Phase IV: The Evolution Cut

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9.8 (12)
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phaseivevolution_poster
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1974
Original Running Time:
84
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
85
Time Cut:
3
Time Added:
4
Available in HD?
Brief Synopsis:
Phase IV is a cult sci-fi movie like no other. Often derided as a failed attempt to make an intelligent creature feature, it was to be the only feature film made by famous graphic designer Saul Bass, and is undeservedly grouped in with later 70’s B movie features such as Empire of the Ants, The Swarm and the like. To be truthful, this is similar to saying 2001: A Space Odyssey should sit alongside Battle Beyond the Stars. Paramount didn’t know what they had, and even cut Bass’ remarkable 5 minute montage style ending.
Intention:
To insert the original ending which Bass intended, making a more complete experience for the story. Also, to rescore the film. I have no problem with the original score, however I really wanted to push the soundscape style approach of the music further still, hopefully making Phase IV feel more other-worldly – you could even say, alien. Therefore, music from Loscil and Jean-Michel Jarre will be used. On top of this, I have never cared much for the voiceover/narration which runs through the film. By all accounts, even Bass was not keen on it, as it spoon feeds the viewer too much - therefore this will be cut too.
Other Sources:
Music...
Loscil - "Monument Builders" and "Equivalents"
Jean-Michel Jarre - "Oxygene Part 20"
image
Special Thanks:
Sophie Welch
BionicBob
Toodles
and everyone who has shown an interest in the edit on the forum
Release Information:
Digital
Special Features
Audio Commentary
Editing Details:
The main intention of this edit is to use a new music score, and insert the original ending that Saul Bass shot. Other than that, there are only a few minor trims which I will detail here.
Also, all voiceover and narration has been removed. Bass was never that happy with this aspect of the film, and I’ve always wanted the film to succeed without this kind of “spoon feeding” to the audience.
Cuts and Additions:
- Cut one very small scene during the opening of the film where we are seeing the Ant colony for the first time… it’s just a transition scene which goes to black. Now instead of going to black, it just goes straight to the next shot
- As James and Hobbs are meeting with the family at their home to warn them to evacuate, have cut the scene where Kendra waves goodbye to them due to the somewhat corny nature of it which feels more like a shampoo advert
- After her family have been killed by the ants and Kendra opens the cellar door which was keeping her safe, have removed the zoom-in to Hobbs, as it appears unnatural and forced
- Trimmed the scene where James talks to Kendra to calm her down and says let’s get you some breakfast… instead of seeing her then go with James and get a drink, the scene now cuts to James immediately being distracted by more news on their studies by Hobbs
- Cut Kendra’s line “go away…. Please go away”, after she wakes up and sees a solitary ant
- Slightly trimmed and re-ordered some shots as Hobbs is having a bit of breakdown as he tries to find one ant in their lab
- Cut the scene where James comforts Kendra after Hobbs had his breakdown, where he had basically blamed her for the ants knowing what they are up to. The scene just seems to a bit too fluffy and clumsy
- After James says “like rats in a maze”, he goes on to talk out his exact thought process as to what’s going on.. however, this feels like needless exposition, as by this point the viewer should be on-board and able to deduct things for themselves. Therefore, have trimmed this scene to remove most of this.
- Slight cut to Bass’ original ending, as Kendra leaves the lab and goes looking for the ants and literally starts to talk to them, just before they start biting her toes. Have now cut her talking to them
- Another very minor cut. In Bass’ original montage ending, have removed one shot where the ant is superimposed over Kendra and James
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Overall rating
 
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0(12)
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9.7(12)
Visual Editing
 
10.0(12)
Narrative
 
9.6(12)
Enjoyment
 
9.8(12)
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Overall rating
 
9.4
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
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9.0
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10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
Great work in turning this into a more psychedelic, surreal and (in part) experimental film, while removing many of the goofy and cringe-inducing dialogues and scenes. And good riddance to the voiceover.

The original directing style and acting aren’t great (for me) but that’s minimized here because of the small changes throughout the film.

Really great job on the new score, it makes all the difference.

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Digital
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Overall rating
 
9.6
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10.0
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8.0
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10.0
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10.0
I loved the original cut, and this one rules too.

Just having the original ending spliced in was great. But LastSurvivor also did a great job tightening/modernizing certain aspects, while remaining very respectful of the source material. The new music cues didn't noticeably clash with the original score, to my surprise, and were a good match for some of the insane visuals. This movie has always felt weirdly contemporary (given how much old technology is featured), and some of the changes in this cut only augment that feeling.

I'm not sure I would have "gotten" it as much if I hadn't seen the original cut first...impossible to know what it would be like to see it this way first, but I will definitely be revisiting the LastSurvivor cut before returning to the original. Awesome job, obviously made with great care.

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1 reviews
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Overall rating
 
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
This edit of Phase IV made by LastSurvivor, wow. This was so awesome, awesome in the best possible way. A simple, but really surreal and weird killer-ant story with a crazed researcher and a leering linguist is enhanced beyond what I could have ever anticipated.

LastSurvivor, you made something really special by restoring and enhancing the vision of Phase IV and its creator (You know who I mean). I will return to this edit for years to investigate more of the movie and it's meaning and it's all thanks to you.

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Digital
A
Top 500 Reviewer 14 reviews
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Overall rating
 
9.4
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
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10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
8.0
This is a great edit that I heartily recommend to anyone who wants some contemplative, old skool sci-fi. It didn't really click with me personally as a film, though. (Full thoughts here: https://boxd.it/2zbiAp)

Honestly, the close-up photography sequences often go on too long and just have little-to-no context without the narration. I think they needed trimming to avoid being sleep-inducing and indulgent. And then as a film there are just still a fair few goofy moments and bits of really muddled accents and dodgy acting...easy to see why this was used for MST3K.

Overall, this edit turns the famous flop into a genuinely respectable movie. The new musical choices mostly worked well for me (again, a bit droning and sleep-inducing at a few points) and the visual quality was fantastic. Looks really great for how old this film was. This ultimately just wasn't really my kind of movie and I had a hard time taking it as seriously as it seems to want (I might have burst out laughing at a few of the human/ant physical battles). But an amazing editing feat that is sure to find its audience.

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Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
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Overall rating
 
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
A far cry from the earnest-but-hobbled attempt at sci-fi grandeur that I first experienced years ago as an early MST3K episode, LastSurvivor has given us one of the absolute masterworks not only of fanediting but, in restoring this film to as close as possible to its intended form, one of the masterworks of science fiction film. An absolute psychedelic marvel from beginning to end, it is both a descendent of 2001 and a progenitor of Primer. (Anyone, like myself, bemoaning that we'll likely never see another film from disgraced genius Shane Carruth would do well to track this edit down.)

The music, the editing, the restoration of the climactic sequence, everything about this edit is perfect. My only small complaint is that perhaps Bass' original ending doesn't seem to quite stick the landing in terms of the profundity of 2001's alien-driven-evolution-of-mankind, but who knows, I may change my mind on future viewings -- of which there will definitely be many, if for no other reason than to marvel over how the insects of the film manage such stunning performances.

Even rivalling the lead turn by Michael Murphy, aka "the guy who played the mayor in Batman Returns."

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Yes
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DVD
R
Top 10 Reviewer 156 reviews
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