Jordan Peele Gives a Silver Sphere Salute to PHANTASM

More than 40 years since it first warped minds and terrified audiences, Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm is still influencing the horror genre and even catching the attention of today’s top filmmakers.

In a video feature for The Wall Street Journal Magazine titled Jordan Peele's Guide to Horror Films, Oscar-winning writer and director Jordan Peele assembled his dream team of horror villains. Among his picks was a chilling tribute to Phantasm specifically one of the film’s most unforgettable and bizarre creations: the deadly silver sphere.

The inclusion of this iconic weapon in Peele’s horror pantheon speaks volumes about the film’s lasting impact. The Sentinel Sphere, known for its surreal, brain-drilling lethality, remains one of horror’s most distinctive symbols. That it came to mind for Peele a filmmaker celebrated for reinventing and elevating horror is a testament to Phantasm’s unique legacy.

Jordan Peele is an Academy Award-winning writer, director, and producer known for redefining modern horror with his original, socially conscious films. Rising to fame with the breakout success of Get Out in 2017, he followed up with Us and Nope, solidifying his reputation as a master of suspense, surrealism, and psychological terror. Peele’s deep knowledge of genre cinema and love for horror history consistently shine through in his work.

This subtle but meaningful recognition reflects how Phantasm continues to inspire. Whether it’s the film’s dreamlike structure, nightmarish imagery, or inventive villainy, its influence reaches far beyond its cult status and into the minds of horror’s modern masters.

You can catch the full video above or on the Wall Street Journal website.. Just another reminder that the Tall Man’s reach is long — and his spheres still spin.