Phantoms (film)
Encyclopedia
Phantoms is a 1998 American horror film adapted from the 1983 novel Phantoms
by Dean Koontz
. Joe Chappelle
directed the film, and Koontz wrote the screenplay. The film takes place in the peaceful town of Snowfield, Colorado
, where something evil has wiped out the community. It is up to a group of people to stop it or at least get out of Snowfield alive.
Deputy Shanning, going to investigate screaming heard outside, then disappears in a flash of light, leaving behind his gun, hat and shoes. When they arrive at a nearby hotel, they are attacked by a creature who kills Deputy Wargle. Responding to a scrawled message in a hotel room, they contact Professor Flyte (O'Toole), who tells them the creature is an Ancient Enemy who periodically wipes out civilizations. An Army commando unit arrives with plans to destroy the enemy, and is systematically wiped out by it. Flyte discovers that the creature's body is physiologically almost identical to crude oil, and theorizes that bacteria bioengineered to break down oil spills (of which they conveniently have a sample) should kill it. Bryce is determined to kill the creature after it takes the form of a boy he accidentally killed during an FBI drug raid. Bryce sprays it with the bacteria, destroying the creature.
Bryce reassures Lisa and Jenny that it's gone, but Flyte thinks it won, and announces he's going to tell the world what happened. Flyte releases a book titled "The Ancient Enemy", which is based on his experiences. Later, two bar patrons argue about the existence of alien life. Nearby, a sheriff's deputy starts to laugh. The deputy, formerly known as Stu Wargle turns around and asks them,"Do you want to see something?"
's 1982 remake of The Thing.
The 1988 remake of The Blob
bears several similarities to Koontz's original novel leading some to erroneously believe this film was a ripoff of the remake made in 88. The film adaptation was made ten years after the remake of The Blob and shares some very similar scenes with it.
, Ben Affleck as Holden McNiel says "Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms." Also Jay yells to Affleck: "Affleck, you da bomb in Phantoms, yo!" when he and Silent Bob are fleeing the set of the fictional film Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season.
Sav Bhandari from Degrassi: The Next Generation
also says the same thing in Degrassi Goes Hollywood
.
Phantoms (novel)
Phantoms is a novel written by best-selling author Dean Koontz, first published in 1983.-Plot summary:Jenny and Lisa Paige, two sisters, return to Jenny's hometown of Snowfield, California, a small ski resort village nestled in the Sierra-Nevada Mountains where Jenny works as a doctor, and finds no...
by Dean Koontz
Dean Koontz
Dean Ray Koontz is a prolific American author best known for his novels which could be described broadly as suspense thrillers. He also frequently incorporates elements of horror, science fiction, mystery, and satire. A number of his books have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List, with...
. Joe Chappelle
Joe Chappelle
Joe Chappelle is an American film and television director and producer. Chappelle was a Co-executive producer and regular Director for the HBO crime drama The Wire...
directed the film, and Koontz wrote the screenplay. The film takes place in the peaceful town of Snowfield, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, where something evil has wiped out the community. It is up to a group of people to stop it or at least get out of Snowfield alive.
Plot
Sisters Lisa (McGowan) and Jenny (Going) arrive at the resort town of Snowfield, Colorado to go skiing. They discover that the town is empty, but also find the bodies of their cleaning lady and a police officer. They join Sheriff Bryce Hammond (Affleck) and his deputies Stu Wargle (Schreiber) and Steve Shanning (Katt) in investigating.Deputy Shanning, going to investigate screaming heard outside, then disappears in a flash of light, leaving behind his gun, hat and shoes. When they arrive at a nearby hotel, they are attacked by a creature who kills Deputy Wargle. Responding to a scrawled message in a hotel room, they contact Professor Flyte (O'Toole), who tells them the creature is an Ancient Enemy who periodically wipes out civilizations. An Army commando unit arrives with plans to destroy the enemy, and is systematically wiped out by it. Flyte discovers that the creature's body is physiologically almost identical to crude oil, and theorizes that bacteria bioengineered to break down oil spills (of which they conveniently have a sample) should kill it. Bryce is determined to kill the creature after it takes the form of a boy he accidentally killed during an FBI drug raid. Bryce sprays it with the bacteria, destroying the creature.
Bryce reassures Lisa and Jenny that it's gone, but Flyte thinks it won, and announces he's going to tell the world what happened. Flyte releases a book titled "The Ancient Enemy", which is based on his experiences. Later, two bar patrons argue about the existence of alien life. Nearby, a sheriff's deputy starts to laugh. The deputy, formerly known as Stu Wargle turns around and asks them,"Do you want to see something?"
