DVD Review: PHANTASM: 5 MOVIE DVD COLLECTION

Starring Reggie Bannister, Angus Scrimm, A. Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, James LeGros. Directed by Don Coscarelli (Phantasm: Ravager directed by David Hartman). (1979-2016, 454 min).

WELL GO USA

ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY HERE TO WIN A COPY OF THIS COLLECTION!

For those lamenting Well Go USA's initial decision to release their impressive Phantasm Collection only on Blu-Ray, a more budget-friendly edition is now available on DVD. With different but no-less-attractive packaging, the 5 Movie DVD Collection offers the same films, including the 4K-remastered edition of the original. It doesn't include the Blu-Ray set's geektastic sixth disc (and its treasure trove of supplemental material), but each film is still accompanied by the same extras (outlined below).

The original Phantasm - the one nearest and dearest to most fans' hearts - has never looked or sounded this good on home video, which helps compensate for the surprisingly underwhelming batch of bonus features. What's here is interesting, but there are previously released DVD editions with more comprehensive extras.

The Tall Man knows who stole the cookies from the cookie jar.

I'm probably in the extreme minority on this, but I still consider Phantasm II to be the best film in the entire series. It may lack the original's creative, dreamlike surrealism, but thanks to an obviously bigger budget, the film is a significant improvement in every other aspect...better direction, production values and special effects, to say nothing of the overall performances. The smartest thing writer/director Don Coscarelli did for the franchise was turn Reggie (Reggie Bannister, who has the most actual talent) into a lead character. This disc is the exact same as Scream Factory's 2013 release, along with the generous amount of bonus features that came along with it.

Reggie Bannister Jackson

The less said about Phantasm III & Phantasm IV, the better. Working with reduced budgets, these two direct-to-video films feel like they went into production before Coscarelli was even sure what to do next. Purists may have been happy over the return of Michael Baldwin & Bill Thornbury (both conspicuously absent from II), but really, neither of them are what anyone would consider great thespians (say what you want about James LeGros' casting as Michael in II, at least the guy could act). But even the return of two fan favorites can't compensate for the dumpster fire that is Phantasm IV, a convoluted hodge-podge of tenuously related scenes padded out by unused footage from the original.These two discs are also the lightest on extras, but I doubt many will care.

"Hey! Watch where your puttin' that nightstick!"

However, Phantasm: Ravager, while still hampered by its budget, is a ton of goofy fun and arguably closest in overall tone to the original, and if you aren't already a fan of the series, utterly incomprehensible. The story, such as it is, serves only to throw all the beloved Phantasm elements together one last time, but it's obvious a lot of love went into this picture. In fact, despite all the violence, death and apocalyptic implications, Phantasm: Ravager ultimately becomes a charming feel-good film for those who grew up on the series. Despite concluding just as ambiguously open-ended as the others, Ravager leaves little question that this film will be the last, and now it's time to bid a fond farewell.

For hardcore fans of the franchise, The Phantasm Collection Blu-Ray set is still the way to go. But this lower-priced DVD set is certainly worth picking up for curious newcomers or those content just to have all the movies in their collection.

EXTRA KIBBLES

PHANTASM:

AUDIO COMMENTARY (with writer/director Don Coscarelli, Michael Baldwin, Angus Scrimm & Bill Thornbury).

"GRAVEYARD CARZ” EPISODE

1979 INTERVIEW (featuring Coscarelli & Scrimm...looks like a local cable access program).

DELETED SCENES

TRAILERS (Original and Remastered)

DVD COPY

PHANTASM II:

AUDIO COMMENTARY (with writer/director Don Coscarelli, Angus Scrimm & Reggie Bannister)

"THE BALL IS BACK: The Making of Phantasm II" (Another exemplary Scream Factory documentary produced exclusively for their Blu-Ray release)

"THE GORY DAYS" (A decent featurette focusing on make-up artist Greg Nicotero)

AN OBSCURE SHORT FEATURING RORY GUY (aka "Angus Scrimm")

DELETED/WORKPRINT SCENES

TV SPOTS & TRAILERS

STILL GALLERIES

PHANTASM III: LORD OF THE DEAD:

AUDIO COMMENTARY (with writer/director Don Coscarelli and editor Norman Buckley)

FEATURETTE: "Balls of Steel: Bob Ivey's Stunt for the Ages"

TRAILER

PHANTASM IV: OBLIVION:

(with writer/director Don Coscarelli, Angus Scrimm & Reggie Bannister)

BEHIND THE SCENES FEATURETTE

TRAILER

PHANTASM: RAVAGER:

AUDIO COMMENTARY (with director/co-writer David Hartman & producer/co-writer Don Coscarelli).

BEHIND THE SCENES FEATURETTE

BLOOPER REEL

DELETED SCENES

TRAILER

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS