Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge (1989) Review

What makes a Phantom film? A disgruntled and disfigured anti-hero? A location for them to skulk about in? Someone for them to be obsessed with? A mask that only covers half their face? Yep that’s pretty much it.

Phantom of the Paradise, The Phantom Menace, Phantom Thread and every Phantom of the Opera adaptation ever made since Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel has these elements (well nearly all of them!) and Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge is no exception.

In fact taking the original Phantom story and transforming it into an 80’s slasher is a no brainer with many of the particular story notes and themes slotting perfectly into place. Eric Matthews (Derek Rydall) is dead or so believes the community of Midwood and his high school sweetheart Melody Austin (Kari Whitman) who have all become caught up in the opening of a new mall.

Backed by the Mayor Karen Wilton (Morgan Fairchild) and the owner local business man Harv Posner (Jonathan Goldsmith) the consumerist megaplex is set to bring life, money and jobs to the small town but they may be a spanner in the works in the shape of a mysterious masked murderer who hides on the air vents, stalks the underground passageways and watches everyone.

As guards start turning up dead and gifts start turning up for Melody the creeped out but clever girl starts to put two and two together with the help of her reporter friend Peter (Rob Estes) who has more on his mind than just solving the story.

Can Melody and Peter solve what is going on? Is there a cover up? How is the fire that burned down Eric’s family and home related and can the masked phantom win back the love of his life? The answers like Eric’s chargrilled face will be revealed by the end of the entertaining if ridiculous movie.

Directed by Richard Friedman who also delivered the equally schlocky but fun Doom Asylum this is standard slasher fair with lots of amateur detective work, sinister side villains, stupid sidekicks (including 90’s comedic superstar Pauly Shore) and jump scares. Throw in some cheesy silk sheet romance scenes, sewer based martial arts training and some truly shocking 80’s style choices and you have yourself a cult classic.

The cast do their best with what they have and thankfully there are some unusual deaths along the way to keep horror heads happy including death by extractor fan, eye popping electrocution, a snake up a toilet and a escalator strangulation that will have you taking extra care next time you go to exit a moving staircase.

Arrow Video’s excellent release also comes packed to the roof including three versions of the feature, an Original Theatrical Cut, TV Cut and bonus Integral Fan Cut. There is also brand new audio commentary with director Richard Friedman, moderated by filmmaker Michael Felsher as well as commentary from disc producer Ewan Cant and film historian and author Amanda Reyes.

Alternate and Deleted Scenes, a new making-of documentary, an interview with Joe Escalante of The Vandals on the creation of the Phantom of the Mall theme song complete a great package that had you seen it on the shelves in your local mall’s Blu-ray store you just couldn’t resist.

With its body count and spectacle getting upped at the end for an all action climactic confrontation, Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge is a silly but fun slice of horror perfect for Phantom obsessives, slasher lovers and anyone who likes trashy 80’s entertainment and isn’t that everyone?

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