I was surprised when I recently watched "Phantasm" that I actually enjoyed the film and thought its biggest strengths were its excellent writing, originality and creepiness. Well, it's now back with "Phantasm 2" and it still has creepiness...though not much more. Despite what you saw in the last film, Mike is now as indestructible as The Tall Man and he's back...even though you saw him being drug off to God-knows- where by The Tall Man at the end of the first film. To try to get around this serious problem (since Mike is a major character in the sequel), they had to re-write a new ending for the first film and he actually managed to escape!As the film begins, Mike (not the same actor...some faux Mike) is about to be released from a mental institution. After all, when he tells folks about what he's seen, everyone thinks he's lost his mind! This time, however, instead of Mike's brother, inexplicably Reggie is back to go on a never-ending road-trip to try to find The Tall Man and stop him from turning the dead into dwarf zombie slaves. In addition, Mike has a new girlfriend with which they share an odd psychic bond (huh?!?!) and there's another new girl there to show off her boobs and earn the film an R rating.So is this any good? Yes and no. If you love action...mindless action...you're in for a treat. You get all sorts of violence and mayhem--with better late 80s special effects. If you want a story that makes sense and adds to the story, well you'll be pretty disappointed. I think I'll try one more Phantasm film...and if it's like more of the same, then I'll think I'll stop instead of going on to "Phantasm IV" (which was made, according to the director, strictly for money) or the recent and final one, "Phantasm V: The Quest to Squeeze Even MORE Money Out of the Franchise". And, incidentally, actor Angus Scrimm is REALLY dead and beyond reanimation.

This is probably my favorite film in the "Phantasm" series, and not to mention one of my favorite films during the VHS revolution of the 1980's and early 90's. The sequel to the cult classic "Phantasm" contains all of the campy weirdness and comical elements that made that era so significant for true horror film fans. Taking place much later after the events of the first film, an already grown Mike (James Le Gros) is released from the Morningside psychiatric facility unconvinced that the "Tall Man" (Angus Scrimm) and his dwarf minions are products of his imagination. He must persuade his long-time friend and companion Reggie Bannister that the events from 8 years ago were in fact a reality. After Reggie's house explodes along with his entire family, its time to hit the road with the classic 1971 black HemiCuda 426 and shopping carts full of weapons to stop the Tall Man's quest to rob every grave and kill every person who inhabits the small towns of the North-western United States. This is classic 80's action-horror-comedy film-making with Director, Don Coscarelli once again at the helm for what is a wild, twisted and bizarre journey into skewered reality and fantasy. Every device from the original Phantasm is back and better including the flying killer silver spheres which get much more screen time in this chapter. A likable cast is in top form including Mike's love interest (Paula Irvine) whom he as a psychic link with and the unfortunate Father Meyers (Kenneth Tigar). Reggie and Mike make a great team of hunters battling the forces of the undead with flamethrowers, chainsaws, modified shotguns and other various weapons. This has much more gore and bloodshed than the first film, and the relationships between the characters, (especially Mike and Liz) have good chemistry. There's never a dull moment, and plenty of comic relief make this a memorable addition to the ultra-weird world of Phantasm. Reggie and Angus return for Phantasm III in 1994.

Liz Reynolds (Paula Irvine) has visions of Mike (James Le Gros), the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) and his minions. She puts it all in her book as she wishes for Mike's help. Mike lies his way out of the psychiatric hospital. He goes to dig up his parents' bodies but Reggie (Reggie Bannister) explains that the story of the attack was made up. Mike finds all the bodies in the cemetery missing. Reggie drives home with Mike and his house explodes killing his entire family. Reggie and Mike go hunting for The Tall Man and they pick up hitchhiker Alchemy (Samantha Phillips). Meanwhile Liz's grandfather dies and The Tall Man confronts Liz. Father Meyers (Kenneth Tigar) presides over the funeral and later does battle with The Tall Man.The attempt to show the world of Phantasm in the first part of the movie is a complete failure. It is confused and undecipherable. More importantly, it is probably unnecessary. There has got to be an easier way to bring Liz in with Mike. She could have easily been in one of the confrontations on the long road to find the Tall Man. They picked up Alchemy on the road. There is no reason why they couldn't have rescued Liz somewhere along the way. The first half is just a mess. It continues to be a mess but at least the second half has more fun as the group battles the Tall Man with the flying spheres. That is fun and interesting. It doesn't alleviate the fact that this is an incoherent story.

Producing a sequel to a unique horror film like "Phantasm" had to have been a challenge, but somehow writer/director Don Coscarelli managed to strike gold twice. Arriving nearly ten years after its predecessor and in a decidedly different climate, "Phantasm II" shifts gears from the creepy, dream-like original to a unique action/horror hybrid and passes with flying colors. While the tone is noticeably different from the first, most of the elements that made the original so special are re-arranged to make something altogether different and ultimately, well, fun.Picking up where we left off in the original, Reggie (Reggie Bannister) and Mike (re-cast from Michael Baldwin to James LeGros) effectively send the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) packing. Unfortunately, after spending a number of years in a mental hospital, Mike starts having visions of his foe as well as a mysterious young girl (Paula Irvine). Together with his surrogate big brother, he goes on a cross-country quest to track down the Tall Man and defeat him once and for all."Phantasm II" is a rare case of a sequel breaking away from the format of the original and succeeding in its own right. The film makes nods to horror movies of its time -- there's a bit of "Elm Street" and "Evil Dead" sprinkled throughout -- and it's remarkable how well it comes together. Coscarelli does an excellent job of keeping the pace going while balancing ambitious ideas and bizarre special effects. It's not quite as challenging as its predecessor, but that's part of the film's charm. Bannister is as game as always as the lovable Reggie, while LeGros steps into Baldwin's shoes effortlessly. The two have excellent chemistry together and the journey they take is every bit as fun and the frenzied finale the film offers.From front to back, "Phantasm II" is good old spooky fun from the late '80s as only Coscarelli could deliver. And if that's not enough for you, there are still two more enjoyable sequels to plow through. "Phantasm II" is but a landmark in one of the most bizarre and unique horror series of its time.