Phantasm 2 (1988) #369

I'm a firm believer that Don Coscarelli never planned to turn "Phantasm" into a series and that a sequel only came about because the studio that he worked for demanded one and soon! It took nine years for it to come, but eventually the world was given "Phantasm 2". It appeared that the studio had other demands as well, including the recasting of the main character and no funky dream sequences or abstract events. This doesn't mean that "Phantasm 3" is any easier to follow! The sequel is almost just as loopy and bizarre as the first film. And like many sequels that came out in the 80's, everything had to be bigger than before; there are now different kinds of flying orbs, including a gold one with a targeting ray, and let's not forget Reggie's four barreled sawed off shotgun. Even though it has changes and it might not be the sequel that Coscarelli wanted to first give us, I thought it was a fun and enjoyable little movie.

The film picks up six years after the original, with Mike having spent the last few years locked up in an asylum. He fakes his recovery and makes his escape after having repeated dreams about a blond girl who will soon be in danger from the Tall Man. (I honestly thought it was the neighbor girl who's grandmother gave him a fortune telling). Mike meets up with Reggie who soon comes to believe Mike's crazy idea after his house blows up minutes before they arrive. The two load up on weapons and gear and head to the West Coast looking for the Tall Man and his minions. It's in the deserted little town of Perigord, Oregon, that the two find Liz and the Tall Man; along the way they also pick up a hitchhiker named Alchemy who Mike doesn't trust. Soon there are dead bodies, minions, flying orbs, the Tall Man, and fighting. Like most classic 80's horror movies, the villain is defeated and the heroes make their getaway only to be fooled yet again as the Tall Man has the last laugh.