Reviewed by Alex Ioshpe
Also Known As: Dean Koontz's Phantoms (1998) (USA: complete title) MPAA: Rated R for sci-fi violence/gore and language. Runtime: USA:91 / Australia:94 Country: USA Language: English Color: Color Sound Mix: Dolby Digital Certification: USA:R / UK:15 / Germany:16 / Portugal:M/16 / Singapore:PG
RATING: 6 /10
What starts as a frightening and stimulating psychological horror film, soon turns into a primitive and brainless monster flick. And although it presents some interesting ideas and some chills, it remains a waste of money and talent.
Dr. Jennifer Pailey (Going) arrives home with her teenage sister Lisa (McGowan) only to find the 400 residents of Snowfield Colorado missing or dead. Most seem to have died or disappeared in the middle of their daily activities with no sign that they knew what fate was about to strike. Unnerved already, the pair are dismayed to find that the phone lines have been cut and that their jeep which had been working a few minutes earlier now refuses to start. Setting out on foot, they soon find three cops who have just returned to the town and are now also trapped. Sheriff Bryce Hammond (Affleck) with the help of two deputies including the slightly unhinged Ben Wargle (Schreiber) has decided to investigate the cause of the disappearances before calling in help. What they find defies explanation and they quickly decide to make that call. But even with the help of two armored transports filled with scientists, soldiers and an expert scientist who has studied ancient mass disappearances (O'Toole ), they can not stop the unstoppable and unknown force that has been unleashed. It is at this point that the film takes an unfortunate veer away from psychological horror into the less threatening monster movie genre.
I loved the way the first part of the film was structured. It began with a surprising and shocking prologue and a chill that refused to leave me for almost an hour. I loved the way the story was built, hinting on extraterrestrial activities, forcing the viewer to look at the sky, while the actual danger comes from the unknown depths of our planet. There are some interesting ideas here. Like what it means to be a god. I got scared and shocked and intrigued, but then...came the finale..I must admit that after such an engaging and terrifying prologue you are all wired up and you wait in anticipation for the resolution and explanation of these strange and bizarre events. And when it finally comes, it's so disappointing and primitive, that all you want to do is to turn off your VCR. An animal that gets intelligence, memories and knowledge through eating flesh and can take any form and shape of its devoured pray. That's an interesting explanation! In comparison to this scientific discovery, "Godzilla" is a worthy Nobel price winner.
The fact that you get to see Peter O'Toole and Ben Affleck play undeveloped and immature characters in small, pale parts only makes things worse. The "Scream"-veterans Going and McGowan seem more at home and, as you probably can guess, their performances are not going to make it to the Oscar night. The film manages to gradually build up suspense and horror, but falls right on its face, when it is at its best. It is a strange combination of a successful horror film and a stupid cliche-ridden monster story. In the end it's nothing more than a mediocre horror flick, not worthy of your special attention.
Written by Alex Ioshpe (C) 1998
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