Phantasm [Blu-ray]

Overview

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.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/06/2016
UPC:	0812491017616
Original Release:	1979
Rating:	R
Source:	Well Go Usa
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:30:00
Sales rank:	6,860

Special Features

Audio Commentary with Director & Writer Don Coscarelli, Michael Baldwin, Angus Scrimm, & Bill Thornbury; New Graveyard Carz Episode Interviews from 1979 with Don Coscarelli & Angus Scrimm; Deleted Scenes; Trailers

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

A. Michael Baldwin	Mike,Actor
Reggie Bannister	Reggie
Bill Thornbury	Jody
Angus Scrimm	Tall Man
Bill Cone	Tommy
Lynn Eastman	Sally
David Arntzen	Toby
Kathy Lester	Lady in Lavender
Terri Kalbus	Granddaughter
Ken Jones	Caretaker
Susan Harper	Girl Friend
Ralph Richmond	Bartender
Laura Mann	Double Lavender
Mary Ellen Shaw	Fortune Teller
Myrtle Scotton	Maid
Malcolm Seagrave	Composer
Fred Myrow	Composer

Technical Credits

Don Coscarelli

Don Coscarelli	Director,Producer,Screenwriter
Willard Green	Special Effects
Paul Pepperman	Special Effects
S. Tyler	Producer

Editorial Reviews

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.