Until it coughs up a ridiculously convoluted explanation of why an isolated town in Colorado suddenly goes deader than a weekday matinee of The Postman, Phantoms delivers the shivers.

The movie quickly degenerates into another one of those Gotcha! thillers in which loathsome slimy creatures leap out of drain pipes and sewers and ingest supporting actors, while the stars pump bullets into them.

Not the worst of Dimension's late '90s offerings, but far from the best, either.

Chappelle tries to pack in as much atmosphere as he can, but it's a losing battle with producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein, who demand foolishness and get it here, with a promising opening act quickly changing into tired routine.