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Post by einzige on Jan 10, 2015 16:04:49 GMT -5
I hold to the theory that the franchise actually is, to a greater or lesser extent, all in Mike's head. Some have looked at the more straightforward tone of the (first two) sequels as evidence against this. I feel that the events of the sequels actually support this view. Here's why.
Liz and Mike are capable of communication across vast distances at the opening of Phantasm II, and one of the fears Liz relates to Mike is that her grandfather will soon pass away and fall into the clutches of the Tall Man. This happens as she predicts, and this death sets in motion the events of her meeting Michael in the flesh.
Reggie disbelieves Mike's story about Tall Men and sentinel spheres until his family is brutally taken from him. It is only at this point that he can accept the (sur)reality of the situation and begin to act.
I propose that both these changes - Liz physically uniting with Mike after her grandfather passes and Reggie coming to terms with the events of the first film - occur only when they are traumatized enough to share in Mike's survivors guilt. Only when they too experience loss are they fully initiated into the occult world of Mike's delusion.
This can be further extended into Phantasm III with only a little fudging of the edges, if we please. The two new hero characters both have reasons to grieve: Tim has lost his parents; Rocky undergoes a double loss: first her town, then her partner. This plays off well against the trio of thieves, who give no sign of having lost anyone and so are resigned to being victims of this folie รก trois.
Death unites us.
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Post by phantasmal on Nov 2, 2016 4:38:14 GMT -5
The only hole in that theory is that Liz has been dreaming about Michael and the Tall man all her life. Long before her grandfather died and likely long before his health even became an imminent issue. Her sister and nieces/nephews are still alive as well. Only Mike and then Reggie lost their entire families. And of course, there's the priest in PII who isn't shown to have any sort of survivor's guilt. It's a cool, interesting interpretation but I just don't think the theory works given what's in the films.
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Post by garmonbozia on Nov 2, 2016 13:34:38 GMT -5
Cool theory there. I like it
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