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Bill Cone only had one acting credit to his name, and that single screen appearance didn’t last very long, but it’s worth taking note of because it happens at the beginning of one of the best horror movies ever made, writer/director Don Coscarelli’s 1979 classic Phantasm (watch it Here). Cone plays a character named Tommy in that film, and it’s his death that gets the story rolling. Sadly, today we have to report that Bill Cone has passed away.

The news of Cone’s death was first shared on the official Phantasm Facebook page, where it was also revealed that he had contributed to the soundtracks of both Phantasm and Coscarelli’s earlier film Kenny & Company. Here’s the text from their post: “We are saddened to learn of the passing of one of the core Phantasm cast members, Bill Cone (aka Tommy from the...

As Benjamin Franklin famously wrote, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

The horror genre offers a controlled environment in which viewers can reflect on their own morality, whether it be via catharsis or escapism, but a personal loss can complicate one’s relationship with horror. Even the most hardened of fans may struggle to find comfort in the genre after experiencing the death of a loved one.

45 years ago today, Phantasm helped viewers confront death head-on while subtly exploring the grief that accompanies it. In the film, 13-year-old Mike (A. Michael Baldwin) convinces his older brother-turned-guardian Jody (Bill Thornbury) and their affable neighborhood ice cream man, Reggie (Reggie Bannister), to investigate a mysterious mortician dubbed The Tall Man (Angus Scrimm).

Phantasm was the third feature from writer-director Don Coscarelli. The seed was planted upon witnessing the audience react to a small jump...

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...

The Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead episode of The Black Sheep was Written and Narrated by Andrew Hatfield, Edited by Brandon Nally, Produced by Lance Vlcek and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

It’s a rare thing to see a horror series with near complete creative control from one person. Currently, Damien Leone seems to be in the drivers seat for the Terrifier series that we are certain to get more entries in and I’ve talked about the Chucky/Child’s Play series that Don Mancini is the driving force for. There’s also another Don that’s in charge of another important horror series. Don Coscarelli gave us one of the most original and successful independent films of all time with 1979’s Phantasm. He wrote, directed, shot, and edited that first movie with his dad helping produce it and his mom doing costumes, production design,...

The Manson Brothers Show, which is hosted by the writers/stars of the horror comedy The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre – Chris Margetis (Stone Manson) and Mike Carey (Skull Manson) – got its start a couple weeks ago with an episode in which the boys looked back at the 1976 classic The Omen… and also discussed tortilla soup, Iron Maiden, and the wrestling word of the week. Last week, they revisited John Carpenter’s The Fog. And in the new episode that has just arrived online, they’re discussing writer/director Don Coscarelli’s 1979 mind-bender Phantasm (get it Here). To find out what they think of the movie – as well as other assorted topics – check out the video embedded above!

Here’s some information on The Manson Brothers Show: At long last, The Manson Brothers (Stone and Skull Manson) bring their lunacy to The Arrow in the Head Show YouTube Channel! The...

It’s time for a new episode of our Deconstructing… video series, and with this one we’re looking back at one of the all-time greats of the horror genre: writer/director Don Coscarelli’s 1979 classic Phantasm (watch it Here). To watch Phantasm get the Deconstructing… treatment, check out the video embedded above!

Phantasm has the following synopsis:

The residents of a small town have begun dying under strange circumstances, leading young Mike to investigate. After discovering that the Tall Man, the town’s mortician, is killing and reanimating the dead as misshapen zombies, Mike seeks help from his older brother, Jody, and local ice cream man Reggie. Working together, they try to lure out and kill the Tall Man, all the while avoiding his minions and a deadly silver sphere.

The film stars Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Reggie Bannister, Kathy Lester, Bill Cone, Mary Ellen Shaw, Terrie Kalbus, and Lynn Eastman,...

November 6th’s home media releases are all about the Steelbooks apparently, as horror fans have four different titles that are coming home this week that would be great additions to anyone’s collections. Scream Factory’s Steelbook for John Carpenter’s The Thing is a work of art, and Well Go USA has put together two beautiful Steelbook releases for both Phantasm: Remastered and Train to Busan, and we even get a Grindhouse Steelbook to boot. Scream Factory is also pulling double duty with the Collector’s Edition of Sleepwalkers, and as far as recent horror offerings go, Mara, The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time, and All Light Will End are getting released this Tuesday, too.

