone who puts so much passion and love into his stories and brings his characters to life, would have really more than deserved! With "Die Macht der Träume" from 2016 he made a fantastic movie and the new announcement of "Phantom". If you know his work, you will notice that this film is clearly different from his other works, which I very much welcome. The story is not really new, but it's exciting and you have to wait until the end to see a big surprise and unmask the real culprit.

(7/10)

Although the story is not really new, Stephan Taubert's new movie "Phantom" is very well done. Borrowed in the style of old Hitchcock films and a few elements borrowed from James Bond, he has created an exciting thriller that makes you think and you will only find out in the end - more precisely in the last five minutes - who the killer is and has again a big surprise in itself, with which one hardly expects.

One should never forget with his films that he has very little money as a freelance filmmaker and always tries to do the best. But he is getting better and better from film to film. Some could take an example of that.