Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

The Phantom

  • 2021
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1K
YOUR RATING
The Phantom (2021)
THE PHANTOM tells the story of one of the darkest episodes in the long history of American justice. A story of how the State of Texas knowingly sent an innocent man to his death and left a serial killer at large. A case in which - for the first time - it can be conclusively proven that the US courts executed a blameless man. This film uncovers the shocking truth behind a tale of murder, corruption and lies that unfolded in the dusty, desperate streets of a Texas oil town nearly thirty years ago.
Play trailer2:15
2 Videos
5 Photos
Crime DocumentaryDocumentary

Carlos DeLuna was arrested in 1983 aged 21 for the murder of Wanda Lopez, and protested his innocence until his execution, declaring that it was another Carlos who committed the crime.Carlos DeLuna was arrested in 1983 aged 21 for the murder of Wanda Lopez, and protested his innocence until his execution, declaring that it was another Carlos who committed the crime.Carlos DeLuna was arrested in 1983 aged 21 for the murder of Wanda Lopez, and protested his innocence until his execution, declaring that it was another Carlos who committed the crime.

  • Director
    • Patrick Forbes
  • Stars
    • Janie Adrian
    • Richard Anderson
    • Julie Arsuaga
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Patrick Forbes
    • Stars
      • Janie Adrian
      • Richard Anderson
      • Julie Arsuaga
    • 17User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:15
    Official Trailer
    The Phantom
    Trailer 2:15
    The Phantom
    The Phantom
    Trailer 2:15
    The Phantom

    Photos4

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast26

    Edit
    Janie Adrian
    • Self - Margie's Mother
    Richard Anderson
    • Self - DeLuna Appeal Attorney
    Julie Arsuaga
    • Self
    Kevan Baker
    • Self
    Joe Benavides
    • Self
    Ken Botary
    • Self - Prosecutor Dahlia Sauceda Case
    Karen Boudrie
    • Self - Reporter, KZTV
    George W. Bush
    George W. Bush
    • Self - Governor of Texas
    • (archive footage)
    Linda Carrico
    • Self - Reporter, Corpus Christi Caller Times
    Mary Conejo
    • Self - Carlos DeLuna's Sister
    Manuel DeLuna
    • Self - Carlos' Brother
    Diana Gomez
    • Lover of Carlos Hernandez
    James Lawrence
    • Self - Defense Attorney
    Jim Liebman
    • Self - Columbia Law School
    • (as Professor Jim Liebman)
    Bruno Mejia Jr.
    • Self - Corpus Christi Police Department
    • (as Officer Bruno Mejia Jr.)
    Tom Mylett
    • Self - Corpus Christi Police Department
    • (as Officer Tom Mylett)
    Raymond Nunez
    • Self - Local Resident
    Reynaldo Peña
    • Self - Attorney
    • Director
      • Patrick Forbes
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews17

    6.51K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    5rememberdave

    Drags on and on and on.

    This is a poor attempt in telling a serious story. The first 45 minutes is redundancy after redundancy after redundancy. Really, do not waste your time. Read an article about the story. Please, save yourself 1h21m.
    1economywater

    Can't hear the dialogue

    Tried watching this but the music and sound effects are WAY too loud and drown out the dialogue so I had to abort. Whoever did the sound design should never work again.
    6Calicodreamin

    Interesting subject, bad editing

    An interesting true crime story that was short but also kind of scary. The interviews were relevant but sometimes off topic. The video editing was poor and the first five minutes down right disorienting.
    8purple_tx_dragon

    Justice gone wrong

    This is a case where the justice system failed because they wanted to close the case. 75% of the evidence was never put into the case and used, the actual man that committed the crime had been on the radar of a CCPD for yrs, but just didn't listen to him. Me being a Texan, it hit home as a case of one of the worst injustices we could have done.
    4maguirejamesjm

    Race baiting "documentary"

    It is a heart felt story that implies the justice system got it wrong. But it wasn't an unbiased documentary presenting facts. It was designed to make it seem like race was involved. Rene Rodriguez was in this "documentary" and had nothing to do with the case. Everyone from corpus christi knows that Mr. Rodriguez is known for race baiting and doesn't actually doing anything positive for the city. Does tell a great story of potential flaws in the case but brings too much about race into it. When there is no proof of racism. It has plenty of witness' that heard things but never called it in, but magically have something to say for the documentary.

    More like this

    Out of Thin Air
    6.3
    Out of Thin Air
    Till Murder Do Us Part: Soering vs. Haysom
    7.0
    Till Murder Do Us Part: Soering vs. Haysom
    Sophie: A Murder in West Cork
    6.8
    Sophie: A Murder in West Cork
    Lover Stalker Killer
    7.0
    Lover Stalker Killer
    American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders
    6.7
    American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders
    I Just Killed My Dad
    6.8
    I Just Killed My Dad
    Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case
    6.4
    Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case
    The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping
    7.4
    The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping
    Bad Surgeon: Love Under the Knife
    7.2
    Bad Surgeon: Love Under the Knife
    Justice
    6.5
    Justice
    Tread
    7.1
    Tread
    Jailbreak: Love on the Run
    6.4
    Jailbreak: Love on the Run

    Storyline

    Edit

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ12

    • How long is The Phantom?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 2, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • شبح كارلوس
    • Production companies
      • Grain Media
      • Great Point Media
      • Hitchley
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 22m(82 min)
    • Color
      • Color

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.