In the small village of Snowfield, Colorado, something evil has been awakened from its centuries-long slumber … something with the power to wipe out humanity as we know it. The unsuspecting Dr. Jennifer Pailey (Joanna Going, Kingdom) brings her sister Lisa (Rose McGowan, Scream) to Snowfield, only to find the town empty but for a few survivors. As the tension and terror mount, only the few who have been left behind — the Pailey sisters, a noted journalist (Peter O’Toole, Lawrence Of Arabia), the town sheriff (Ben Affleck, Gone Girl), and his deputy (Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan) — stand between the mysterious entity that lurks beneath Snowfield and the rest of mankind … if they can survive. Based on the book by suspense master Dean Koontz (who also wrote the screenplay), Phantoms is a slickly pulse-pounding sci-fi/horror thrill ride!

For thoughts on Phantoms, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Scream Factory presents Phantoms with an incredible 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a new 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative with Dolby Vision/HDR approved by Director Joe Chappelle. The film was previously released on Blu-Ray over a decade ago in 2012 in a multi-film pack from Echo Bridge. We do not have that disc to compare, but their track record was not the strongest. This new presentation is top-notch and proved to be a huge win for fans of the film. Even if you are not yet 4K UHD capable, this new release comes with a new Blu-Ray sourced from the same 4K restoration which almost undoubtedly improves upon the previous Blu-Ray.

One of the biggest achievements of this restoration is the abundance of vital textures. Many of these older masters from this time were plagued by waxy appearances, but this transfer thankfully keeps things looking natural. The level of detail and clarity newly on display is a knockout thanks to the perfect amount of natural film grain intact. The grain resolves impeccably well with nothing ever feeling clumpy or static within the shadowy environments. The texture on display in the clothing, weapons, and production design is outstanding. Any previous specks of damage have been eradicated thanks to the restoration.

The implementation of Dolby Vision/HDR for pinpoint color output dials things into impressive levels when it comes to depth and nuance. This is far from a colorful movie, but the refinement in contrast is a godsend. Highlights are in good shape with few signs of blooming in the brightest moments. Black levels are even better with nothing in the way of crush or banding present even in the darkest corners of the screen. Audiences can discern more shadow detail with figures properly defined instead of blending into the murky background. There are no unsightly digital anomalies such as compression artifacts or any other such impediments. The practical special effects are exceptional while the digital effects are understandably dated. Scream Factory has done some good work with this one.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track which both capture the soundscape as desired. This narrative demands an unsettling and complex sound design, and this track executes that with an immersive surround mix. Both tracks provide a thoughtful sonic journey that faithfully captures the artistic intent with the highest fidelity. Environmental sounds such as creature effects and gunfire are rendered effortlessly alongside everything else.

The David Williams score sounded rich and vital as it is used perfectly to establish the eerie tone of the story. There is never a moment where it threatens to steal focus from the competing sounds, and it maintains a respectable balance so that dialogue comes through crisp and clear. There do not seem to be any obvious instances of age-related wear and tear. This is another swell track from Scream Factory. English SDH subtitles are provided for those who desire them.

Special Features

Terror From Below – Making Phantoms: A nearly 15-minute new interview with producer Joel Soisson in which he discusses this project originally being set up with Dino de Laurentiis, the tinkering of the Weinsteins on the screenplay, the direction of Joe Chappelle, the location shooting, the casting of the picture, and more.
Chaos In The Flesh – Filming Phantoms: A nearly 25-minute new interview with Director Of Photography Richard Clabaugh in which he discusses his work with Dimension Films, the location shooting in Colorado, the footage he was in charge of shooting, taking over from the original cinematographer, the problematic issues with the set design, the qualities of the performers, the creature designs, the various endings shot, and more.

Trailer: The minute-long trailer is provided.

TV Spot: A 31-second TV Spot is provided.

Final Thoughts

Phantoms does not completely hit the mark as a horror classic, but it proves to be a lot of fun despite some shortcomings. The first half is especially strong as the sense of dread builds with the desolate surroundings and uncertain character motivations. The second half gets a little bit more rocky in a narrative sense, but we still appreciate the practical effects and some of the performances. A few performers are a bit miscast, yet we still enjoy most of them. The film is better than its legacy would have you believe. Scream Factory has provided the film with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts a grand A/V presentation and a nice selection of new and archival special features. If you have a soft spot for this film, don’t miss the ultimate presentation. Recommended

Phantoms (Collector’s Edition) is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Scream Factory has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.