- Actors: Angus Scrimm;A. Michael Baldwin;Reggie Bannister
- Director: Don Coscarelli
- Disc Format: Digital Sound, Dolby, Surround Sound, Widescreen
- Language: English (DTS 5.1)
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region A/1
- Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
- Rated: R
- Studio: Well Go Usa
- Release Date: September 18, 2018
- Run Time: 90 minutes
Easily the most
confusing film since the original, I had no idea what was happening through
much of Phantasm IV: Oblivion. It does
the familiar plot structure lifted from the previous films in the franchise,
which mostly features Reggie hitting on young women he meets on his journey to
find/help Mike. There is creative gore and some beyond surreal sequences, with
none of the coherence from the previous two films. Fans of filmmaker Don
Coscarelli’s bizarre world may appreciate the continuation of carnage, but most
will recognize that the ideas that were once boldly original must continually
be reinvented, and Phantasm IV is not always successful in this endeavor.
While Reggie is
searching for Mike and battling a variety of alien or demonic beings, Mike is
hunting down answers about The Tall Man, either by traveling into the past, an
alternate timeline, or memories. It isn’t exactly clear, but also doesn’t
really matter all that much. None of what you know from the past films is
trustworthy in this one, with returning characters also suddenly turning into a
sphere, in the first integration of digital effects in the franchise.
Once again,
Coscarelli makes certain to retain as much creative control as possible in the
filmmaking process, taking credits for writing, producing, and directing. While
it is impressive how much of the franchise has stayed in Coscarelli’s control,
this is the film that it started to feel like a hindrance rather than an asset.
The first film was a brilliant balance of real-world terror and the surreal,
this sequel often just feels like rambling nonsense bonded by familiar characters
and typical gore.
The special
features in the fourth film include yet another commentary track, this time
with Coscarelli, Bannister, and Scrimm. There is also a behind-the-scenes
featurette and a trailer.
Entertainment Value:
5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 4/10
Historical
Significance: 3.5/10
Special Features: 5/10
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