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Phantasm franchise star Reggie Bannister is entering home hospice care, and he’d like to hear from you.

As anyone who ever met him at a convention or worked with him on a movie can attest, Bannister is a remarkably kind man who is truly grateful for his “phans.”

In his time of need, fans are encouraged to share their appreciation for Bannister by sending letters to:

Reggie Bannister

Po Box 4387

Crestline, CA 92325

The cult actor was diagnosed with dementia and Parkinson’s disease in 2016, which were stabilized until last week when he collapsed. Friend and colleague Russell “GreWolf” Mauck shared the update on Facebook:

“He’s still cognitive, so that’s good, but his body is failing. Reggie and Gigi [his wife] had planned ahead and made an advanced directive. As a result, Reggie will be going home from the V.A. soon, for home hospice care.

“There is no prognosis or time frame.

One of the horror genre’s many low budget indie classics is the 1979 film Phantasm (watch it Here), which was made on a budget of around $300,000 by writer/director Don Coscarelli when he was in his early twenties. Shot on weekends with rented equipment, Phantasm took almost two years to complete… and the result was a box office success that is now widely regarded as one of the greatest horror films ever made. 2024 marks the 45th anniversary of Phantasm – and it also happens to mark the 10th anniversary of author Dustin McNeill’s book Phantasm Exhumed: The Unauthorized Companion… so this seemed like the perfect time to dig up an interesting story from McNeill’s book, where he reveals that Don Coscarelli’s mom wrote a script for Phantasm II years before her son got around to working on the sequel!

Released in March of 1979, Phantasm had the following synopsis:...

Horror was in a bit of a funk in the late 90s. Then 25 years ago, in July 1999, The Blair Witch Project came along and changed everything.

In a 1996 article published in The Philadelphia Enquirer, film critic Desmond Ryan bemoaned the state of mainstream films. Citing such films as Independence Day, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Eraser, and that year’s hurricane thrillride Twister, Ryan argued that Hollywood had become more interested in special effects than logic or character.

“It all began,” Ryan wrote, “when Twister’s killer tornadoes sucked up everything in their path – tractors, cows, common sense, continuity, plausibility, and the quaint notion that movies should have characters you care about.”

By the end of the 1990s, the horror genre appeared to have descended into a creative funk of its own. Of the horror films released toward the end of the decade, many of the most high-profile examples were remakes or sequels in somewhat tired franchises.

Don Coscarelli perhaps does not get enough credit for crafting one of horror's most enduring franchises with "Phantasm." Dating back to the sleeper hit from 1979 that introduced audiences to Angus Scrimm's The Tall Man, the series pressed on for five films that premiered periodically all the way through 2016. Coscarelli directed the first four entries personally before handing the reins over to David Hartman for "Ravager". A segment in "V/H/S/99" even paid homage to "Phantasm." Not many franchises can say they got to five movies across nearly four decades.

But what of those who have never taken the plunge into this delightfully strange universe? What of those genre fans who are interested in seeing what Coscarelli dedicated so much of his life to? We're here to make it easy for you to do just that by providing the correct viewing order for the "Phantasm" movies, as well as...

The Phantasm family is back together again for the new brand new music video “Cheyenne,” which comes courtesy of Phantasm star Bill Thornbury and his band Remington Ridge.

Bill Thornbury played Jody in the original horror classic from 1979, a role he reprised for Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead, Phantasm IV: Oblivion, and Phantasm: Ravager.

Of particular note for Phantasm fans, the music video for “Cheyenne” was directed by franchise creator Don Coscarelli and David Hartman, who directed Phantasm: Ravager.

Coscarelli tweets this afternoon, “Many people might remember Bill’s absolute banger of a song from the original Phantasm that he wrote and performed with Reggie Bannister in our film Phantasm… ‘Sitting’ Here At Midnight’! ‘Cheyenne’ is an emotional, rootsy country ballad, telling tales of lost love and fading sunset dreams.”

“It was great to get the Phantasm family back together to make this video,” Coscarelli adds. “The talented David...

Writer/director Don Coscarelli kicked off a mind-bending horror franchise with his low budget 1979 classic Phantasm, following that up with Phantasm II in 1988 and Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead in 1994. One Phantasm phan who thought they knew where the franchise should go next was Roger Avary – and soon after sharing an Academy Award win with Quentin Tarantino for co-writing the stories that made up Pulp Fiction, Avary started crafting a Phantasm sequel script he called Phantasm 1999. Coscarelli was impressed with what Avary had come up with, and set out to bring Phantasm 1999 to the screen… but it never happened. Nods to the ideas in that script made it into Phantasm: Oblivion and Phantasm: Ravager, but the budget required for Phantasm 1999 (which was also called Phantasm 2013 A.D. and Phantasm’s End as time went on) could never be secured. So find out about the Phantasm movie that never was...

