"...we would throw the ball and film it in reverse. That was actually one of the more effective ways to get the thing to fly. It's low-tech, but it works great."

Director Don Coscarelli on the flying sphere from Phantasm

Don Coscarelli's brilliant Phantasm (1979) remains one of the most original and entertaining horror films of the seventies. There is simply nothing else like Phantasm - while watching this roller coaster ride of a flick it all makes some sort of warped sense - when you try to explain the plot to a buddy who hasn't seen the film you soon realize the film is completely fucking insane.

A spooky mausoleum run by a creepy "Tall Man" reanimates dead bodies than crushes them down to three foot ferocious midgets! This Tall Man can transform into a foxy buxom blonde that seduces the locals before murdering them. His mausoleum secrets are guarded by these vicious dwarves along with a flying sphere that attaches to - then drills - the victims skull, spewing blood through a spout in its back. Oh yeah, the Tall Man's fingers, when severed, can turn into a huge insect - and did I mention these reanimated - crushed dwarf people get sent to another universe to work as slaves?!

Phantasm's insane plot is held together by terrific performances you don't normally find in lower budgeted horror films. Michael Baldwin as the kid Mike is one of the few child protagonists that comes to mind that is pretty damn cool! He's brave, resourceful and not in the least bit annoying. His older brother Jody played by Bill Thornberry and their ice cream selling pal played by Reggie Bannister are extremely likable characters. There's even a cool little scene of the fellows jamming on the front porch, a nice quiet moment that establishes friendship before all hell breaks loose.

Angus Scrimm as the Tall Man has become a sort of low level horror icon - not as familiar as say Leatherface, Michael Meyers or Freddy - but loved by genre fans for his coffin lifting, hearse driving, kid chasing madman (is he an alien in the film?). Scrimm's bizarre features are used to great extent by Coscarelli who often features him walking in slow motion with his imposing stride and menacing glance.

A special note must be made about the flying killer sphere - the first time I saw Phantasm as a young child I nearly shat my pants with glee when it glided throw the sky and stuck in that bastards forehead! And what genius - not only the ridiculous amount of blood that gets pumped out by the ball - but to also have the victim piss himself! Ah the seventies, they don't make 'em like that anymore.

Many genre writings have been done on Phantasm and the character Mike in particular. Are the supernatural occurrences the nightmares of a young boy who has recently lost his entire family? Does Mike create these stories to replace his grief? Interesting questions to ponder when you revisit Phantasm - or you can just sit there like a retard and let the lunacy wash over you - one of the few truly original genre pictures.