Other notable releases for November 6th include Revenge of the Dead aka Zeder: Voices from the Beyond, Restraint, and Apartment 407.

Phantasm: Remastered: Steelbook Edition

In Phantasm: Remastered, Well Go USA presents...

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...

"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!

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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,...

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,...

Horror Channel FrightFest celebrates 12th year at Glasgow Film Festival with record-breaking fourteen titles – including Ten premieres and a screening of the 4K restoration of Phantasm!

FrightFest Passes are £70 and available from noon on Mon January 16th 2016. Passes cover all films on Fri 24 and Sat 25 Feb Only. Tickets for A Cure for Wellness and Phantasm: Remastered. Individual tickets for the Fri/Sat films are on sale Mon January 23rd from 10am.

To book tickets: +44 (0)141 332 6535 / boxoffice@glasgowfilm.org / www.glasgowfilm.org/festival

From the press release:

Monstrous stories, unspeakable urban legends, brutal acts and fearsome folktales dominate as the UK’s favourite horror fantasy event returns to the Glasgow Film Festival with a record fourteen films, including ten UK premieres, screening from Thurs 23 Feb to Sat 25 Feb 2017 at the iconic Glasgow Film Theatre.

Kicking off with a special screening of A Cure For Wellness, an intense psychological ride from Gore Verbinski,...

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...

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...

Late Nite Grindhouse is proud to be bringing Phantasm in it’s newly remastered form, which they are dubbing as Phantasm: Remastered, to the Moolah Theatre & Lounge in St. Louis, Missouri. If you haven’t heard about this, J.J. Abrams and his company Bad Robot stepped in and performed a remaster/restoration on the film, which was in dire need considering Coscarelli’s own print wasn’t in the best of shape.

The residents of a small town have begun dying under strange circumstances, leading young Mike (Michael Baldwin) to investigate. After discovering that the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), the town’s mortician, is killing and reanimating the dead as misshapen zombies, Mike seeks help from his older brother, Jody (Bill Thornbury), and local ice cream man Reggie (Reggie Bannister). Working together, they try to lure out and kill the Tall Man, all the while avoiding his minions and a deadly silver sphere.

From the tender ages of 23 - 25, Don Coscarelli worked on a movie involving a tall, macabre undertaker who caused a lot of undead, little-person shenanigans in the fictional Morningside Cemetery and the small town around it. Coscarelli didn't know it then, but what he created was The formative surrealist nightmare work that would go on to influence a generation of filmmakers and fascinate fans of strange cinema for decades to come. We now know that film as Phantasm. In the movie, Michael (A. Michael Baldwin) follows his brother Jody (Bill Thornbury) around like a stray puppy. Seeing as he's an orphan, I'm not surprised, and it's as endearing as it is annoying. Michael catches the local undertaker loading up the coffin into a hearse all by himself, which is weird...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

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.

"If this one doesn't scare you, you're already dead." Horror fans already know this one well. Back in 1979, director Don Coscarelli introduced The Tall Man and his deadly silver Sentinel Spheres to the world in a sci-fi horror film called Phantasm. The film built up a cult following over the years and, believe it or not, they're just about to release the fourth sequel titled Phantasm: Ravager (see the trailer for that here). In addition to the release of that new film, Coscarelli's original film that started it all is getting a re-release as Phantasm: Remastered. This brand new 4K rereleae also features remastered 5.1 surround sound, all overseen by J.J. Abrams and the folks at Bad Robot. The film stars A. Michael Baldwin, Angus Scrimm, Reggie Bannister and Bill Thornbury. If you've never seen this film, it's worth checking out. Seriously. Here's the new high def trailer for Don Coscarelli's Phantasm: Remastered,...

Former ice cream man Reggie has played a good game against The Tall Man, but that game is not quite over. There is one more round to be fought in the fifth film in Don Coscarelli's frightening franchise, and that final showdown is teased in the official trailer for Phantasm: Ravager that was recently unveiled by EW.

Phantasm: Ravager will be released On Demand and on Digital HD this October 4th, followed by a theatrical release on October 7th from Well Go USA Entertainment. A special behind-the-scenes sneak peek of the film will be revealed at Art House Theater Day screenings of Phantasm: Remastered on September 24th.

The fifth and final film in Coscarelli's frightening franchise was directed by David Hartman, who co-wrote the script with Coscarelli.

Ravager stars ice-cream-man-turned-hunter-of-evil Reggie (Reggie Bannister) and also features the return of cast members Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Kat Lester, and the late,...

Phantasm: Ravager is the fifth and supposedly final film in the classic Phantasm horror franchise. Today we have a fun trailer for the movie, which comes from director David Hartman and writer Don Coscarelli, who wrote and directed the original Phantasm movie back in 1979. When talking about the film in an interview with EW, Coscarelli said:

“It’s a swan song to the series. There’s some new iterations of those brain-shucking spheres and a lot of good stuff that the fans will enjoy. It ties up a lot of the storylines and answers some questions that fans have had.”

The movie reunites Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Reggie Bannister, and the Tall Man himself Angus Scrimm, who passed away earlier this year. They all starred in the original movie in which the characters Mike, Jody, and Reggie attempt to stop the Tall Man from transforming corpses into dwarf zombies, a...

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...

"The final game now begins" in the official poster for Phantasm: Ravager, the last entry in the nightmare-inducing film series.

Initially unveiled on JoBlo, the Phantasm: Ravager poster features a flock of bladed spheres, the reflection of the Tall Man, and a locked-and-loaded Reggie.

Phantasm: Ravager hits theaters and Digital HD on Friday, October 7th. A special behind-the-scenes sneak peek will be revealed at Art House Theater Day screenings of Phantasm: Remastered on September 24th.

The fifth and final film in Coscarelli's frightening franchise was directed by David Hartman, who co-wrote the script with Coscarelli.

Ravager stars ice-cream-man-turned-hunter-of-evil Reggie (Reggie Bannister) and will also see the return of cast members Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Kat Lester, and the late, great Angus Scrimm, who passed away early this year at the age of 89. Scrimm reprises his iconic role as the Tall Man in Ravager, bringing his powerful presence to the screen one last time.

*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.

Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm was released almost 37 years ago and, for almost as long, genre fans have suffered with the subpar treatment of this cult classic in terms of the film’s appearance and inadequate sound mix. Thankfully, that is no longer the case due to J. J. Abrams and the awesome folks at Bad Robot taking on the 4K restoration of Phantasm as a passion project, and the results are beyond stunning. The film has never looked or sounded better than it does in this iteration and, for those of us who have fondly followed the series, it’s a beautiful tribute to both the fans and the work of those involved with Phantasm, including the late, great Angus Scrimm.

Considering the climate of the genre when it was released in the late ’70s, Phantasm has always stood out to me as one of the more uniquely terrifying horror...

It’s hard to believe that another South by Southwest Film Festival is almost upon us, and this year’s lineup is yet another stellar collection of indie films, shorts, documentaries and experiential projects from all over the world. As we prepare to bring our readers extensive coverage over the next week from Austin, here’s a look at the 11 genre-related films and TV shows we’re excited to check out during the festival, which begins on Friday, March 11th.

[Writer’s Note: During Sundance 2016, this writer had the privilege of covering two great genre films: Under the Shadow from Babak Anvari and Mickey Keating’s Carnage Park. Since I had the chance to catch both of these films back in January, I decided it wouldn’t be fair to include them here in my preview piece (however, genre fans attending SXSW should definitely check out both films during the fest, as they are equally incredible).]

In a Valley of Violence (Director/Screenwriter: Ti West)

Festival Synopsis: From Blumhouse, the film tells the story of a drifter named Paul who arrives in a small town, seeking revenge on the thugs who murdered his friend. Sisters Mary Anne and Ellen, who run the town’s hotel, help Paul in his quest for vengeance. Cast: Ethan Hawke, Taissa Farmiga, James Ransone, Karen Gillan, John Travolta (World Premiere)

Midnight Special...

Simply put, the SXSW Film, Music and Interactive Festival is one of the biggest, most prestigious events in the media calendar. Taking place annually in Austin, Texas, it is beloved by film fans and filmmakers from all over the world, and has reached such heights by building a reputation for showcasing excellent content. This results in a high level of competition, with the Narrative Feature category alone having received 1442 submissions this year, and the documentary feature category having received 1,013.

The 2016 event looks to be particularly exciting, with many world premieres and feature debuts already announced. The Narrative Feature category will include Julia Hart’s Miss Stevens, Debra Eisenstadt’s Before The Sun Explodes, Joey Klein’s The Other Half, and Musa Syeed’s A Stray, among others, while the Headliner category will feature Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some.

The Narrative Spotlight category includes 9 Rides by Matthew A. Cherry; The Waiting...

The Tall Man's sphere is aiming its blades at Austin, as Bad Robot's 4K restoration of Don Coscarelli's Phantasm will screen at South by Southwest 2016 as part of the film festival's recently revealed Midnighters lineup:

From SXSW: "Scary, funny, sexy, controversial – provocative after-dark features for night owls and the terminally curious.

Carnage Park

Director/Screenwriter: Mickey Keating

The year is 1978. A team of wannabe crooks botch a small-town bank heist and flee with their hostage deep into the California desert, where they find themselves in a harrowing fight for survival against a psychotic ex-military sniper. Cast: Ashley Bell, Pat Healy, Alan Ruck, Darby Stanchfield, Larry Fessenden, Graham Skipper, James Landry Hebert, Michael Villar

Hush

Director: Mike Flanagan, Screenwriters: Mike Flanagan, Kate Siegel

A deaf woman is stalked by a psychotic killer in her secluded home. Cast: Kate Siegel, John Gallagher Jr., Michael Trucco, Samantha Sloyan (World Premiere)

I Am a Hero...

Phantasm: a figment of the imagination; an illusion or apparition.

Where is the line drawn between reality and fantasy? How do we know that what we call life is nothing but a dream (row your boat, fella), and the real world is filled with terrors beyond our imagination? Or maybe there’s a place where the two collide – a world of monsters small and tall, seductive and sinister, tearing at the very fabric of our existence. A place where peace is at a premium and death lurks around every corner. Welcome to Phantasm (1979).

Released by Avco Embassy in June of ’79, Phantasm was very successful, especially considering its small budget. As usual with horror, most critics derided the film as an incoherent mess. Oh but the audience knew, conspirators in the shadows, witnessing the birth of a horror icon, a cinematic universe spanning decades, and one of the finest directors the genre has ever produced.

Just as unsettling as the Tall Man's sinister stroll down the sidewalk in Don Coscarelli's Phantasm is the music that accompanies his steady strides. Over 35 years after Phantasm first hit theaters, the folks at Mondo have announced they will release Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave's iconic horror score on a new vinyl that will be available to purchase at a 35mm screening of Phantasm this weekend with the cast and crew in attendance, as well as at Texas Frightmare Weekend in Dallas. A new 24"x36" Phantasm poster from Mike Saputo will also be released this weekend.

Press Release (via Badass Digest) -- "Both the vinyl and poster will be available at Alamo Drafthouse in Richardson, TX as part of a 35Mm screening with filmmaker and cast in attendance as well as the Texas Frightmare Weekend in Dallas. If this news doesn’t excite you… You’re Already Dead!

The...

The beginning of May every year means one thing to me and thousands of other horror fanatics around the world. For the past ten years, it’s meant we’ve arrived at another annual Texas Frightmare Weekend. It’s the only event in the Lone Star State that brings together genre actors and artists that we not only grew up watching but are still enjoying on the silver screen and television. 2015’s convention lineup is no different as we welcome actors from Scream, The Craft, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2, and Phantasm to name a few. The terrifying fun kicks off this coming Friday, May 1st at the Hyatt Regency located on the grounds of the Dfw Airport.

I’ve attended Texas Frightmare Weekend for the past few years and only regrettably missed it once. It’s one of the best conventions in the South. All the celebrity guests are...

The terror of the Tall Man has stuck with viewers since his footsteps first echoed onscreen in 1979’s Phantasm, and last March it was revealed that Angus Scrimm’s legendary horror movie villain will stalk the screen one last time in Phantasm: Ravager. Fans were given their first look at the film back in March, and now new footage has been released in a holiday video message from Coscarelli and David Hartman.

Produced by Phantasm creator Don Coscarelli, who co-wrote the script with director David Hartman (marking the first time a Phantasm film has been directed by someone other than Coscarelli), Phantasm: Ravager is due out sometime in 2015. The film stars Reggie Bannister as ice cream man turned warrior Reggie and also includes original cast members Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Kat Lester and, of course, Angus Scrimm as the Tall Man.

In addition to the holiday video teaser below, we...

Top 100 horror movies of all time: Chicago Film Critics' choices (photo: Sigourney Weaver and Alien creature show us that life is less horrific if you don't hold grudges) See previous post: A look at the Chicago Film Critics Association's Scariest Movies Ever Made. Below is the list of the Chicago Film Critics's Top 100 Horror Movies of All Time, including their directors and key cast members. Note: this list was first published in October 2006. (See also: Fay Wray, Lee Patrick, and Mary Philbin among the "Top Ten Scream Queens.") 1. Psycho (1960) Alfred Hitchcock; with Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam. 2. The Exorcist (1973) William Friedkin; with Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Jason Miller, Max von Sydow (and the voice of Mercedes McCambridge). 3. Halloween (1978) John Carpenter; with Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Tony Moran. 4. Alien (1979) Ridley Scott; with Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt. 5. Night of the Living Dead (1968) George A. Romero; with Marilyn Eastman,...

With the 2014 Flashback Weekend Chicago Horror Convention kicking off later this week, we thought this would be a perfect time to give all you Midwest genre fans a look at all the happenings going down at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare (Rosemont, Il) from Friday, August 8th through Sunday, August 10th.

And if you’ll be attending Flashback Weekend, be sure and say hi as Daily Dead’s Heather Wixson will be on hand co-hosting alongside Steve “Capone” Prokopy from Ain’t It Cool News and Wgn Radio’s Nick Digilio, and will also be bringing some horror goodies to share throughout the weekend!

Friday, August 8, 2014

12:00Pm – 8:00Pm Registration Booth Open

3:00Pm – 8:45Pm Dealers room open (Ballrooms 3-5)

4:00Pm – 8:45Pm Celebrity signings (Ballrooms 3-5)

5:00Pm Robert Englund Freddy Krueger Makeup Photo-Ops (Balmoral Room)* Line-up according to your assigned number outside of Balmoral...

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.

The horror community as a whole was shocked to learn a few months back that a fifth installment in the Phantasm franchise was shot behind all of our backs over the course of the past couple years, unexpected news that was followed up with the reveal of a pretty damn awesome teaser trailer.

Naturally, we've been waiting for word on a release date, which has potentially arrived. Read on!

Bloody Disgusting reports that a reader tipped them off to the news that the David Hartman-directed Phantasm: Ravager is set for release on Tuesday, October 7th, and that the official announcement of the date is impending. For now, we can only hope that the tipster is correct, as that brings the Tall Man and his angry balls back into our lives in less than five months. Yes please!

In the meantime, check out the teaser trailer below, in case ya missed it!

Reviewed by Chris Wright, MoreHorror.com

Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994)

Directed By: Don Coscarelli

Written By: Don Coscarelli

Starring: Reggie Bannister (Reggie), A. Michael Baldwin (Mike), Bill Thornbury (Jody), Angus Scrimm (The Tall Man), Gloria Lynne Henry (Rocky), Kevin Connors (Tim), Cindy Ambuehl (Edna), John Davis Chandler (Henry), Brooks Gardner (Rufus), Irene Roseen (Demon Nurse), Sarah Davis (Tanesha),

“It’s time now boy.” “Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead” takes a different approach entirely than the first two films. The first film relies more on low budget eeriness. The second film keeps some of the atmosphere but has more action and special effects. The third installment injects more comedy than the first two combined. This sequel is also the first that never went to theaters and was straight to video. Even though this film has more weaknesses than its two predecessors, it is still a very enjoyable movie!

Reviewed By: Chris Wright, Morehorror.com

Directed By: Don Coscarelli

Written By: Don Coscarelli

Starring: A. Michael Baldwin (Mike), Bill Thornbury (Jody), Reggie Bannister (Reggie), Angus Scrimm (The Tall Man), Kathy Lester (Lady in Lavender), Terrie Kalbus (Fortuneteller’s Granddaughter), Kenneth V. Jones (Caretaker), Susan Harper (Girlfriend), Lynn Eastman-Rossi (Sally), David Arntzen (Toby), Ralph Richmond (Bartender), Bill Cone (Tommy), Laura Mann (Double Lavender), Mary Ellen Shaw (Fortuneteller), Myrtle Scotton (Maid)

Boy!!! A quick way to send children behind the sofa is put this often overlooked Phantasm from Don Coscarelli on your television set. I’d be scared to go to a funeral home if I was up at a young age watching this at night! This movie is must see for fans who like low budget movies. “Halloween” may have gotten the most glory but I think “Phantasm” is a worthy top 5 of the 1970s in terms of low budget.

Phantasm Ravager Trailer. Don Coscarelli‘s Phantasm V: Ravager (2014) teaser trailer stars Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Kat Lester, Reggie Bannister, and Angus Scrimm. Phantasm 5‘s plot synopsis: “The film follows Reggie, whose decades-long search for the sinister Tall Man leads him to the Tall Man’s home world.” On the people behind [...]

Continue reading: Phantasm V: Ravager (2014) Teaser Trailer: Reggie Finds the Tall Man...

Trailer Ryan Lambie 28 Mar 2014 - 10:55

Director Don Coscarelli returns to his bizarre horror franchise with Phantasm V: Ravager. Here's the first trailer...

There's something comforting about the thought that, after 35 years, Don Coscarelli's still making Phantasm movies. The 1979 original established the director's warped yet thrilling universe, which featured an evil undertaker called the Tall Man, flying killer spheres and gateways to other dimensions.

Phantasm V: Ravager is the first film in the series since 1998's Phantasm IV: Oblivion, but once again stars series regulars Angus Scrimm (as the glowering Tall Man), Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury and Reggie Bannister.

Like the previous film, the budget's visibly low, but the same sense of the blackly comic and violently surreal is still in place. There's no word as to when Phantasm V is out in the UK, but when we hear more, we'll be sure to pass it along. In the...

The last "Phantasm" film was released direct to video backin 1998, which is why it's surprising that a new installment, called "Phantasm V: Ravager," has finished shooting and unveiled the first trailer and poster. Check everything out below. The new movie was in the works for several years and brought back franchise regulars Angus Scrimm, Reggie Bannister, Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury and Kat Lester. But for the first time, Don Coscarelli did not direct. The job, instead went to David Hartman (Transformers Prime, Rob Zombie's "American Witch" and "Lords of Salem" videos). "I felt it was time to let someone else play with my train set," explained Coscarelli. "David and I go back to my film 'Bubba Ho-Tep.' He did terrific visual effects on that, and more recently created a wild animated sequence and some amazing visual effects in my most recent film, 'John Dies at the End.'...

Would you look at this! Filmmaker Don Coscarelli has made a fifth Phantasm movie called Phantasm V: Ravager, and he even released a teaser trailer. He's managed to keep the production of the film under warps for two years. It's really cool to see the Tall Man back.

The franchise started in 1979 under the direction of Coscarelli, he is a producer on this fifth film, but it was directed David Hartman, whobest known for animated series such as Transformers Prime and Roughnecks: Starship Troopers.

Original cast members Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Kat Lester,and Angus Scrimm are back as is Reggie Bannister as Reggie, whose decades-long search for the sinister Tall Man leads him to the Tall Man’s home world.

In an interview with EW, Coscarelli had this to say,

“I felt it was time to let someone else play with my train set. David and I go back to my film Bubba Ho-Tep.

Surprise, fanboys! One day after the first poster for “Phantasm V: Ravager” appeared online, the teaser trailer for the next installment of the long-running horror franchise popped up on the web. Since we don’t want to be one of the few outlets who aren’t covering this thing, you can check out the aforementioned clip below. Of course, I can’t wait to get my hands on “Ravager.” This genre-obsessed geek has had silver balls on the brain since “Phantasm II.” The most recent chapter of Don Coscarelli’s series arrived way back in 1998. Although I’ve changed a lot since those days, I still have plenty of time in my schedule for “Phantasm.” Reggie Bannister, Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Kat Lester, and the seemingly immortal Angus Scrimm are all back for “Ravager.” Although it’s anyone’s guess what in the world is happening in the teaser trailer,...

A couple of year ago, news surfaced that one of the largegst cult film series of all time would get a sequel. We haven't heard much about that long awaited new entry into the Phantasm series but it looks like a sequel isn't only on the way – it's almost here.

Earlier today a poster and trailer arrived for Phantasm V: Ravager and it looks as weirdly awesome as you might expect. Series regulars Angus Scrimm, Reggie Bannister, Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury and Kat Lester are all returning but Don Coscarelli is not. Instead, director David Hartman is taking over the reigns but with all of the blessings and support of Coscarelli who met Hartman on Bubba Ho-Tep. Har [Continued ...]...