Phantasm III: Lord Of The Dead Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
We Tried To Warn You. If You Don't Get It This Time We're Going To Have To Drill It Into Your Head!
The tall man is back for the final kill.
The tall man is back to prove once again "it's never over"...
Terrifying. Relentless. Unstoppable.
He's back... and this time he won't take no for an answer!
The Tall Man, that imposing menace from Morningside Mortuary, is back and once again haunting the thoughts of the now-adult Mike and his friend, ex-Ice Cream vendor Reggie. The two continue their hunt for the mysterious figure and in his path of destruction encounter a variety of dangerous situations, friends and enemies. They also must contend with the resurrected dead plus a growing number of the infamous and deadly silver spheres which aid the Tall Man as he sets his sights on indoctrinating Mike and finishing the fight begun so many years ago.
| Reggie Bannister | Reggie |
| A. Michael Baldwin | Mike |
| Bill Thornbury | Jody |
| Gloria Lynne Henry | Rocky |
| Kevin Connors | Tim |
| Cindy Ambuehl | Edna |
| John Davis Chandler | Henry |
| Brooks Gardner | Rufus |
| Angus Scrimm | The Tall Man |
| Irene Roseen | Demon Nurse |
| Sarah Scott Davis | Tanesha |
| Duane Tucker | Motel Owner |
| Claire Benedek | Tim's Mother |
| Wendy Way | Woman at Orphanage |
| Robert Beecher | Gas Station Attendant |
| Don Coscarelli |
5.60 out of 10 (1664 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Sickeningly bad movie
posted on 06 Mar 2009I despise horror movies, that is no secret. No plot, bad acting and gallons of blood are staples of these mistakes of cinema, and this "movie" is no exception. I cannot believe some cable stations actually run this garbage. (This particular garbage was released straight-to-video, as I recall.) As mentioning any other movie would be a great insult to that other movie, I say this: All of the Phantasm movies, all of the Jason movies, Freddy movies, Chucky movies, and most of the Michael Myers movies can be summed up in one word: TERRIBLE!!!Rating (Phantasm III): 0.5/10
Terrific Sequel For the Series
posted on 08 Aug 2008This is a really good movie. For it to be the 3rd installment in a movie series that has been around for 20 years automatically gives it a good spot in my heart. The PHANTASM series has been able to expand and contrast for a while, and that is why the series seems so fresh. This, of all of the PHANTASM movies, holds a more "gothical" aspect of death and the afterlife. It also reprises the roles of the Original PHANTASM, as does the newest in the series, PHANTASM OBLIVION. This movie has also gotten a lot of bad reviews, because of its ability to expand its characters and settings, I do admit that the character of "TIM" was a little far-fetched, seeing as how he was a little Rambo 10-year-old that could kick a zombie, a sphere, and a dwarf's butt and still have energy for more. But, all in all this movie rocks.
Absurdly underrated
posted on 01 Jun 2008i was somewhat thrown off by the fact liz was brutally killed off right at the beginning. but this is to be expected considering how much of a mind screw this franchise is, because anybody can die (except for maybe Reggie). but of course they come across 2 new additions to their party. "rocky" the militaristic black female martial artists whom kicks a$$ (her friend should have survived for the ultimate team up) and the sharp shooting 10 year old kid "tim" (who is also hilarious btw likewise with rocky, oh and jody makes a return). I'm surprised that tim didn't have a pet dog!, no seriously it seems like this kid would have a pet dog tagging along lol but i digress.
no..no..in all seriousness this series has a great consistency unlike most other horror movie franchises. this flick is more so along the lines of action/horror, with subtle hints of comedy thrown in. its not a strait up horror flick. but make no mistakes its very far from light hearted. the murderous dwarves, and killer spheres make a strong comeback. theres even a special high tech gold one that uses laser beams instead of drill,saws,and spikes. and of course angus is back as the iconic tall man.
the movie picks up right after part to with Reggie and mike recovering from the attack at the end of the second movie. and eventually venturing to a creepy small town called Holtsville (because jody told them too). where they encounter the 2 aforementioned new additions, and some looters who eventually becomes the tall man's minions (if i recall correctly). and of course epic battles ensues. overall a solid addition to the unappreciated, and often forgotten franchise. glad to see its finally on DVD.
on a side note, i always wondered what it would be like if rocky had a spin off franchise with her friend that would be cool. i can picture it now two bad azz black girls going town to town kicking monsters...this screams to be made into a separate franchise.
Horrifying, Strange
posted on 27 Mar 2008I have long desired to see the 'Phantasm' films; mixtures of surrealism and horror being what I love. However, the well-known graphic violence kept me at a distance until Phantasm 3 appeared on cable. At midnight. So, I took a gamble and watched it. Phantasm 3 is excellent. Though slightly hokey and not as powerful as the original, Phantasm 3 still is very powerful. The world in which Mike and Reggie is like some post-apocalyptic nightmare; with the Tall Man, that interloper between life and death, roams America stealing souls. There are several scene which are masterworks. The first being Mike waking up in the hospital and finding himself face to face with the demon nurse. The best scene however, is the ending. Reggie held captive by hundreds of the drills, and the zombies pulling the boy through the window. "Its never over, boy!" (This is said to be a horror comedy, but viewers beware: after seeing this I looked under the bed for the first time in my life. For a horror comedy, try "The Evil Dead'. For my favorite film, try 'Eraserhead'.
Highly impressive sequel effort
posted on 19 Feb 2008"Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead" isn't that bad, but it's got a few middling problems of it's own.**SPOILERS**Escaping from the cemetery, Mike, (A. Michael Baldwin) manages to convince Reggie, (Reggie Bannister) that his dead brother Jody, (Bill Thornbury) has come back to warn him about The Tall Man, (Angus Scrimm) and his nefarious plans for them before being kidnapped by The Tall Man. Traveling to a deserted town to find out, Reggie meets young Tim, (Kevin Connors) and the two decide to team up for a while. While checking a possible deserted town, they find Rocky, (Gloria Lynne Henry) also on the same mission and reluctantly decides to join them. Guided by Jody's spirit, they are able to reclaim Mike from The Tall Man's grasp, luring the group into a final showdown for the fate of mankind.The Good News: A rather decent addition to an underrated series, this here has some really good moments. One of the film's best factors is that it does some much-needed exposition on the series. Finally giving the secret behind the Silver Spheres is a nice touch, and their revelation is quite spooky and really chilling. It also blends in with what had been giving so far and is nicely appreciated. The true story of The Tall Man is also given here, and is a really neat twist to the story. While not exactly clever, it does have an aura of being able to be convincing in the series, and that is the most important thing that can be done with it. With Reggie now at the forefront of the series, the comedy is now increased, and some classic one-liners are evident throughout. The physical stuff is subdued, leaving the mostly on-the-mark jokes to come out, and comes across nicely. There's also no shortage of gore here, including the still-messy head-drilling-silver-sphere sequence that still unleashes a gallon of blood, as well as some exploding body parts, a neat sliced throat, an ax in the head, a decapitation and a whole slew of gunshots cutting bodies up, not including the un-fatal wounds inflicted that are spread throughout. There's also no shortage of action in here, including the customary hearse chase that ends in a big crash and fireball, which is one of the greatest ones done, and a spectacular showdown in the mausoleum at the end. Taking place in an incredibly chilling Gothic mausoleum, with long, empty corridors, one-off rooms and plenty of equipment inside, this is a great showdown that pales slightly compared to the masterpiece one at the end of the second one but is still noteworthy on it's own. This here is the film's highlight sequence, and is no surprise to come at the end when everything that had been built up to it. Filled with inventive fight techniques, some really clever chases and a non-stop pace, this here is a really glorious ending that sends it out on an appropriate high-point. The Tall Man is at his most creepy here, finally being able to do something constructive to his evil personality and he even has a really creepy scene, being lit by a suddenly-changing light during a chase down a hallway that only shows his outline in the darkness. With a fun, workman-like pace and a couple of neat throwbacks to the other entries, this here is a pleasantly-entertaining entry.The Bad News: Quite frankly, this film doesn't have a whole lot of