In 1979, Phantasm, an independent film, emerged as a uniquely strange and ambiguous horror movie with lesser-known actors. It stands as a testament to the power of indie films, as decades later, it's still lauded as one of the top horror films ever made. Fans of the horror series can consult our guide to discover how and where to watch every Phantasm movie in order.

Created and directed by Don Coscarelli, Phantasm follows the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), a superhuman mortician who shrinks, reanimates, and enslaves corpses. When a young boy, Mike Pearson (A. Michael Baldwin), uncovers Tall Man's plot, he tries to persuade his brother, Jody (Bill Thornbury), to help him bring down the mortician.

Phantasm was eerie, extravagant, and strikingly ambiguous, an ideal mix for attracting a cult following. It stirs up nostalgia for childhood while embracing a bizarre storyline. Its most notable allure was its open-ended nature, allowing viewers across generations to draw various interpretations of its significance.

Concluding on a cliffhanger, Phantasm soon released a sequel, Phantasm II. In this continuation, Mike (James LeGros) resumes his quest to vanquish the Tall Man. Although most dismiss his beliefs as delusions, he gains allies in his brother's friend, Reggie (Reggie Bannister), and Liz (Paula Irvine), with whom he shares a psychic bond. The sequel veered more towards traditional horror as it increased the gore and campiness, though it kept its surreal, dream-like essence, receiving mixed reviews from critics.

Phantasm’s following sequels, Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead and Phantasm IV: Oblivion, were direct-to-video releases that revived Baldwin as Mike. These films delve deeper into sci-fi as Mike and Reggie investigate the Tall Man’s dealings with dimensions, even traveling back in time to learn his origin as Jebediah Morningside.

After Phantasm IV: Oblivion, Coscarelli paused the franchise for 18 years. The final chapter, Phantasm: Ravager, debuted in 2016. Although Coscarelli produced and co-wrote, David Hartman took the director's seat. In the film, Reggie, now in a nursing home, continues exploring various dimensions through dreams of chasing the Tall Man with Mike. While the film faced criticism for its complex plot and subpar CGI, it offered a fitting conclusion, further investigating themes of death and grief while leaving viewers pondering if the narrative is reality or a dream. It also marked Scrimm's last appearance as the renowned horror figure, Tall Man, before his passing in 2016.