Well Go USA Entertainment has done horror fans proud justice in bringing The Phantasm Collection to BluRay this week. The collection features all five of Don Coscarelli's films in the series, including the recent Remastered version of the original film. This is the definitive release of this cult film series.
If you are new to the Phantasm series, the most basic plot synopsis is that the film follows Mike (Michael Baldwin) as he faces off against a mysterious grave robber known as the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) and his deadly arsenal of weapons, including those iconic flying deadly balls. Now over the course of the five films, we see Mike grow up and we get treated to a healthy dose of hallucinatory, nightmarish imagery courtesy or Coscarelli's unique mind.
The Phantasm franchise is one of the most unique series in all of horror. Unlike Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm Street franchises, Phantasm has the sense of coming all from one mind. This makes for a unique and compelling watching experience from film to film. While nothing quite matches the eerie power of the first film, the sequels all have moments of pure inspiration.
The BluRay transfer here on all the films helps to really highlight Coscarelli's talents at creating memorable and strange images. It is rare that a director stays at the helm of a five series film, unless you are Michael Bay, and so having the entire collection of films really highlights the creativity Coscarelli has in his Phantasm series.
The collection is an embarrassment of riches and special features. Not only is the first film remastered, it also features brand new commentary from Coscarelli and visual consultant Roberto Quezada. It is a great commentary track that offers fans insight on how they achieved the films dream-like qualities.
Each sequel is loaded with special features. You get a director's commentary track for each film, all of which are worth your time. There is also a slew of featurettes, interviews and a feature length documentary on a bonus disc that comes with the collection. One of the best new featurettes is Phantasm and You, a hilarious recap of the first 4 films.
A 120-page book is also included. This features a bunch of rare, behind-the-scenes photos of the franchise. There is also a poster included for good measure.
The Phantasm Collection is one of the first must have BluRays of 2017. This is the most complete, loving collection these films are likely to ever get. Don't miss out as you will have hours of content to sift through.
5/5
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