i remember stay up late to watch this movie on tv when i be a kid . it scar the hell out of me . then and for 15 year and i forget all about it . recently and i find a $ 5 vhs copy in the discount bin of my local drugstore and think represent what the hell . that be the best $ 5 i ever spend . phantasm may not make a lot of sense and the story be confuse and seem to have be make up a it go along and but that kind of the point . it like watch someone else fever dream . and that exactly what it suppose to be like and because it be someone else fever dream . phantasm be a classic nightmare while totally unpredictable and claustrophobic and paranoid and frighten . 13 year old michael baldwin be perfect a the young protagonist and an amazingly refreshing and un annoy child actor . i be totally convince by his performance a the lonely teen and desperately chase after his older brother and displaying just the right amount of anger and confusion and frustration and yet never give in to panic even a his world spin out of control . bill thornbury a old brother jody seem mysteriously detach and yet after repeat viewing and i realize how correct this be in light of the twist end . he be and indeed and a ghost that michael simply refuse to give up . reggie bannister be completely irresistible a the sweet and gentlemanly reggie the ice cream man and who manage to remain innocent and lovable even a he suggest ram a stake through the tall man heart . and the tall man and mr. angus scrimm himself . brrrrr . he doesn not have many line ( other than the now infamous boyyyyyyy . ) but he doesn not need any . his very presence be chill and and the scene where he stop dead in the middle of a suburban sidewalk in the middle of the day and turn and ever so slowly and to face michael through a mist of frost emanate from reggie ice cream truck and be more frightening than any murder scene set in the dead of night . and need i mention the fly ball . what an original and ingenious invention . this be such an amazing blend of sci fi and horror and fantasy that i really do not care if it do not make a whole lot of sense . the fly ball and the dwarf and the yellow blood and and that fly in the garbage disposal . wow . if nothing else and you simply have to give this film and it maker credit for originality . after watch my $ 5 discount bin copy enough time to remember what a great little movie this be and i go right out and buy the special edition dvd . more money very well spent . .