Elvis has a lot of buzz this awards season, but Baz Luhrmann didn’t get the story right. The real Elvis Presley traded places with an impersonator in order to live a simple life as an impersonator himself before retiring to Mud Creek, Texas alongside John F. Kennedy, who was patched up and dyed Black after the assassination attempt.

Those are the facts according to Bubba Ho-Tep, at least.

The 2002 horror-comedy is based on the short story of the same name by Joe R. Lansdale (whose work would go on to be adapted into Cold in July and Hap and Leonard), first published in the 1994 anthology The King Is Dead: Tales of Elvis Post-Mortem. When cult filmmaker Don Coscarelli approached Lansdale about optioning the story for a film, the author tried to talk him out of it, as he believed it couldn’t be made.

Lansdale passed on writing the screenplay for the same reason,...

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products released each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Halloween & Texas Chain Saw Massacre Bobbleheads from Spirit Halloween

Spirit Halloween is exclusively carrying Halloween and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre bobbleheads. Produced by Royal Bobbles, each resin statute stands approximately 8″ tall and costs 36.99.

The Halloween bobblehead, depicting Michael Myers peering out from behind a hedge, is currently sold out online but can still be found in stores. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre bobblehead, portraying Leatherface in his “Pretty Woman” mask, is available both online and in stores.

Phenomena Shirt from Rucking Fotten

Despite his status as a master of horror, there isn’t a lot of officially licensed merchandise for Dario Argento films. Rucking Fotten just dropped Japanese-inspired designs for Phenomena (Aka Creepers) and...

On this episode of Daily Dead's official podcast, Corpse Club co-hosts Bryan Christopher and Scott Drebit continue their retrospective series on the Phantasm franchise with a look back at Don Coscarelli's Phantasm IV: Oblivion with special guest Peter Hearn, writer/director of Scrawl and writer/co-producer of Dead Air!

Whether you've seen the entire Phantasm franchise more times than you can remember, or you're experiencing its nightmarish scares for the first time, join Bryan, Scott, and Peter for this insightful reflection on Phantasm IV: Oblivion... just be sure to watch out for The Tall Man and his Sentinel Spheres!

Also, keep an eye out for Bryan and Scott's conclusion to their Phantasm retrospective with their upcoming Corpse Club episode on the fifth film in the franchise, Phantasm: Ravager!

You can listen to the new episode of Corpse Club right now on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, TuneIn, YouTube,...

Shudder is preparing to launch the Joe Bob Saves Christmas special this year. This is the third year in a row that The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs has brought some cheer to horror fans all over the world. In addition, Shudder has also announced some other holiday-themed material that will soon be hitting the streaming service. Blood Beat, Rare Exports and Shudder Exclusives like All the Creatures Were Stirring, Better Watch Out, and Christmas Presence are all coming this holiday season, along with a Christmas-themed Creepshow special.

Santa is coming December 11. And he's pissed. #thelastdriveinpic.twitter.com/eOcyWkcAcy

— Joe Bob Briggs (@therealjoebob) November 10, 2020

The Christmas spirit takes over The Last Drive-In as Joe Bob Briggs and Darcy close out the year with a double feature of holiday horrors. Joe Bob Saves Christmas premieres live on the ShudderTV feed Friday, December 11th at 9pm Est, and will be made available on demand on Sunday,...

Horror is making money hand over fist right now and you have to imagine that anyone with the rights to a beloved classic horror franchise might be looking at Danny McBride and David Gordon Green’s soft reboot/continuation of Halloween with envious eyes.

Speaking of which, in a Reddit Ama, McBride was asked which franchise he’d like to see back on the big screen and he picked a stone cold cult classic: Phantasm. For those not familiar with the series, it begins with Don Coscarelli’s 1979 original, in which evil undertaker the Tall Man is transforming Earth’s dead into dwarf zombies that will be sent to his planet and used for slave labour (it makes more sense in context!).

Despite landing to mixed reviews, time has been kind to its charms, with contemporary critics praising the film’s surreal narrative and imagery. It eventually did well enough to merit four sequels,...

With a filmmaking career that began in the late 1970s, Don Coscarelli puts it all down on paper in the treasure trove that is his new 341 page book, "True Indie". I must admit, before I go any further with this review, that I was pretty much pre-disposed to love this tomb. I have been following Coscarelli's career since I was a young boy. Along the way having crisscrossed through his films, I've marveled at the ease with which this auteur moved seamlessly from genre to genre. Thankfully, all of this has been put down by the director himself to create a "tell all" that is insightful, illuminating, and worthy of being discussed with other great works like "The Kid Stays In The Picture", "You'll Never Eat Lunch In This Town Again" and "Rebel Without a Crew".

"True Indie" is only predictable in that it follows the career arc of an artist.

