Phantasm

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Phantasm is a surprisingly artful and imaginative horror film, an impressive film for 23-year-old director Don Coscarelli who worked with a miniscule budget to create a small masterpiece. When Mike (Michael Baldwin) spies some sinister Jawa-like creatures stealing corpses from the local cemetery, he and his older brother Jody (Bill Thornbury) explore the mausoleum, where they find that the mortician (Angus Scrimm), a towering, emaciated figure with superhuman strength, has somehow bridged the gap between Earth and the afterworld and needs fresh corpses. Among the tools of his trade is a flying Swiss army pinball that bores into the skulls of its hapless victims then extracts their brains. Their allies die off one by one, until only the brothers are left to defend humankind against the nefarious "Tall Man" and his army of shrouded dwarves. While the film does contain a fair amount of graphic violence, the gore is never gratuitous and, relative to other movies of its day, is used rather sparingly. The effects are fantastic as is the highly stylized direction; the result is a memorable chiller with more than its share of genuine shocks. ~ Jeremy Beday, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide Screen)
• Screen: Color
• Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
• Features:
  • Widescreen presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 tvs
  • Phantasmagoria: 30 minute documentary and interviews with the cast and crew of Phantasm
  • Audio commentary with writer/director Don Coscarelli and stars Michael Baldwin, Angus Scrimm and Bill Thornbury
  • Deleted scenes
  • Phantasm: Behind-the-scenes
  • Phantasm: Actors having a ball
  • Phantasm tv interview
  • Fangoria tv commercial with Angus Scrimm
  • Angus Scrimm convention appearance
  • Phantasm trailer
  • Phantasm III trailer
  • TV spots

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Michael Baldwin - Mike
       Bill Thornbury - Jody
       Reggie Bannister - Reggie
       Kathy Lester - Lady in Lavender
       Angus Scrimm - Tall Man
       Bill Cone - Tommy

• Director:

  Don Coscarelli

• Producer:

  Don Coscarelli, S. Tyler

• Screenwriter:

  Don Coscarelli

• Cinematographer:

  Don Coscarelli

• Composer (Music Score):

  Fred Myrow, Malcolm Seagrave

• Editor:

  Don Coscarelli

• Art Director:

  David Gavin Brown

• Co-producer:

  Paul Pepperman

• Special Effects:

  Paul Pepperman, Willard Green

REVIEW:

• One of the best low-budget horror films of the 1970s, Phantasm has acquired a large cult following for its creepy visuals and a formidable villain in the arachnoid undertaker known as the "Tall Man" (Angus Scrimm). A standard, albeit effective horror film for most of its length, it suddenly veers off into science fiction territory for its bizarre conclusion, presenting a slew of fresh and frightening ideas along the way. Replicas of one of the more memorable set pieces -- a flying spiked sphere which bloodily drills its way into victims' heads -- became a hot collectible among genre fans. Highly recommended for anyone needing a good scare. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi