Phantasmagoria

Mostly well done documentary about the making of Don Coscarelli's Phantasm series, using a combination of newly filmed interviews with various cast and crew members, and behind the scenes footage from all the films. The majority of this documentary focuses on the original film, with a look at some unused outtakes from the first film, and a variety of behind the scenes stories, before touching upon (in less detail) the belated sequels.

It is interesting, not only hearing these stories, but also seeing how the actors look in 2005, compared to how they appeared in the films, when they were decades younger.

But if there is a downside to this documentary, it's that it may reveal a bit too much, and strips away a little too much of Phantasm's mystique.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Phantasm is right here in this 97-minute feature with interviews from Don Coscarelli, producer Paul Pepperman, Angus Scrimm, Reggie Bannister, Michael Baldwin and Bill Thornbury.

The inspirations, the studio politics, the filming, the SFX, the brilliant score and the characters are all discussed in great length and detail and if your into these films you'll totally love it. All of the interviewees have perfect recollection of most of the events, dating as far back as 28 years ago. Especially interesting is Don Coscarelli's explanations of the evolution of the story as the series progressed and anything the elegant and classy Angus Scrimm says is like listening to an old English professor read poetry from a book, even if he is talking about an inter-dimensional grave-robbing Tall Man.

If only all film documentaries were this way instead of the usual promotional fluff rubbish eh?