Phantasm Oblivion can be a relatively challenging film if one isn't properly acquainted with the series. I don;t mean to talk down to casual Phantasm fans or those looking for a cheap scare, if you don't know the first three films rather well, part IV here will certainly confuse you.To those who have come to love these characters, Oblvion takes them all through quite the ride. Mike is struggling with his newfound 'power', the Tall Man wishes to seduce Mike into becoming like him while Reggie is still hot on his trail. There is a considerable amount of emotion evident here, director Coscarelli knows that at this point we know and care about our heros, the stakes are raised in this flick and hidden truths are finally revealed. The fascinating thing here is while some older questions are wrapped up, Oblivion opens many new questions up to the fans. There is enough happening in this film alone to keep them debating for years to come. It's all fasciating and Angus Scrimm as the Tall Man is still a very intimidating screen presence. The budget on this film was quite low (under 1 million), so you tell me, after watching this film, can you even begin to be impressed with what Coscarelli has done with his limited budget. If you know anything about filmmaking you must appreciate it, but of course, working miracles with no money still does not make a great film.Phantasm Oblivion is a success in every other way also, from the use of unused footage from the original, to the showcasing of Tall Man's origins, to the spectacularly sad ending, Oblivion may not be as scary as the orignal, but when you get this far into the series, being engrossed is much more important than being scared. Coscarelli engrossed me 10 times over and I'm hungry for more, the mark of a truly great film.