Cast
- Ben AffleckBen AffleckBenjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt , better known as Ben Affleck, is an American actor, film director, writer, and producer. He became known with his performances in Kevin Smith's films such as Mallrats and Chasing Amy...
as Sheriff Bryce Hammond - Peter O'ToolePeter O'ToolePeter Seamus Lorcan O'Toole is an Irish actor of stage and screen. O'Toole achieved stardom in 1962 playing T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, and then went on to become a highly-honoured film and stage actor. He has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, and holds the record for most...
as Dr. Timothy Flyte - Rose McGowanRose McGowanRose Arianna McGowan is an actress and singer. She is known for her role as Paige Matthews in The WB Television Network supernatural drama series Charmed. She played Ann-Margret alongside Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Elvis Presley in the CBS mini-series Elvis...
as Lisa Paige - Joanna GoingJoanna GoingJoanna C. Going is an American actress.-Early life and education:Born in Washington, D.C., she is the oldest of six children of Lorraine M...
as Jennifer Paige, M.D.Doctor of MedicineDoctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools... - Liev SchreiberLiev SchreiberIsaac Liev Schreiber , commonly known as Liev Schreiber, is an American actor, producer, director, and screenwriter. He became known during the late 1990s and early 2000s, having initially appeared in several independent films, and later mainstream Hollywood films, including the Scream trilogy of...
as Deputy Stuart 'Stu' Wargle - Nicky KattNicky KattNicholas Lea "Nicky" Katt is an American actor known for his role as unorthodox teacher Harry Senate on David E. Kelley's Fox drama Boston Public.-Career:...
as Deputy Steve Shanning - Clifton PowellClifton Powell-Movie career:Powell is known for playing the role of Pinky in the 2000 comedy film, Next Friday and its 2002 sequel, Friday After Next. Powell stars also in the Indie thriller Chain Letter.In 2009 he played "Bowman" in the film Just Another Day...
as Gen. Leland Copperfield - Rick Otto as Scientist Lockland
- Valerie ChowValerie ChowValerie Chow, aka Rachel Shane in the US, is a Hong Kong actress.She has starred in numerous films and several television series, most memorably in Wong Kar-wai's internationally acclaimed 1994 feature, Chungking Express, which earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 14th Hong...
as Scientist Yamaguchi - Adam NelsonAdam NelsonAdam Nelson is an elite American shotputter. A 1997 graduate of Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, Nelson has competed in two Olympic Games...
as Scientist Burke - John Hammil as Scientist Talbot
- John Scott Clough as Scientist Shane
- Michael DeLorenzoMichael DeLorenzoMichael DeLorenzo is an American actor, director and musician. He is best known for his portrayal of NYPD Detective Eddie Torres on the Fox Thursday night television series New York Undercover which was aired from 1994-1998....
as Soldier Velasquez - William Hahn as Scientist Borman
- Robert Himber as Scientist Walker
- Bo HopkinsBo HopkinsBo Hopkins is an American actor.-Career:Hopkins has appeared in more than one hundred film and television roles in a career of more than forty years, including The Bridge at Remagen, The Wild Bunch, The Getaway, American Graffiti, White Lightning, Radioland Murders, The Killer Elite, Midnight...
as Agent Hawthorne - Robert KnepperRobert KnepperRobert Lyle Knepper is an American actor. He is best known for starring as Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell in the Fox network's drama series Prison Break, for which he was nominated a Satellite Award...
as Agent Wilson
Influence
The creature's abilities and form greatly resemble John CarpenterJohn Carpenter
John Howard Carpenter is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, editor, composer, and occasional actor. Although Carpenter has worked in numerous film genres in his four-decade career, his name is most commonly associated with horror and science fiction.- Early life :Carpenter was born...
's 1982 remake of The Thing.
The 1988 remake of The Blob
The Blob (1988 film)
The Blob is a 1988 American monster horror film distributed by Tristar Pictures. It is a remake of the 1958 film of the same name, which starred Steve McQueen. The film was written by Chuck Russell and Frank Darabont and directed by Russell. The shooting took place in Abbeville, Louisiana.-Plot:A...
bears several similarities to Koontz's original novel leading some to erroneously believe this film was a ripoff of the remake made in 88. The film adaptation was made ten years after the remake of The Blob and shares some very similar scenes with it.
In popular culture
In Jay and Silent Bob Strike BackJay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a 2001 American action adventure comedy film written, directed by, and starring Kevin Smith as Silent Bob, the fifth to be set in his View Askewniverse, a growing collection of characters and settings that developed out of his cult favorite Clerks...
, Ben Affleck as Holden McNiel says "Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms." Also Jay yells to Affleck: "Affleck, you da bomb in Phantoms, yo!" when he and Silent Bob are fleeing the set of the fictional film Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season.
Sav Bhandari from Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series set in the Degrassi universe, which was created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1979. Degrassi is the fourth fictional series in the Degrassi franchise, and follows The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, and...
also says the same thing in Degrassi Goes Hollywood
Degrassi Goes Hollywood
Paradise City: Degrassi Goes Hollywood is a 2009 Canadian film adaptation of the popular, long-running teenage drama Degrassi: The Next Generation. The movie premiered in the United States on The N on 14 August 2009, and in Canada on CTV on 30 August 2009. It was directed by veteran Degrassi...
.