September 18th is definitely a phan-tastic day to be a genre lover, as we’re finally getting individual Blu-ray releases for both Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead and Phantasm IV: Oblivion this week, courtesy of Well Go USA. Scream Factory has given two classic horrors an HD overhaul—Scream for Help and The Evil—that cult film enthusiasts should definitely check out, and there is a pair of Special Edition Blu-rays arriving on Tuesday from Arrow Video to boot: Horrors of Malformed Men and The Pyjama Girl Case.

Other notable Blu-ray and DVD releases for September 18th include Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, The X-Files: Season 11, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, Impulse, and 666: Seance Hour.

The Evil

A psychologist (Richard Crenna) and his wife (Joanna Pettet) buy a dilapidated historical mansion with a dark past in this terrifying chiller. Hoping to restore the estate and turn it into a drug rehabilitation clinic,...

Phantasm is easily one of the best horror movies in the genre. With it's tightly constructed plot, the film often moves from accessible to opaque with careless abandon. However there is enough there to really create a film that is inimitable. It's why we still discuss/debate it today. It's also why yours truly recently turned in a podcast to this site in which I broke down the film on a minute by spine tingling minute basis.

As excellent as Phantasm is, like any franchise, it certainly doesn't hit a home run every time out of the park. That said the "Phans" of this film are a rabid lot. I consider myself a part of this group. So no matter how much I might get frustrated by any one film in this franchise, I am always going to come back for more when it is offered.

For this article my ranking system was fairly basic.

The Tall Man is back with a Vengeance!

Phantasm III: Lord Of The Dead and Phantasm IV: Oblivion, two Cult Classics in Don Coscarelli’s Legendary Horror Franchise, make Their Standalone Blu-ray Debuts September 18th. Available Separately, each Title Includes a Behind-the-Scenes Featurette, Audio Commentary and More!

Mike (Michael Baldwin) faces off against a lethal arsenal of terrible weapons when he confronts a mysterious grave robber known only as the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) in horror icon Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm III: Lord Of The Dead (1994) and Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998). Two of the most popular titles in the Phantasm franchise, the films will be available separately when they make their Blu-ray debuts September 18 from Well Go USA Entertainment.

In addition, Don Coscarelli turns author when his memoir, True Indie: Life and Death in Filmmaking, is published by St. Martin’s Press on October 2. A crash course on the indie film world,...

Last year, the folks at Well Go USA Entertainment made dreams come true for fans of the Sentinel Spheres when they released the entire Phantasm series on a five-film Blu-ray collection. If you didn't pick up the collection or you prefer individual releases over box sets, Well Go USA still has you covered with their upcoming standalone Blu-ray releases of Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead and Phantasm IV: Oblivion, and we have the full release details and a look at the cover art for both Blu-rays:

Press Release: Plano, Texas. – Mike (Michael Baldwin) faces off against a lethal arsenal of terrible weapons when he confronts a mysterious grave robber known only as the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) in horror icon Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm III: Lord Of The Dead (1994) and Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998). Two of the most popular titles in the Phantasm franchise, the films will be available separately...

Well Go USA will finally be releasing Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead and Phantasm IV: Oblivion on Blu-ray September 18th. Word on the release comes to us from the Facebook page called Phantasm Exhumed Books, who goes on a bit of a rant in their post, most of which I don’t understand but maybe […]

The post Well Go USA Releasing Phantasm III and IV Standalone Blu-rays appeared first on Dread Central.

"You play a good game, boy, but the game is over. Now you die!" Keep an eye out for flying Sentinel Spheres, because the the Tall Man and his undead army are coming to home media in a new DVD collection featuring all five Phantasm films, and Well Go USA has provided us with one DVD set to give away to one lucky Daily Dead reader!

---------

Prize Details: (1) Winner will receive (1) 5-Film Phantasm Collection on DVD.

How to Enter: We're giving Daily Dead readers multiple chances to enter and win:

1. Instagram: Following us on Instagram during the contest period will give you an automatic contest entry. Make sure to follow us at:

https://www.instagram.com/dailydead/

2. Email: For a chance to win via email, send an email to contest@dailydead.com with the subject “Phantasm DVD Collection Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Entry...

Well Go USA Entertainment brings all five films in Don Coscarelli’s iconic horror franchise to DVD for the first time in one box set when Phantasm: 5 Movie DVD Collection debuts on September 19. The collection includes Phantasm: Remastered (1979), Phantasm II (1988), Phantasm III: Lord Of The Dead (1994), Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998) and the most recent installment Phantasm: Ravager (2016). Each film finds Mike (Michael Baldwin) facing off against a mysterious grave robber known only as the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) and his lethal arsenal of terrible weapons.

