brianh-7

Of all the films I've seen, this has to be the 2nd most surreal of all. Only L'Age d'or can surpass it. While that movie was sublimely subversive, especially in its closing scene, Eraserhead can only hint at such greatness.

Reviewing a movie like this is nearly impossible. How can one honestly "enjoy" the macabre and disturbing imagery? How can one definitively pinpoint the narrative or intention when the creator has said nary a word on the subject in 30 years?

Most of David Lynch's work has been moderately accessible if you're willing to work at it. He's been equally successful with a straight-forward narrative (The Elephant Man, Straight Story) as he has with the bizarre (almost everything else). But after watching this movie, I feel like I either need to attend film school or see a therapist.

I had fond memories of this film from my childhood. However, 25 years later, Phantasm turns out to be a complete disappointment.

Much of the score is ripped from the Exorcist, the "acting" is on par with your local dinner theatre, and the script is atrocious. The pace of the movie would generously be described as languid... many scenes linger on even when there's nothing left to see.

What was with the girl and her grandmother? And how about the girls from the antique shop? If more time was spent developing those characters and their relationship with our 'heroes', it would've been much more interesting. Instead, we're treated to more of the kid running.

I appreciate the attempts at surrealism. The sphere was inspired, although there wasn't enough of it. Perhaps some of the ideas were fleshed out better in the sequels.

A lot has changed in the horror genre in 2 1/2 decades. Some say "they don't make 'em like they used to." In the case of Phantasm, that's a good thing.