The air hangs thick and cold, smelling faintly of formaldehyde and ozone. Some screen doors never stay shut, letting the same old nightmares creep back in. Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead isn't just a sequel; it's the insistence of a fever dream refusing to break, pulling you back into its chillingly illogical world just when you thought Reggie might finally get some peace. It landed on video store shelves in 1994, not with a theatrical bang, but with the quiet hum of a VCR pulling tape – a fitting arrival for this particular slice of Don Coscarelli's enduringly strange saga.
Picking Up the Pieces
Remember where Phantasm II left us? Liz dead, Mike abducted, and Reggie… well, Reggie facing the Tall Man's ominous parting shot. Lord of the Dead wastes no time, throwing us right back into the fire. Perhaps the most significant course correction, and a welcome one for longtime fans, was the return of A. Michael Baldwin as Mike Pearson. Universal Studios had insisted on James LeGros for the bigger-budgeted Part II, but Coscarelli, regaining creative control for this installment, brought Baldwin back into the fold. It feels right. There's a weary history in Baldwin's eyes that connects directly back to that terrified boy from 1979, grounding the escalating weirdness, even just a little. The film cleverly uses a double for the opening sequence transition, bridging the actor change seamlessly before Baldwin takes over for the duration.
Reggie's Road Trip From Hell Continues
While Mike grapples with the Tall Man's influence (and a nasty sphere burrowing into his skull), the film arguably belongs once again to Reggie Bannister. Our intrepid ice cream man turned shotgun-toting survivalist continues his desperate cross-country pursuit, becoming an even more central figure. Reggie is the everyman anchor in Coscarelli's storm of surreal horror. His pragmatic determination, wisecracks delivered under duress ("Get outta my town, chrome dome!"), and, of course, his trusty quad-barrel shotgun provide not just comic relief but a relatable core of defiance against the cosmic horror. He’s the guy you want to see make it, even as the universe conspires against him. This time, he picks up a couple of unlikely companions: the resourceful, nunchaku-wielding Rocky (Gloria Lynne Henry) and a tough, orphaned kid named Tim (Kevin Connors), whose introduction involves dispatching zombie-like home invaders with surprising brutality. Their inclusion adds a "found family" dynamic amidst the desolation, a recurring theme in the series.
BOOOOYYYY! The Unflappable Tall Man
And then there's Angus Scrimm. What more can be said about his portrayal of the Tall Man? Even in this third outing, his presence remains utterly captivating and genuinely unsettling. Scrimm, reportedly a true gentleman off-screen, possessed an uncanny ability to convey ancient menace with just a raised eyebrow or a low, gravelly utterance of "Booooyyy!" Lord of the Dead delves slightly deeper (or perhaps just muddies the waters further) into the Tall Man's nature, suggesting a network of interconnected beings or perhaps different forms. The infamous gold sphere makes a memorable return, alongside new variations – including one particularly nasty customer that sprouts drill bits and clamps onto a victim's face. The practical effects, while showing their mid-90s direct-to-video budget at times, retain that distinct Phantasm charm – tangible, often grotesque, and far more unnerving than sterile CGI. Does that iconic Sentinel Sphere design still feel unnerving, even after all these years?
Embracing the Weird
Phantasm III leans heavily into the series' established blend of horror, sci-fi, action, and darkly comic absurdity. We get resurrections, zombie cops, desolate towns picked clean by the Tall Man's forces, and those signature chrome spheres whizzing through mausoleum corridors. The plot, as is tradition, feels less like a linear narrative and more like a collection of dreamlike vignettes stitched together by Reggie's quest and the Tall Man's inscrutable plans. Coherence isn't always the primary goal here; atmosphere and moments of striking horror are. Coscarelli keeps the pacing brisk, never letting the audience get too comfortable before the next bizarre encounter or sphere attack. The score, incorporating Fred Myrow's iconic theme alongside new cues by Christopher L. Stone, effectively maintains that signature sense of dread and mystery.
Interestingly, the production of Phantasm III directly enabled the next chapter. Leftover funding, sets, and sheer creative momentum allowed Coscarelli to immediately roll into filming Phantasm IV: Oblivion, making parts III and IV feel like companion pieces, delving even further into the series' enigmatic lore. It’s a testament to Coscarelli's resourcefulness in keeping his unique vision alive against industry odds. Made for an estimated $2.5 million, it found its audience squarely in the home video market, becoming a staple on rental shelves alongside its predecessors.
Final Judgment
Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead isn't the tightest or most revolutionary entry in the series. It lacks the raw, dreamlike terror of the original and the polished action beats of the second. Yet, it’s undeniably Phantasm. It brings back a key player, doubles down on Reggie's iconic status, delivers more Angus Scrimm menace, and throws in enough sphere mayhem and surreal horror to satisfy fans. The inclusion of Rocky and Tim adds a different dynamic, though Tim's character occasionally borders on the obnoxious "precocious 90s kid" trope. It feels comfortably worn, like a favorite tape you know has tracking issues but you watch anyway because the journey is just too weirdly compelling to resist. It delivers exactly what you expect from a mid-90s Phantasm sequel, warts and all.
Rating: 7/10
Justification: While the plot meanders and some elements feel recycled or goofy, the return of A. Michael Baldwin, Reggie Bannister's expanded role, Angus Scrimm's chilling performance, and the commitment to the series' unique brand of surreal horror make it essential viewing for fans. It successfully carries the torch, providing memorable moments and setting the stage for the next installment, all while embodying that distinct 90s direct-to-video sequel vibe.
Final Thought: For those of us who haunted the horror aisles of Blockbuster, Phantasm III was a welcome sight – another chance to hear that chilling theme, see Reggie load his shotgun, and wonder just what the Tall Man was really up to. It may be the middle child, but it’s still family.