Phantasm: 5 Movie DVD Collection includes:

Disc 1: Phantasm: Remastered

Bonus Materials Include:

Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Don Coscarelli and Stars Michael Baldwin, Angus Scrimm and Bill Thornbury

Graveyard Carz

Interviews with Don Coscarelli and Angus Scrimm

Deleted Scenes

Theatrical Trailer

Phantasm: Remastered Synopsis:

At a funeral, Mike (Michael Baldwin), watches as a tall mortician clad in black (Angus Scrimm) tosses...

Earlier this year, Well Go USA Entertainment unleashed the Tall Man and his Sentinel Spheres on Blu-ray in an eye-popping Phantasm box set, and now they've announced a DVD collection of all five films in the Phantasm franchise:

Press Release: Plano, Texas. (August 8, 2017) – Well Go USA Entertainment brings all five films in Don Coscarelli’s iconic horror franchise to DVD for the first time in one box set when Phantasm: 5 Movie DVD Collection debuts on September 19. The collection includes Phantasm: Remastered (1979), Phantasm II (1988), Phantasm III: Lord Of The Dead (1994), Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998) and the most recent installment Phantasm: Ravager (2016). Each film finds Mike (Michael Baldwin) facing off against a mysterious grave robber known only as the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) and his lethal arsenal of terrible weapons.

Phantasm: 5 Movie DVD Collection includes:

Disc 1: Phantasm: Remastered

Bonus Materials Include:

Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Don Coscarelli and Stars Michael Baldwin,...

Well Go USA Entertainment brings all five films in Don Coscarelli’s iconic horror franchise to DVD for the first time in one box set when Phantasm: 5 Movie DVD Collection debuts on September 19. The collection includes Phantasm: Remastered (1979), Phantasm II (1988), Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994), Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998) and the most recent installment Phantasm: Ravager (2016). Each film finds Mike (Michael Baldwin) facing off […]...

I hope you guys are ready, because April 11th looks to be an incredible day of home entertainment releases for genre fans, especially if you’ve been patiently waiting for the stunning new Phantasm Blu-ray set from Well Go USA, which features every film from the franchise together in one nifty package. Arrow Video has also assembled the first two House movies for a limited edition Blu-ray set that arrives this week, and Severin Films has resurrected the cult classic Cathy’s Curse in HD for the first time ever.

Severin Films is also keeping busy with a pair of other releases—Dark Water and The Other Hell—and Scream Factory is giving both The Vampire and Demented the Blu-ray treatment as well.

Other notable horror and sci-fi home entertainment offerings for April 11th include The Bye Bye Man (Unrated), The Violent Shit Collection, Chupacabra Territory, Naciye, Takashi Miike’s Dead or Alive trilogy,...

Beginning April 11th, you can invite The Tall Man into your home with The Phantasm Collection, and Well Go USA has provided us with one of their six-disc Blu-ray box sets to give away to one very lucky Daily Dead reader.

————

Prize Details: (1) Winner will receive (1) Blu-ray box set of The Phantasm Collection.

How to Enter: We're giving Daily Dead readers multiple chances to enter and win:

1. Instagram: Following us on Instagram during the contest period will give you an automatic contest entry. Make sure to follow us at:

https://www.instagram.com/dailydead/

2. Twitter: Follow us on Twitter and look for opportunities to "Retweet to Win" over the next two weeks:

https://twitter.com/dailydeadnews

3. Email: For a chance to win via email, send an email to contest@dailydead.com with the subject “Phantasm Collection Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Entry Details: The contest...

Well Go USA plays a good game, indeed. The distributor today revealed an April 11th release date for their new Blu-ray box set, The Phantasm Collection. Comprised of six discs and all five Phantasm films, this box set also comes packed with hours of new bonus features from director Don Coscarelli himself, including audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, and featurettes.

For the complete list of new bonus features, we have the official press release, and in case you missed them, check out the list of previously announced special features for the box set, which is also teased in new images below.

Press Release: Plano, Texas. (March 9, 2017) – Well Go USA Entertainment announced today the all-new bonus materials included in the upcoming The Phantasm Collection, scheduled to release in a limited edition, six-disc Blu-ray™ box set on April 11. In addition to the previously released archival material included in the box set, Phantasm creator...

If you live stateside and your eyes grew wide at the sight of Arrow Video's UK Phantasm box set, then don't despair, because Well Go USA is bringing The Tall Man to Us horror lovers like never before with their Phantasm special edition box set that contains all five Phantasm films (including the 4K restoration of the original movie) and enough bonus features to please diehard "Phans" of the franchise.

According to Blu-ray.com and Amazon, Well Go USA's Phantasm Blu-ray collection will be released on March 28th. Special features are still in development and have yet to be announced, but below we have the lists of bonus features that have been revealed so far, as well as a look at the cover art featuring The Tall Man with his Sentinel Spheres.