problems, but they are pretty big ones. This one here doesn't make a lot of sense, despite answering several questions about the series. It's nice that it did, but there is still way too much happening here that doesn't seem to be explainable. The gateway sequence, which in the first one is shown sting the hands, now is able to lock it closed. There is still no explanation for what's the actual plan of The Tall Man's attack of where he came from, and these are perfect questions to answer this deep into the series. They prevent it from being a stand-alone film like the first two, which could be enjoyed despite not having seen the other, and this one needs the others to make sense. There's also a couple of unnecessary sequences in here, most noticeably the orphanage scene, that served nothing to the series and don't seem to have any reason to be there. These aside, this is a really good overall entry.The Final Verdict: While not as clever or as scary as the first two, this is still a solid, enjoyable entry in a very under-appreciated series. It's problems mainly stem from it being unable to be a stand-alone entry like the others, and really needs to be seen in conjunction with the others to make the most sense, and is more-than-usually recommended for fans of the series.Rated R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, Nudity and a mild sex scene
Oh Dear this went VERY wrong
posted on 16 Feb 2008Phantasm ....Class. Phantasm II.....awesome. Phantasm III.....erm.....terrible.Even though i would love to stick up for this film, i quite simply can't. The movie seems to have "sold out". First bad signs come when the video has trailers for other films at the start (something the others did not). Also too many pointless characters, prime examples the kid (who is a crack shot, funny initially but soon you want him dead), the woman who uses karate to fight off the balls (erm not gonna work, or rather shouldn't) and the blooming zombies (what the hell are they doing there, there no link to them in the other Phatasms). Also there is a severe lack of midgets running about.The only good bits are the cracking start and, of course, Reggie B.(Possible SPOILER coming Up)To me this film seems like a filler between II and IV as extra characters just leave at the end so can continue with main 4 in IV.Overall very, VERY disappointing. 3 / 10
just like part 2 it is better than the original.
posted on 12 Dec 2007the second sequel is better than the original just like part 2 . not much else i can say about the movie except that it is part of the best horror series ever. i love the humour in the movies it is placed in at the right moments. which makes it even more special .
Somewhat weak title in the series
posted on 25 Sep 2007Gotta say I was definately a little disappointed in the third movie. I've seen enough horror, cheesy and well done to say this movie definately was missing some of the charm the first two movies had. Reggie and the tall man still rock, and the beginning and end of the movie are pretty cool. This movie really lacked the chills and tone that its predecessors had. Don't get me wrong a lot of my favorite horrors are humorous, and very cheesy (Dead Alive,Evil Dead 2, etc....)But I just couldn't find the zombies in this movie anything but annoying. It was like they are in the movie just to fill a little time. The home alone references were pretty funny but it just went to far as the trio of zombies keep resurfacing. Overall if you like the series, and go into this chapter with an open mind and expect to be a little let down you will probably enjoy this installment. I know the stupid humor hurt this flick for me just because I was expecting another chiller.
Excellent
posted on 31 Jul 2007I loved this movie. I have only seen the original Phantasm and part 3, but I really liked part 3. The scene where those people go into the kid's house and get killed..well, I wont give it away, but I thought it was pretty scary. Phantasm 3 is a good horror film. I enjoyed it.
A Waste(spoilers)
posted on 30 Jun 2007This was pathetic,it seemed promising at first,but just isn't good.That ending for part two where Reg threatend to blow themselves up with a grenade was dumb,I thought the Tall man wanted them dead?And when that kid killed those thugs,this made the Ice Cream man sound interesting.And the balls were just buzzing around like bees,and where did they get eyes?The ending was the best,beside that,avoid this!
