Phantasm
Mike, a young teenage boy who has just lost his parents, afraid to lose his brother follow him to a funeral, where Mike witnesses the Tall Man lifting a coffin on his own. Mike decides to investigate, and discovers that the Tall Man, protected by his flying spheres, is shrinking dead bodies down to half their normal size and reanimating them as slaves. It is then up to Mike, his brother, and Reggie the ice cream man to stop the Tall man.
Despite its extremely modest budget of $300K, Phantasm became a box office phenomenon, earning $12.0M worldwide—a remarkable 3896% return. The film's unconventional structure resonated with audiences, showing that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
2 wins & 2 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Phantasm (1979) demonstrates meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Don Coscarelli's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 29 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Mike watches from hiding as a woman murders a man in the cemetery during a funeral - establishing a world where death is omnipresent and threatening.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Mike sneaks into Morningside Mortuary and witnesses the Tall Man single-handedly lifting a heavy casket - revealing supernatural evil at work.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 21 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Mike actively breaks into the mortuary to investigate, gets his finger severed by the silver sphere, and steals the severed finger as proof - committing to the fight against the Tall Man., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Mike becomes trapped in the mortuary's alternate dimension and nearly doesn't escape - false defeat revealing the Tall Man's true power and raising the stakes to life-or-death., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 66 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jody is killed by the Tall Man - the literal death of Mike's last family member and the manifestation of his deepest fear of abandonment., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 70 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 78% of the runtime. Mike and Reggie execute their plan, luring the Tall Man to the mine and triggering a cave-in that seemingly destroys him. Mike confronts his fear directly., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Phantasm's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Phantasm against these established plot points, we can identify how Don Coscarelli utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Phantasm within the horror genre.
Don Coscarelli's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Don Coscarelli films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Phantasm takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Don Coscarelli filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye. For more Don Coscarelli analyses, see The Beastmaster, Phantasm II.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Mike watches from hiding as a woman murders a man in the cemetery during a funeral - establishing a world where death is omnipresent and threatening.
Theme
Reggie tells Mike about loss and moving on, suggesting that fear must be confronted rather than avoided - the film's central thematic question about facing mortality.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Mike's world: his recent parental loss, fear of brother Jody leaving him, recurring nightmares about the funeral home, and the mysterious Morningside cemetery.
Disruption
Mike sneaks into Morningside Mortuary and witnesses the Tall Man single-handedly lifting a heavy casket - revealing supernatural evil at work.
Resistance
Mike tries to convince Jody and Reggie of the danger, encountering skepticism. He gathers evidence and experiences escalating supernatural encounters at the mortuary.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Mike actively breaks into the mortuary to investigate, gets his finger severed by the silver sphere, and steals the severed finger as proof - committing to the fight against the Tall Man.
Mirror World
Jody begins to believe Mike and agrees to help investigate together - the brotherhood bond becomes the emotional core that mirrors the theme of not facing death alone.
Premise
Mike, Jody, and Reggie explore the mortuary's horrors: encountering dwarf creatures, discovering dimensional portals, and uncovering the Tall Man's plot to steal corpses for slave labor on another world.
Midpoint
Mike becomes trapped in the mortuary's alternate dimension and nearly doesn't escape - false defeat revealing the Tall Man's true power and raising the stakes to life-or-death.
Opposition
The Tall Man actively hunts Mike and Jody. The dwarf creatures attack the house. The brothers realize they cannot run and must destroy the Tall Man to survive.
Collapse
Jody is killed by the Tall Man - the literal death of Mike's last family member and the manifestation of his deepest fear of abandonment.
Crisis
Mike grieves and processes the loss of Jody, confronting his worst nightmare but finding resolve to continue fighting rather than surrender to fear.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Mike and Reggie execute their plan, luring the Tall Man to the mine and triggering a cave-in that seemingly destroys him. Mike confronts his fear directly.
Transformation
Mike wakes to discover it was all a dream - Jody is alive, but the Tall Man appears in Mike's mirror and drags him away, revealing the nightmare is eternal and inescapable.