Hey, it’s Joe Chappelle’s (Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers) adaptation of horror author Dean R. Koontz’s (who also wrote the screenplay) Phantoms… a movie I have seen exactly once upon it’s release (now considerably more thanks to this review) and couldn’t get into (mostly because I was too busy making out with my ghoul-friend at the time).
Now, some of you cats n’ creeps may only know this flick as the subject of a punchline in one of Kevin Smith’s anecdotal tales (although him making fun of anyone’s picture is the glassiest of glass houses considering the cinematic shits he’s delivered as of late), but at it’s core, Phantoms is a solid- enough supernatural shocker.
M.D. Jennifer Pailey (Joanna Going) decides to bring her troubled sister Lisa (Rose McGowan, Scream, Planet Terror) on a sabbatical to the remote Colorado town she calls home, but as is the way, most of the town is dead… not like in a “slow business day” sense, more like in a “someone ripped their heads of and murdered everyone” sort of affair.
Before long, Jen-Jen and Lisa run into the few remaining citizens in the form of Sheriff Bryce Hammond (Ben Affleck, you all know who his ass is), and his deputies Steve Shanning (Nicky Katt), and Stuart ‘Stu’ Wargle (Liev Schreiber, uncoincidentally, also from ’90s horror juggernaut Scream)… a sex pervert of the highest order who I’m sure won’t meet a violent end.
Anyway, ye olde government is keeping track on an ancient evil (our tax dollars at work!) which they have obviously now located, and they’ve brought in the academic big guns to suss out the details in the form of ex-Professor, now tabloid author, Dr. Timothy Flyte (Peter O’Toole, Lawrence of Arabia… or more suitable for me n’ my crowd,1979’s Caligula and 1984’s Supergirl).
As expected, our heroes are soon up to their collective asses in monster-centric mayhem, which makes their slim chances of survival ever-more tenuous… well, their survival, and the entire world‘s if they fuck this up!
So what works with ol’ Phantoms? More than you may remember my cats n’ creeps!
First of all, there are strong performances on display here including O’Toole, who is totally invested in his role and adds a huge slathering of class to the production, and Schreiber, who appears to be having the time of his life devouring the scenery in his villainous role!
Adding to the atmosphere is the dark and moody cinematography courtesy of Richard Clabaugh that keeps the environs cold and shadow-drenched… which nicely compliments the snowy locales and the corpse-strewn, abandoned buildings.
Speaking of those aforementioned, nearly-omnipresent shadows, they help sell the CG effects utilized to (at times) realize the presence of the Ancient Enemy currently kickin’ the shit out of the town… but thankfully there is some fun practical; creature and gore effects thrown around as well so this one avoids the weightless, intangible looking effects present in many ’90s films.
As for a negative, the creatures are mostly loaded into the third act, but interest is kept thanks to the slow-burn, Lovecraftian mystery at hand that unravels in a satisfying, if at times predictable narrative.
All of the above looks crisp and clean thanks to the new 4K Scan sourced from the original camera negative (endorsed by Director Chapplle no less) that features plenty of detail and clarity, but seldom shines in the eye-popping color department thanks to the film’s majorly monochromatic palette.
Along with the feature, Scream Factory have included a smattering of bonus features on this release including a brand-new duo of “Making of” featurettes, a TV spot, and the film’s trailer.
Often unjustly maligned, Phantoms is a fun lil’ preternatural picture with enjoyable performances and quality monster effects and I’d urge you lascivious lot to give it another go!
