Third Viewing: Phantasm II (1988)

Phantasm starts pretty slow, or at least it is pretty slow following its outstanding opening sequence that continues the finale of the preceeding film from eight years before.

But after that, it’s slow, but interesting. The Phantasm story is so weird, complex, and disjointed that it can’t help but be compelling. Without Jody, we get a recast Mike (now James LeGros), and adding to the main cast of characters to compliment Mike and Reggie is the Paula Irvine as Liz Reynolds.

She’s pretty delightful in the role, and while she’s more connected to Mike, she fits right in with the two of them.

This movie really has a terrific, goo-filled climax. It gets into some body horror territory which is something the first movie really didn’t do. In many ways, this is quite a different movie actually, though it’s still a similar story.

The story isn’t quite as interesting when it’s less mysterious, though. I think the Tall Man is more scary the more vaque he is. While this is a pretty good movie, it’s not as good as the first one.

Rating: 6/10