Box set special features (via Blu-ray.com): "Phantasm (1979)

Synopsis: Mike, a young teenage boy who has just lost his parents,...

It may be Jason's big day, but Arrow Video has something special in store for fans of The Tall Man who live in England, as they've announced an epic Phantasm UK Blu-ray limited edition collection that contains all five of the franchise's films, a new 152-page book, and much more.

From Arrow Video: "New UK Only Title: Phantasm 1-5 – (Limited Edition Blu-ray Collection)

The Phantasm series is back with added balls! Limited to 10,000 copies.

Pre-order your copy: http://bit.ly/2io2QMA

Release Date: 24th April 2017

Few horror movie franchises are as iconic as Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm series. From its deadly flying silver spheres through to its hooded dwarf minions, and of course, the towering figure of arch villain The Tall Man himself, the imagery conjured up by the Phantasm films remains etched in the psyche of genre fans everywhere.

Beginning with the 1979 original through to 2016’s Phantasm: Ravager,...

Well Go USA Entertainment brought us the latest installment in the cult favorite Phantasm series from legendary writer/director Don Coscarelli when the fifth installment in the franchise Phantasm: Ravager debuted on Blu-ray™ and DVD December 6.

David Hartman (Transformers Prime, Roughnecks: Starship Troopers) is the firs t new director of a film in the popular Phantasm series history with Phantasm: Ravager, which features the entire original cast including Reggie Bannister – a veteran of all five films – A. Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, and Kat Lester. Angus Scrimm takes up his iconic role as the terrifying Tall Man for the fifth and final time.

Phantasm: Remastered presents Mike, Jody, Reggie, and the Tall Man as they’ve never been seen before. For the first time in high-definition, follow the trio in the remastered original classic that started it all, in which two brothers discover their local mortuary hides a legion of hooded killer dwarfs,...

Tuesday, December 6th is a big day for Phantasm "phans," as you can finally bring home the remastered version of Don Coscarelli’s original film as well as Phantasm: Ravager in stunning HD, courtesy of Well Go USA. Cult movie enthusiasts should also be keeping an eye out for Mpi Home Video's 30th anniversary presentation of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, as well as Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray of Doomwatch. We’re also seeing a handful of recent festival hits—Trash Fire, Jack Goes Home, and SiREN—coming home this Tuesday, and the first season of Scream Queens arrives on DVD, too.

Other notable releases for December 6th include The Possession Experiment, The Devil’s Dolls, and the Black & Chrome Edition of Mad Max: Fury Road.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer: 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition (Mpi Home Video, Blu-ray)

Undeniably one of the...

Halloween may be over, but horror reigns supreme all year long on Shudder. The streaming service's November titles include Phantasm: Remastered, The Exorcist III, Penance, Happy Birthday to Me, Therapy, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, and many more must-watch movies.

Press Release: As many a horror fan is wont to say, Halloween is an all-year endeavor. And though Samhain has ended, you could say Shudder is just getting started. Following our premiere of the stellar miniseries Beyond The Walls, we’re all too excited to be the exclusive home of Phantasm: Remastered (joined by Phantasm III and IV). Headed by Jj Abrams and Bad Robot, this brand new restoration of Don Coscarelli’s American independent horror classic is the best you’ve ever seen it. Vividly rediscover the surreal journey of Mike, Jody and Reggie, up against the unknowable forces of The Tall Man, his extradimensional dwarves and the sphere.

Well Go USA will inject timeless horror into your holidays this year with their upcoming Blu-ray / DVD releases of Phantasm: Ravager and Phantasm: Remastered. Place them under your tree and keep an eye out for flying Sentinel spheres coming down your chimney this December.

Press Release: Plano, Texas. (October 31, 2016) – Well Go USA Entertainment brings two terrifying installments in the cult favorite Phantasm series from legendary writer/director Don Coscarelli when the fifth installment in the franchise Phantasm: Ravager and the original Phantasm: Remastered debut on Blu-ray™and DVD December 6.

David Hartman (Transformers Prime, Roughnecks: Starship Troopers) is the first new director of a film in the popular Phantasm series history with Phantasm: Ravager, which features the entire original cast including Reggie Bannister – a veteran of all five films – A. Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, and Kat Lester. Angus Scrimm takes up his iconic role as the terrifying Tall...

Back in 1979, an up-and-coming filmmaker by the name of Don Coscarelli unleashed Phantasm, his terrifying and surreal exploration of fear, onto unsuspecting horror fans. Now, over 37 years later, we are about to celebrate the release of Phantasm: Ravager, the final installment of the iconic franchise that recently enjoyed its world premiere at the 2016 Fantastic Fest. It’s a project that Phantasm fans have been waiting to see for a long time, and I have to say that by and large, longtime Phanatics should be absolutely pleased with how Ravager has turned out.

