Rating summary
| Movie |  | 2.5 |
| Video |  | 3.5 |
| Audio |  | 4.0 |
| Extras |  | 3.0 |
| Overall | | 3.5 |
The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 25, 2015
1955’s “The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues” makes a ballsy move in its opening scene, revealing the underwater creature that goes on to cause all kinds of trouble for a California beach community. It’s a stuntman inside a cheap rubber suit, haphazardly bumping into objects underwater, but the reveal also serves as a declaration from director Dan Milner that he can top it with additional horrors. Sadly, the production never reaches beyond fleeting shots of a crummy monster, but what’s more disappointing about “The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues” is that it doesn’t even try to give the audience a proper B-movie thrill ride.
Nothing much happens in “The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues,” which details the investigation into mysterious deaths occurring near an oceanographic institute, with science, family, and law butting heads as they casually stroll to clues. The feature is powered by suspicion, but suspense isn’t nurtured by Milner, who seems to believe that viewers would rather watch banal conversations than experience heart-stopping encounters with an underwater monster. “The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues” is a strange picture, never denying its existence as double bill filler, almost refusing to come up with something exciting to explore.
The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation handles a relatively obscure title with care, delivering managed grain that provides a filmic viewing experience. Detail is steady, with satisfactory textures on close-ups, while the coastal location and interiors are open for study. Monster particulars are tougher to pick out, as the production keeps the star underwater, so true exposure is limited. Contrast is strong and delineation is crisp. Source has its share of specking, brief points of damage, and mild scratches, and some faint flicker is also detected.
The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix supports the limited aural experience "The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues" offers, with primary attention placed on dialogue exchanges, which sound secure and dramatic. Scoring isn't inspiring but supports as intended, emerging to sweeten a few violent encounters with a heavier string presence. Atmospherics are sedate but present, with beach visits perhaps the most evocative, offering crashing waves and open air. Hiss is identified throughout, but it never distracts.
The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- Commentary features film historian Richard Harland Smith.
- "Trailers from Hell" (2:21, HD) features Joe Dante, who hilariously discusses the numerous disappointments of "The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues," emphasizing the cheapness of the production and its refusal to do much of anything.
The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
The highlights of "The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues" are found in its rare sampling of oddity, including the lead performance from Kent Taylor, who plays his character with unbelievable smugness, weakening whatever heroism he's supposed to represent. Milner is also not above leering at female characters in various undergarments and swimsuits, perhaps knowing that if he can't knock his intended demographic out with horror, he can easily seduce with sleaze. The creature itself is basically reduced to a cameo, with Atomic Age warnings eventually taking command of the feature's attention. Those on the prowl for cheap thrills involving a rubber monster aren't going to find much here, unless endless conversations are your thing.
