Now Available from Shout! Factory. The Novel is Also Available.
Believe it or not, in 1998 Ben Affleck wasn’t the biggest star in the world. He was still coming down from being pigeonholed as the “villain” actor, and was working to transition from supporting actor to leading man status. With “Phantoms” he is basically paying his dues for what is a pretty standard horror thriller. Affleck is very good in the role as a local sheriff whose ill fitted cowboy hat is almost a character in and of itself. Like the hat, “Phantoms” is a silly vehicle for a collective of pretty great up and comers including Nicky Katt, Liev Schreiber and Rose McGowan to name a few. There’s also the wildcard veteran a la Peter O’Toole for good measure.
The resort town of Snowfield, Colo., is under attack by an evil spirit that almost wipes out the entire population, possessing a number of those it kills. As the locals continue to fall victim to the demonic presence, it’s up to Sheriff Bryce Hammond to lead the response. He’s helped by FBI-employed academic Dr. Timothy Flyte, Deputy Stu Wargle, local doctor Jennifer Pailey and her visiting sister, Lisa.
Adapted from Dean Koontz’s original novel, Joe Chappelle’s supernatural science fiction hybrid might not be a good movie but it squeezes by because of its interesting atmosphere. Chappelle manages to build some interesting suspense and anticipation long before the movie dives head first in to incoherency. As for the narrative, so much of the momentum and scare factor is hindered by giant leaps in logic and plot holes. How are Sheriff Hammond and his two deputies the only ones left alive after the entire town is swallowed by this sentient monster?
Why does the beast only consume certain parts of the body? Why does the monster consume human bodies if it later reveals it can possess their bodies right down to mimicking their voices? If the beast is like crude oil, why are the characters so certain a chemical that can break down the chemical will work on it? If you’re willing to ignore the huge plot holes, as a memento for the late nineties (where every movie was looking for the take off success of “Scream”) it’s worth a watch.
The new transfer from Shout! Features a two disc release. With zero extras on the 4K, the Blu includes Terror From Below: Making Phantoms which is an Interview With Producer Joel Soisson. The first of two new featurettes finds the producer talking about the film, working with Dean Koontz and the cast. Chaos In The Flesh: Filming Phantoms is another Interview With Director Of Photography Richard Clabaugh who gives us a bit more technical information about the shoot, the “town” in Colorado and some various other quips. Other than that there’s the original theatrical trailer. It’s nothing to write home about, but at least the features are brand new for fans of the film.