Phantasm Flicks Getting Spiffy New German Blu-Ray Steelbooks

German phans, you're in luck! Black Hill Pictures has announced Blu-Ray Steelbooks of Phantasm, Phantasm II and Phantasm III. They already have the fifth film in circulation, so one can only assume that Phantasm Oblivion will eventually be joining the round up. The first film is slated for release on September 28, the second film on October 26 and the third film on November 23.  

The first film's Steelbook release will include three different covers, the most interesting of which boasts new artwork by artist Graham Humphreys, who is also illustrating the second and third film's Steelbooks. The third film's artwork has not yet been revealed. Yay for Reggie Bannister who has finally landed on a Phantasm II cover!

Click any cover below to see it larger!

New Line considered pitting the Tall Man against Freddy & Jason?!

Here is something you don't see every day. Bloody-Disgusting managed to get their hands on some internal documents from New Line Cinema back when they were considering moving forward with Freddy vs Jason vs Ash. The documents are mighty interesting if you're a fan of those three, but they also contained a surprising name drop - The Tall Man! One page, featured below, muses on the possibility of using other horror villains such as Michael Myers, Chucky, and Pinhead, though the writer ultimately decides that Ash would work best for a new crossover sequel.

Still, it's a lot of fun to even think about the possibility. New Line would have had to strike a deal with Don Coscarelli to use the Tall Man character. Worth mentioning is that he has previously resisted multiple attempts from the studio to take part in the Phantasm series.

Who would win in a Freddy vs Jason vs the Tall Man showdown? Hit up Bloody-Disgusting to read the entire memo.

Custom Sculpt of Phantasm II-era Reggie Bannister!

The Altered State model building website has posted pictures of a terrific custom sculpt of Reggie Bannister from Phantasm II. Kick-ass chainsaw aside, the level of detail here is excellent with fun touches like the tool belt and power drill. Remarkable that the sculptor started this simply enough with a bent coat hanger!

The artist writes, "My first sculpt for someone else! Ran a little competition on Facebook for members of the group to choose a favourite character that had never been made before. Ended up with a tie 🙁 But I was up for the challenge. First winner was a huge horror movie fan. He chose the hero from a series of horror movies called Phantasm, Reggie. Described as “a shotgun and guitar-wielding mensch with a receding hairline and a turbo-charged libido”.

Can't you just hear this little Reggie yelling, "Come on, you mutha!" You can check out a ton more photos of this Reggie sculpt and see the artist's other work at The Altered State!

That Time Freddy Krueger Almost Got Silver Sphere'd

Earlier this year, I released my second horror movie related book, SLASH OF THE TITANS: THE ROAD TO FREDDY VS JASON. It details the crazy ten years that New Line spent trying to find the right script for 2003's Freddy vs Jason. Ultimately, they went through seventeen screenwriters before finally putting the crossover sequel into production. In researching my book, I closely studied ten different pitches that were seriously considered for the film...

... and in one of those pitches, Freddy Krueger gets drilled by the Tall Man's silver sphere! No joke! This was a legitimate screenplay that New Line bought and nearly made. Written by UK scribe Peter Briggs (who also co-wrote the first Hellboy), this draft found Freddy and Jason chasing survivors from earlier Elm Street and Friday sequels through hell. And what should slam right into Freddy's forehead? The Tall Man's silver sphere! The screenwriter confessed in our interview that he was an enormous horror fan and wanted to sneak in these kinds of jokes/cameos for his audience.

To learn more about Slash of the Titans, you can visit FreddyvsJasonBook.com or check it out on Amazon.

Bonus Features Announced for Phantasm DVD Collection

We recently learned that Well Go USA was planning a value-priced DVD collection of the entire Phantasm series for this September. This follows their successful Blu-Ray Collection release from earlier this year, which completely sold out and is only available from re-sellers. Well Go have now announced what the bonus features will be for the DVD set. As expected, they pale in comparison to what the six-disc Blu-Ray set offered, though there are still some new features here. The most painfully absent supplements are the new feature length documentaries on Phantasm III, Phantasm IV and Phantasm Ravager.

The Phantasm and Phantasm Ravager discs appear to be identical to December's standalone releases. Similarly, the Phantasm II disc resembles the previously released Scream Factory disc. Curiously, the Phantasm III disc includes the new Coscarelli/Buckley audio commentary, but drops the wonderful A. Michael Baldwin/Angus Scrimm commentary from the old Anchor Bay set.

And I guess we're pretending Phantasm II has a subtitle now?

PHANTASM: REMASTERED 
(Standard Definition (1.78:1)/Dolby Digital Audio 5.1, Mono and Stereo / 1978 / Color / R /90 minutes) 
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Don Coscarelli, Michael Baldwin (Mike), Angus Scrimm (The Tall Man), and Bill Thornbury (Jody) 
Graveyard Carz Episode 
Interviews from 1979 with Don Coscarelli and Angus Scrimm 
Deleted Scenes 
Trailers 

PHANTASM II: THE BALL IS BACK 
(Standard Definition (1.85:1)/Dolby Digital Audio 5.1 and Stereo / 1988 / Color / R / 95 minutes) 
SPECIAL FEATURES: 
Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Don Coscarelli and Stars Angus Scrimm and Reggie Bannister 
The Ball is Back: The Making of PHANTASM II 
Deleted Scenes 
Workprint Scenes 
TV Spots and Trailers 

PHANTASM III: LORD OF THE DEAD 
(Standard Definition (1.78:1)/Dolby Digital Audio 5.1 / 1993 / Color / R / 91 minutes) 
SPECIAL FEATURES: 
Audio Commentary with Director Don Coscarelli and Editor Norman Buckley 
Balls of Steel: Bob Ivy's Stunt for the Ages 
Trailer 

PHANTASM IV: OBLIVION 
(Standard Definition (1.78:1)/Dolby Digital Audio 5.1 / 1998 / Color / R / 90 minutes) 
SPECIAL FEATURES: 
Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Don Coscarelli and Stars Reggie Bannister and Angus Scrimm 
Behind the Scenes 
Trailer 

PHANTASM V: RAVAGER 
(Standard Definition (1.78:1)/Dolby Digital Audio 5.1 / 2016 / Color / NR / 86 minutes) 
SPECIAL FEATURES: 
Audio Commentary with Director David Hartman and Writer/Producer Don Coscarelli 
Behind the Scenes 
Deleted Scenes 
Phuntasm: Bloopers and Outtakes 
Trailer

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Phantasm's Fortune Teller Gets Her Own Collector's Pin!

We've seen the silver sphere transformed into an enamel pin. We've also seen the Tall Man given similar treatment. But this is an altogether new creation! Etsy seller The Sally Hardesty Collection has released a spectacular 1.5" pin of the Fortune Teller from the original Phantasm! These come in standard "Graveyard Noir," which is limited to seventy pieces, and also in a "Red Planet" edition, which is limited to thirty pieces. These pins cost $10 a pop plus shipping.

Loving the fact that the pin maker is mailing these pins attached to custom printed Phantasm tarot cards. A very nice touch.

Claim your pin(s) here before they're gone!!!