Excellent!
posted on 27 Jun 2007This is definitely one of the best horror movies there is. (Of course, you've got to see the first two, but this movie in particular is great!) If you have seen the uncut-version, it seems fairly obvious that Don Coscarelli did well this time, mixing up "traditional" horror-spooky things with some kick-ass action. Especially Reggie Bannister, who repeats his role as the ice-cream seller(!), is great and it's clear to see that the whole cast had a lot of fun doing this movie. A MUST SEE for any horror film fan.Mac
I preferred "Phantasm 2" over this one!
posted on 15 Jun 2007Our heroes Reggie and Mike are going after The Tall Man once again.Chasing him they stumble across all manner of friends(a militant chick and the annoying kid who seems to pop up in films when all else fails).The comedy aspect featured here is pretty weak-Reggie Bannister has some good one-liners though!There is plenty of gore as people are dismembered in various ways.The film is never boring,so if you like "Phantasm" series give this one a look!
get your hands off my boy!!!...
posted on 19 May 2007The Tall Man is back and once again haunting the thoughts of the now-adult Mike and his friend, ex-Ice Cream vendor Reggie. The two continue their hunt for the mysterious figure and in his path of destruction encounter a variety of dangerous situations, friends and enemies. They also must contend with the resurrected dead plus a growing number of the infamous and deadly silver spheres which aid the Tall Man as he sets his sights on indoctrinating Mike and finishing the fight begun so many years ago....another sequel, another waste of time in story and script, plus noe reggie is a now genius with comedy, is he telling gags in part IV?anyway the original mike from the first one is back, probably after Le Gros declined due to his 'success' in point break and gun crazy. there is some fun to be had in the second sequel. the hillbillies for example who get killed by the young boy at the beginning ala rated R home alone, are fun and add a not needed at all zombie edge to the movie. Scrimm is looking old now and not menacing at all.but then do you need story, bizarre visuals that made the first one a success, and shocks when your movie officially has the best human vs. zombie martial arts/nunchuka fight ever committed to celluloid?didn't think so.nothing on the original, but there are still some good moments.
A worthy sequel in the Phantasm series.
posted on 29 Mar 2007Phantasm III (1994) was the third film in the Phantasm series. After the flat second film, the filmmakers made a low budget third chapter. Unlike the last film, this one was a fun film. Reggie has escaped the clutches of the "Tall Man". Instead of cutting his losses, he follows him in his souped up hot rod. He finds help in a kid and a tough female soldier. Poor Reggie, he's been through a lot but it ain't over. Don Conscerelli reunites the principal cast members for this fun sequel. The actors seem to be enjoying themselves. Like the others, the movie was bothered by the tight restrictions of the M.P.A.A.I haven't seen the work print so I can't judge how much was changed. But if you loved the first film, then you're going to enjoy this one. If you haven't seen part two don't bother. You wern't missing much and it won't matter because it's all recapped in the beginning of the movie. Followed by one more sequel.Recommended for fans of the series.B+
Different Style, But Still Enjoyable.
posted on 17 Mar 2007"Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead" is a pretty inventive and fun sequel. Following "Part II", this time Reggie (Reggie Bannister) is continuing his search for the Tall Man to stop him from his deadly work. Mike (Michael Baldwin) is captured by the Tall Man after falling into a coma, and now it's up to Reggie to save him. With the help of Jody (who is mainly in the form of a silver sphere now) and some others that he picks up along his journey, including a young boy named Tim (Kevin Connors) and a woman from the Army, Rocky (Gloria Lynne Henry), Reggie begins a relentless search for the Tall Man's current location, where he has Mike, and what he plans to do with him.A different but very entertaining entry, "Phantasm III" is a very fun film. It differs in style quite a bit from the previous movies, but it seems like that's a trend in this series. "Phantasm" had it's own kind of surreal style, "Phantasm II" had a similar surrealism but had much more action, and "Phantasm III" is more of a slamming, action-packed horror adventure, with a more mild dose of mysticism and a lot more gore. It's a different kind of film from the rest, and since the style is so much different from parts I and II, I think that is the primary reason that people didn't enjoy it. I personally do miss the surreal atmosphere, which I felt this film was distinctly lacking, but it still has