Co-writer/director David Hartman’s genuine passion for this franchise is engrained in every single moment of this sequel, which perfectly embodies the scrappy “can-do” attitude that has gotten the Phantasm series this far. The film is also a beautiful tribute to the legacy of the franchise’s villain, The Tall Man, portrayed by Angus Scrimm, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

Scream Factory hails to the king, baby, with their upcoming Collector's Edition Blu-ray of Don Coscarelli's Bubba Ho-Tep. Ahead of the Blu-ray's November 8th release, its full list of special features have been revealed, including new interviews with Bruce Campbell, Robert Kurtzman, and Coscarelli, as well as a new audio commentary with legendary author Joe R. Lansdale (whose 2002 novella is the source material for the Bubba Ho-Tep film).

Press Release: The Shady Rest retirement home is about to get all shook up with a new resident: a broken-down and eccentric old geezer claiming to be the King of Rock’N’Roll himself! Loyal fans of horror master Don Coscarelli (Phantasm, The Beastmaster, John Dies At The End!) know well the uproarious horror comedy from his 2002 cult classic Bubba Ho-tep. Written and directed by Don Coscarelli and based on the Bram Stoker Award-nominated short story by cult author Joe R. Lansdale,...

Well Go USA has released an all-new trailer for Phantasm: Ravager, more than two years since the arrival of the first footage. Back in March 2014, it was announced that the secretive production on Phantasm: Ravager had wrapped, with a sneak peek at Angus Scrimm's return as The Tall Man. Today, we get to see this horror icon in action in anticipation of the franchise finale, which hits theaters October 7.

Back in July, Well Go USA announced its acquisition of North American rights for Don Coscarelli's legendary Phantasm series, including an all-new 4K restoration of the original 1979 cult classic Phantasm: Remastered, never-before-seen HD restorations of 1994's Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead and 1998's Phantasm IV: Oblivion, along with the long-anticipated debut of the fifth and final film in the series, Phantasm: Ravager. This final installment will debut on digital HD and VOD formats October 4, before arriving in...

Just weeks after the new poster debuted, Well Go USA has released a new trailer for Phantasm: Remastered, a new 4K restoration of Don Coscarelli's original 1979 classic. The film will hit theaters across the country as part of Art House Theater Day on September 24, 2016, and will be released on VOD platforms October 4, before debuting in theaters in select theaters on October 7th. As you can see in the trailer below, this horror classic looks better than ever with this new restoration.

Since its release in 1979, director Don Coscarelli's epic tale of the Tall Man, his deadly silver Sentinel Spheres, and the group of small-town friends who must band together to stop his dimension-hopping schemes has captivated and terrified horror and sci-fi fans around the world. An immediate success, bringing in 40 times its production budget, the film has influenced generations of filmmakers. Thirty-seven years later, Phantasm has been...

Joseph Baxter Sep 21, 2016

The terrifying Tall Man makes his creepy return in the trailer for long-awaited horror sequel Phantasm: Ravager...

One of horror cinema’s most unsung, yet influential franchises makes a return glistening with global devastation in Phantasm: Ravager. The trailer for the upcoming release of the belated fourth sequel of the Phantasm film franchise showcases an upgraded return for writer/director Don Coscarelli’s illusion-imbued cinematic shockfests.

The trailer for Phantasm: Ravager, the franchise’s first entry since 1998’s Phantasm IV: Oblivion, sticks to the tried and true, once again focusing on the series’ repertory ponytail-rocking protagonist in Reggie Bannister’s 'Reggie'. Apparently having spent the last 18 years wandering the Earth like Caine from Kung Fu, it seems that Reggie is ready for what is being billed as the final showdown between him and The Tall Man.

Series alumni A. Michael Baldwin and Bill Thornbury, the young siblings...

Earlier this month, Well Go USA released a new poster for the highly-anticipated horror sequel, Phantasm: Ravager, which will bring the beloved franchise to a close when it hits theaters on October 7. Today we have new photos which give us a better look at The Tall Man, played by Angus Scrimm, along with Mike (A. Michael Baldwin) and Reggie (Reggie Banister). This film marks the final performance of Angus Scrimm, who passed away in January at the age of 89. He had already long completed his work on the film, which wrapped principal photography back in March 2014.

For 37 years, audiences have followed small town friends Reggie, Mike, and Jody in their quest to stop the evil, dimension-hopping schemes of The Tall Man (Angus Scrimm in his final performance) and his armada of killer Sentinel Spheres. Now, Don Coscarelli's acclaimed horror/sci-fi Phantasm franchise comes to a close in a truly epic finale,...

Well Go USA Entertainment recently announced its acquisition of North American rights for Don Coscarelli’s legendary Phantasm series, including an all-new 4K restoration of the original 1979 cult classic Phantasm: Remastered, never-before-seen HD restorations of 1994’s Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead and 1998’s Phantasm IV: Oblivion, and the long-anticipated debut of the fifth and final film in the series, 2016’s Phantasm: Ravager. On October 7th, for […]...

