The amount of times PHANTASM has been mentioned in pop culture is kind of crazy! For a movie released in 1979 it makes sense that it keeps showing up in movies, TV shows, and songs. However, one often forgotten moment came in the fourth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer that aired in 1999.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Debuting in 1997 and created by Joss Whedon, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is a cult classic television series that follows Buffy Summers, a young woman chosen by fate to battle the forces of evil. Set in the fictional town of Sunnydale, California, Buffy, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, is assisted by a group of loyal friends, often referred to as the "Scooby Gang." Throughout its seven seasons, the series expertly blended elements of horror, drama, comedy, and romance, tackling not only supernatural threats but also the challenges of adolescence and young adulthood. Praised for its strong character development, witty dialogue, and its innovative approach to genre storytelling, "Buffy" has left an indelible mark on pop culture and remains influential to this day.

So where does PHANTASM enter the Buffy universe!? It all happened back in 1999 during the Season 4 episode “Fear Itself”:

In the "Fear, Itself" episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," the Scooby Gang confronts their deepest fears when they attend a Halloween party at a college fraternity house. Unbeknownst to them, the house has been marked with a symbol that turns it into a haunted house of horrors. As they navigate the labyrinthine corridors of the transformed house, each member of the group encounters personalized fears which they must face and overcome. From Xander feeling invisible to Willow losing control of her magic, and Buffy facing a terrifying version of her own death, the episode delves deep into the insecurities and traumas of the main characters. It's both a thrilling and emotionally resonant installment of the series, reflecting on the idea that sometimes our own fears can be the most terrifying monsters of all.

The best part about this clip is the PHANTASM reference has to do with HALLOWEEN AND VHS! Watch the clip below:

The episode was written by Joss Whedon, David Fury, and Douglas Petrie so we imagine they must all be PHANTASM PHANS!

So PHANTASM PHANS we have to ask???? Is this the secret portal that melds the PHANTASM UNIVERSE and the BUFFY UNIVERSE into one crazy concoction? Is this an opening for a BUFFY X PHANTASM crossover that nobody asked for but actually sounds kind of cool? Let us know on our Instagram page!