enough strangeness and bizarre nature to keep me happy. There is some humor thrown into the mix as well, which seemed a little strange I suppose, but was likely there for some comic relief amidst the out-of-this-world premise. Anyhow, the comic scenes aren't blatantly funny, but do get a little snicker from the audience. The only problem I have with it is that it seems to draw away the seriousness of the story, thus making it less frightening, which wasn't good.The storyline gives more explanation about The Tall Man which is needed, but I did feel this movie had almost too many villains. Not only do we have The Tall Man plus his dwarve-creatures and army of spheres, but we also have a trio of thieves that Reggie stumbles upon, who end up as zombies that continue as antagonists throughout the film. I felt that was a little unnecessary, but I'm not going to nitpick too badly. I enjoyed the scenery in this movie and the sci-fi elements are brought through a bit more here, but I was very, very pleased with the final thirty-minute showdown in the huge, Gothic mausoleum. That really brought things home - it was a magnificent, extremely spooky set, and was the perfect place for some good scares and action scenes to unfold.This sequel has more gore, so that means more special effects, which were done very well, I must admit. Lots of sphere attacks and some really clever, unusual death scenes make for a good time, and a nice display of what the special effects creators have to offer. Acting-wise, we have Michael Baldwin returning as Mike (he was replaced by James LeGros in Part II), and Billy Thornbury returning as Jody, so having all the original cast members back was a major positive. Reggie Bannister is great as well as the quirky but likable Reggie. And while I thought the new character of Rocky almost seemed misplaced (kick ass Army chick with an attitude), I liked her a lot and I thought the actress portraying her did a great job.Overall, "Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead" is a sequel that has it's share of problems, and differs a lot in style from the other movies. But, it is an energetic and fun continuation of the story that has enough positive points that make it well worth a watch, especially for all those "phans". It's weirdly funny at times and creepy and dark at others, but I enjoyed it a lot despite it's flaws. Some may not like it because of the different style and path that it takes, but I thought it was a really fun sequel. 8/10.
Oh, why not?
posted on 25 Jan 2007This isn't too bad. I'm glad the orginal actor who played Mike is back, but I could've done without the little kid character. I hate horror movies with kids as protagonists. And by the way, why doesn't someone put Reggie Banister in a big budget Hollywood blockbuster? He'd be perfect as the bad luck, cynical sidekick to the hero of any action film.Anyway, Phantasm 3, while not perfect and non-sensical in places, is very good for a 'part 3'. In fact, I'm looking forward to part 4.
Short Of New Ideas, BOOOY?
posted on 11 Apr 2009"Phantasm" of 1979 was a highly atmospheric, creepy, scary and very original Horror flick, and, in one word, cult. The first sequel of 1988 was gory, witty, action-packed and highly entertaining. After the first sequel however, "Phantasm" creator Don Coscarelly apparently lacked new ideas. "Phantasm III - Lord Of The Dead" of 1994 is certainly not a complete failure, it even is quite entertaining, but there is no more originality, and the desperate attempts to bring in something new, are at times tiresome, which makes it quite disappointing in comparison to its predecessors. - SPOILERS - Quite in the beginning, we are introduced the secret behind the mysterious sentinel spheres (the brain-sucking flying silver balls) is unraveled. Thenceforward, a number of unnecessary and annoying new characters (such as Tim, a "Home Alone"-style little kid who happens to be great at shooting, an Rocky, a tough and super-cool nunchaku-swinging black chick with a crew cut) are introduced. The film also has its qualities - Reggie Bannister is again very cool as the pony-tailed, guitar playing Reggie. Angus Scrimm is still quite creepy as the Tall Man, but the fact that the Tall Man talks a lot more in this film, makes him loose some of his creepiness. The character of Mike is played by A. Michael Baldwin again (he had been replaced by James LeGros in Part 2), which, in my opinion, doesn't make much of a difference. The gore also keeps the film interesting enough to watch, but it is still a disappointment, especially because the attempts to make up for the lack of ideas get annoying quite quickly.All things considered, "Phantasm III" is an acceptable time-waster, but it is definitely disappointing compared to its predecessors. Fans of the first two "Phantasm" films can give it a try, but I recommend not to set your expectations too high.