As fans impatiently await the arrival of the final Phantasm film, Phantasm: Ravager, Well Go USA has debuted a brand new poster. This one-sheet teases the "final game" played by the iconic Tall Man, as fans get ready for the release in limited theaters on October 7. It isn't known how many theaters it will play in, but it will also be released on Digital HD that same day, along with Phantasm: Remastered, a high-definition remastered version of the original 1979 classic, that was overseen by director Don Coscarelli and J.J. Abrams.

Phantasm: Ravager is an all-new film that brings one of cinema's longest-running franchises (36 years!) without a reboot to a close, with Mike (A. Michael Baldwin) and Reggie (Reggie Banister) teaming up to confront the dimension-hopping Tall Man (Angus Scrimm, in his final role) once and for all.&#160Angus Scrimm passed away in January at the age of 89. He had...

Well Go USA Entertainment recently announced its acquisition of North American rights for Don Coscarelli’s legendary Phantasm series, including an all-new 4K restoration of the original 1979 cult classic Phantasm: Remastered, never-before-seen HD restorations of 1994’s Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead and 1998’s Phantasm IV: Oblivion, and the long-anticipated debut of the fifth and final film in the series, 2016’s Phantasm: Ravager. On October 7th, for […]...

Well Go USA Entertainment recently announced its acquisition of North American rights for Don Coscarelli’s legendary Phantasm series, including an all-new 4K restoration of the original 1979 cult classic Phantasm: Remastered, never-before-seen HD restorations of 1994’s Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead and 1998’s Phantasm IV: Oblivion, and the long-anticipated debut of the fifth and final film in the series, 2016’s Phantasm: Ravager. On October 7th, for […]...

Well Go USA Entertainment announced its acquisition of North American rights for Don Coscarelli’s legendary Phantasm series, including an all-new 4K restoration of the original 1979 cult classic Phantasm: Remastered, never-before-seen HD restorations of 1994’s Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead and 1998’s Phantasm IV: Oblivion, and the long-anticipated debut of the fifth and final …

The post Well Go USA acquires remastered cult classic Phantasm series first appeared on Hnn | Horrornews.net - Official News Site...

Well Go USA Entertainment announced its acquisition of North American rights for Don Coscarelli's legendary Phantasm series, including an all-new 4K restoration of the original 1979 cult classic Phantasm: Remastered, never-before-seen HD restorations of 1994's Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead and 1998's Phantasm IV: Oblivion, and the long-anticipated debut of the fifth and final film in the series, 2016's Phantasm: Ravager.

On October 7th, for the first time ever, the Phantasm series will be available in remastered, high-definition versions across all cable and digital platforms. A Blu-ray and DVD Collector's Edition Set of the Phantasm series will follow later this year, along with individual Blu-rays and DVDs of Phantasm: Remastered and Phantasm: Ravager, all of which will be packed with special bonus features.

Phantasm: Remastered and Phantasm: Ravager will hit theaters as well. Phantasm: Remastered will screen across the county as part of the inaugural...

Well Go USA Entertainment has announced that it has acquired the North American rights for Don Coscarelli's "Phantasm" horror film series with ambitious re-release plans in the works.

The original 1979 cult classic Phantasm is scoring an all-new 4K restoration. It will be joined by never-before-seen HD restorations of 1994's "Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead" and 1998's "Phantasm IV: Oblivion".

They will joined by the debut of the fifth and final film in the series, 2016's "Phantasm: Ravager". All four films will be made available in remastered, high-definition versions across all cable and digital platforms on October 7th. The remaster of the first film will get a limited theatrical re-release on September 24th, while 'Ravager' will have a day-and-date limited theatrical on October 7th.

A Blu-ray and DVD Collector's Edition set will follow later this year. Sadly there's an obvious hole here, 1988's "Phantasm II," which isn't scoring a...

Keep up with the wild and wooly world of indie film acquisitions with our weekly Rundown of everything that’s been picked up around the globe. Check out last week’s Rundown here.

– Rlj Entertainment has acquired all North American rights to the thriller “I.T.,” directed by John Moore and written by Dan Kay and William Wisher, Jr.

The film stars Pierce Brosnan, Anna Friel, Stefanie Scott and James Frecheville. The film “tells the story of Mike Regan (Brosnan), a successful, self-made man who has it all: a gorgeous wife, a beautiful teenage daughter and a sleek, state-of-the-art “smart home.” But he soon finds himself in a deadly, high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse when his I.T. consultant, Ed (Frecheville), starts using his skills to stalk Mike’s daughter and endanger his family, his business, and his life. In a world where there is no privacy, and personal secrets can go viral...

