The Tall Man Returns in Trailers for Remastered Original 'Phantasm' and New 'Phantasm: Ravager'
Phantasm may have never achieved quite the sort of mainstream exposure and recognition of some of its late-‘70s/early-‘80s horror brethren, but Don Coscarelli’s 1979 film — which spawned three lesser sequels, produced in 1988, 1994, and 1998, respectively — has become an indisputable cult favorite, thanks in no small part to its signature villain: the lanky, gaunt Tall Man played by Angus Scrimm. The actor passed away in January, after completing work on Phantasm: Ravager, the long-in-development fifth installment in the franchise. And when Ravager arrives in theaters next month, it’ll be accompanied by a spiffy looking HD restoration of Phantasm, the surreal gem that started it all (watch the new trailer for the restored version above).
Related: Angus Scrimm, ‘Phantasm’ Tall Man, Dies at 89
Ravager, which is positioned as the final chapter in the decades-spanning series, will be the first Phantasm film that creator Coscarelli hasn’t directed (he did, however, co-write the screenplay). And it’ll mark the final cinematic appearance of Scrimm as the Tall Man, a malevolent mortician who transforms corpses into evil dwarf minions, and who uses deadly flying silver spheres to hunt down his enemies — most notably, Mike (A. Michael Baldwin), his brother Jody (Bill Thornbury), and ice cream man Reggie (Reggie Bannister) — while trying to take over the world.
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It’s an insane premise that Coscarelli exploited to its maximum out-there potential, and from the looks of Phantasm: Ravager, the franchise’s concluding outing will live up to its predecessors’ bizarre spirit. You can check out the trailer for Phantasm: Ravager below. Both the restored original Phantasm and the new Phantasm: Ravager arrive on digital HD and VOD on Oct. 4, and premiere in theaters on Oct. 7.
‘Phantasm: Ravager’: Watch the trailer:
