Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Phantoms 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 16, 2024

1998’s “Phantoms” represents an attempt to do something cinematic with the literary world of Dean Koontz. The author claims a screenwriting credit on this adaptation of his 1983 novel, but the feature isn’t too careful to remain in a state of mystery and horror. It’s a Dimension Pictures production from the late 1990s, and the company’s efforts to play to young moviegoers is in full effect here, sending easily overwhelmed actors into battle against some poorly realized CGI creations and screwy storytelling. Director Joe Chappelle (“Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers”) tries to pack in as much atmosphere as he can, but it’s a losing battle with producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein, who demand foolishness and get it here, with a promising opening act quickly changing into tired routine.

Helping to pull Lisa (Rose McGowan), her little sister, away from the temptations of Los Angeles, Dr. Jenny (Joanna Going) is driving home to the small town of Snowfield, Colorado. The plan is to live life at a slower pace, surrounded by friendly people, but when the women arrive, most of the population is gone. Lisa and Jenny begin to search for signs of life, only managing to find dead bodies killed in ghoulish ways. The siblings eventually connect with Sheriff Bryce (Ben Affleck) and his deputies, Stu (Live Schreiber) and Steve (Nicky Katt), hoping for some kind of rescue from a mysterious and deadly situation. The cops also have no idea what’s going on, searching for ways to contact the outside world and call for help. Such assistance arrives with General Copperfield (Clifton Powell) and his military support, joined by tabloid writer Timothy (Peter O’Toole), with the man of weird science’s name written on a mirror in Snowfield, connecting him to the situation. As the night wears on, Bryce, Lisa, and Jenny gradually understand that some type of monstrous entity is taking over the area, forcing the trio to find a way to escape as the horror comes for them.

Everything in “Phantoms” resembles other movies, but introductions to this world are passably interesting. Lisa and Jenny quickly discover that things aren’t right in Snowfield, setting up some investigative energy as the sisters spot dead bodies around town, debating the origin of such a nightmare. They fear disease, and soon meet with Bryce and his men, with Stu clearly some type of lunatic and potential sexual predator, and Schreiber underlines such instability with a dismal performance that combines a laugh reminiscent of the cartoon character Muttley with comedic antics from “The Mask.” However, Stu isn’t the main issue (at least in the first half of the feature), with the survivors beginning a search for clues around a town they can’t (or won’t?) escape from.

“Phantoms” does a passable job pulling viewers into the central mystery of Snowfield, but only for a short amount of time. Timothy shows up 35 minutes into the feature, and brings a more scientific approach to understanding evil. O’Toole surprisingly commits to the material, which gives him juicy lines and big close-ups to play with, easily outacting the rest of the cast, though it’s not too hard of a task when sharing scenes with McGowan, who often seems like she has no idea what she’s doing in the movie. And there’s a miscast Affleck, who’s far too young to play a seasoned man of small town law, unable to manage character misery and steeliness. He’s most certainly not the bomb in “Phantoms.”

Phantoms 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are collected from the Blu-ray release.

"Phantoms" was originally issued on Blu-ray in 2012, and Shout Factory returns to the title in 2024 with a "new 4K scan from the original camera approved by Joe Chappelle." This is an exceedingly dark feature, with most of the action taking place inside unlit rooms in the middle of the night. Frame information isn't lost during the Dolby Vision viewing experience, with blacks mostly deep, and compression holds together. Detail is strong, capturing skin particulars on the cast, exploring age and wounds. Cold weather costuming is fibrous. Town interiors are open for inspection, showcasing decorative additions. Exteriors are dimensional, reinforcing rural isolation. Colors are sharp, exploring cooler hues with evening sleuthing. Red has presence with lip color and blood. Greenery is distinct. Skin tones are natural. Highlights are tasteful. Source is in good condition.

Phantoms 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix remains active during the run time. Dialogue exchanges are crisp, balancing quieter emotional moments and more heated yelling matches. Scoring supports with sharp instrumentation, and musical moods explore the surrounds at times, adding to suspenseful moments. Sound effects also go circular, with elements such as vehicles panning around the listener, and creature activity is delivers fun movement on occasion. Atmospherics are appreciable. Low-end awakens with more violent engagements.

Phantoms 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Chaos in the Flesh" (24:21, HD) is a video conference interview with director of photography Richard Clabaugh, who was originally shooting second unit on "Phantoms" before the original cinematographer quit, allowing him to step into the position. Locations in Colorado are recalled, with the production taking over a small town, welcomed by the locals as they managed to pull off some major shots. Keeping "his dancing shoes on," the interviewee describes technical challenges taking over the endeavor, dealing with creative choices he respected but did not originate. The youthfulness of the cast is analyzed, with Dimension Films refusing to use older actors, making some scripted backstories about hard lives a difficult fit. The ensemble is celebrated, with Clabaugh especially appreciative of Liev Schrieber's abilities. Peter O'Toole's contributions are noted as well. Lighting design is deconstructed, with much of the picture captured in darkness, forcing the cinematographer to solve a few visual puzzles. Time with director Joe Chappelle is examined, identifying creative restrictions put on him by Dimension, who wanted a specific film done their way. Monster design messes are revealed, and various reshot endings are identified, leaving the effort "3/4 of a really good movie."

• "Terror from Below" (14:30, HD) is a video conference interview with producer Joel Soisson, who recalls the early days of his career, including time spent working for Dino De Laurentiis. Soisson found his way to the Dean Koonz novel, taking an early shot at an adaptation, but the project fell apart. It picked up again at Dimension Films, with Bob Weinstein trying to sustain the success of "Scream" by making a horror movie with young stars, losing the nuance of the book. The interviewee examines the fight over the screenplay and the hiring of director Joe Chappelle, also analyzing casting choices, with Ben Affleck shooting "Good Will Hunting" at the same time. Monster woes are identified, with creature designs changing throughout production. Soisson identifies the first 30 minutes of "Phantoms" as the purest form of the adaptation, with numerous reshoots and ideas eventually pulling the movie apart.

• A T.V. Spot (:31, SD) is offered.

• And a Home Video Trailer (1:01, SD) is included.

Phantoms 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Ancient Enemy" is the name given to the Snowfield threat, and "Phantoms" looks to scientific debate to boost the second act, with the team searching for a weakness to bring down the God-like enemy. Again, with this cast, more dialogue isn't welcome, but the endeavor soon graduates to ridiculousness in the finale, with Chappelle looking to get epic with massive monster events (realized with lousy visual effects) and a reshot climax that doesn't actually bring closure. The helmer has pretty obvious John Carpenter moves to share here, as much of the material plays like 1982's "The Thing." Some practical effects do the trick, and atmosphere is permitted in small doses, but "Phantoms" gradually falls apart as it unfolds, trading modest storytelling and directorial confidence for crummy marketplace trends and baffling plot developments.