*Updated with the official press release.* Those who dared to face the Tall Man have played a good game, but that game is not quite finished. Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights to the remastered first entry and the anticipated last movie in the Phantasm franchise, and they will release both films in theaters this fall.

Press Release: Dallas, TX (July 28, 2016) – Well Go USA Entertainment announced its acquisition of North American rights for Don Coscarelli’s legendary Phantasm series, including an all-new 4K restoration of the original 1979 cult classic Phantasm: Remastered, never-before-seen HD restorations of 1994’s Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead and 1998’s Phantasm IV: Oblivion, and the long-anticipated debut of the fifth and final film in the series, 2016’s Phantasm: Ravager.

On October 7th, for the first time ever, the Phantasm series will be available in remastered, high-definition versions across all cable and digital platforms.

The Tall Man, Reggie “Hot As Love” Bannister, Jody, and the boooooooy are all coming back to theaters: Both the Bad Robot-funded restoration of the 1979 cult classic Phantasm:Remastered and the new sequel Phantasm: Ravager have official release dates, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Phantasm: Ravager has been seemingly floating around in a crimson-tinted alternate dimension since the first trailer was released in December of 2014, beating Lionsgate’s Blair Witch to the punch as far as surprise sequels go. Now Well Go USA Entertainment has picked up the distribution rights to the fifth Phantasm adventure, and will unleash Angus Scrimm’s final performance as The Tall Man onto theaters and home video on October 7. Ravager is the latest entry in the franchise since 1994’s Phantasm: Oblivion, and according to creator Don Coscarelli will tie up all the loose ends (and there are plenty) in the Phantasm saga ...

Sad news for horror fans. Angus Scrimm, the veteran character actor perhaps best known as The Tall Man in the Phantasm franchise, has passed away at the age of 89. He is also known for his role in the 2008 horror movie I Sell the Dead. He had a recurring role in the TV series Alias. And Angus Scrimm was also the voice behind the spooky audio play series Tales from Beyond the Pale.

Phantasm director Don Coscarelli, who is a friend and long time collaborator of Angus Scrimm, notified EW of the actor's passing on Saturday night. Don Coscarelli and Angus Scrimm first brought life to the horror icon The Tall Man in 1979, the figure central to the plot in Phantasm. The Tall Man is a menacing mortician with a grotesque stare and superhuman strength. He can transform the dead into zombie dwarfs that do his evil bidding. And his weapon...

Now that we’re officially two weeks away from Christmas, there’s not much time left to get your holiday shopping done. Hopefully, today’s Gift Guide from Daily Dead will help you with your list, as we’ve got a ton of great ideas from Boom Studios, Synapse Films, Think Geek and more.

Also, be sure to check out today’s Holiday Horrors trivia question below for your shot at winning some awesome merchandise from our fine sponsors at HorrorDecor.net, Scream Factory and Anchor Bay Entertainment.

Vendor Spotlight: Boom Studios

Boom! Studios was founded in June of 2005 by Ross Richie and Andrew Cosby. They were named “Best New Publisher of the Year” by Wizard Magazine just four months after their début. The company initially specialized in horror and sci-fi genres and have since branched out to include superhero comics such as Mark Waid’s Irredeemable and the upcoming Soldier Zero,...

Reviewed by Chris Wright, MoreHorror.com

Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998)

Directed By: Don Coscarelli

Written By: Don Coscarelli

Starring: A. Michael Baldwin (Mike), Reggie Bannister (Reggie), Bill Thornbury (Jody), Angus Scrimm (The Tall Man / Jebediah Morningside), Heidi Marnhout (Jennifer), Bob Ivy (Demon Trooper)

“Now this won’t hurt a bit . . .well maybe a little bit.” What I assumed for many years as the final Phantasm film actually isn’t! This was the final installment for over a decade until a recent one was made and will be coming out at a future point. Without that notion in mind, this was a fairly good series finale for the movies while leaving plenty open for a sequel.

The fourth sequel takes place exactly where the third movie ended. Mike, after being partially turned by the Tall Man, is fleeing from the Tall Man entirely and trying to find out the origins of this mysterious man.

As a composer, I'm quick to acknowledge the role of music in setting the tone for a horror film, and while theme songs with lyrics and vocals can be just as effective as an instrumental score, there are definitely risks involved: along with clothing and hairstyles, songs tend to anchor a film to the year it was made, and as tastes change, a pop tune can be exposed as a quaint and silly relic of its decade. Then again, some of those tracks were pretty goofy to begin with, and nothing could have saved them. With that said, I love every one of these oddball themes to death (even the truly painful ones), so I'd like to share with you the best of the weirdest, straight from one of my more... uh, let's say “eccentric” party playlists. Let's rock! Fat Boys: “Are You Ready for Freddy?” (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master,...