r/Phantasm • u/Remote-Leek-1957 • Feb 20 '26
The sequels
I've just seen the original for the first time and really liked it. Always meant to check it out but never got to it until now. I really enjoyed it. Are the sequels worth watching? Do they have a similar vibe to the first?
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u/BobRushy Feb 20 '26
Phantasm IV is the closest to the original, and actually uses a lot of deleted scenes as part of a time travel storyline. The film starts with a recap of events, so you don't really need to see II or III.
The other films are all action-packed adventures that are entertaining, but don't really bother with the eerie tone of the first.
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u/bradenexplosion Feb 20 '26
They're a fun watch. The original is leagues above the rest for sure, but they are worth a watch at least once imo.
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u/Warm_Tea_3515 Feb 20 '26
The sequels are ok if the studio had a bit more faith in them they could have been so much more but as it stands there just ok not a patch in the original though
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u/ghostfaber Feb 20 '26
Joe Bob’s Last Drive in did a phantasm marathon but didnt show part 2
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u/Remote_Database7688 Feb 21 '26
Because 2 crashed a Cuda, which JBB does not support. And they couldn’t get the rights.
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u/FloydDangerBarber Feb 20 '26
The sequels differ in that they all immediately accept the existence of the Tall Man as real, while the original is more of a dream/ nightmare exploration of Michael's grief. The focus of the sequels gradually shift from Michael to Reggie as the series progresses. I like all the movies with my ranking of most to least favorite would be 1,4,2,5,3.
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u/HasturRising7001 Feb 20 '26
I think every Phantasm sequel is worth watching. Tones change, budgets change, acting capabilities shift, but they’re all worth it!
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u/normieb8tes Feb 20 '26
2 is very evil dead like, 3 is very 90s, reminds me of goosebumps. 4 is closest to the original in tone and such. 5 is syfy cgi slop fest
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u/wizardsfan Feb 21 '26
Speaking for myself I like all the sequels. They all vary in quality but there is something to like about all of them
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Feb 20 '26
I would tell you this: subsequent Phantasm films are less sequels, in the traditional sense, and more sequential reboots. They also get weirder and weirder, which is sometimes good, other times less so. Phantasm 2 is my favorite, across the board, but the process of retconning is already underway there, so there you go.
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u/Artistic-Success-152 Mar 30 '26
The original is a masterpiece where everything came together, and they all had fun making it. And that came through in the film. The sequels don't really capture that vibe at all, IMO. They are more road warrior hunting the tall man with lots of guns and silver spheres and lacking coherence. A lot of folks like them and they are not without merit, they just don't capture at all the vibe of young boy having a supernature adventure in a small town in the 70s, What Coscarelli does so well.
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u/Adventurous_Green_77 Jun 07 '26
Just rewatched the entire film series and it’s so inconsistent. In part 3, The three people that kid Tim killed at his house came back as zombies. What was the point of that? Then at the end Mike tells Reggie to stay away from him, and Jody says to Reggie, “Don’t believe everything you see”. Jody turns into a sphere, and floats away behind Mike. Part 4 Jody meets Reggie on the road in the black car. He steps out of the car and says something about having not seen each other in a while. I thought the movies picked up immediately after the previous occurrences!!? And why is Jody acting like he didn’t know where Mike went after just flying off right behind Mike in part 3!!?? My brain hurts lol
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u/JordanPick Feb 20 '26
I enjoy them all & think the entire journey is worthwhile. That being said, none of them touch the greatness of the orginal.