New AUTOMATONS Book Features Tribute to Angus Scrimm

Readers of this blog might remember me talking about a film called AUTOMATONS over the years. This post-apocalyptic indie from 2006 was written and directed by James Felix McKenney of Glass Eye Pix fame and featured our dear Tall Man Angus Scrimm in a starring role. I was a big fan of the movie when it first debuted on home video eleven years ago. (Check out my original review here.)

To celebrate the project's thirteenth anniversary, Pulp 2.0 Press has now released the official book of the film, which features a behind the scenes look at its unique production along with cast/crew interviews. Among the books features is a special tribute to Angus Scrimm, who played "The Scientist." Being such a big fan of the movie, I cannot wait to check out this book.

AUTOMATONS: The Book of the Movie is now available from Amazon for a very reasonable $9.99. Get your copy here! To learn more about Automatons, visit the Glass Eye Pix website.

Vinyl Announcement: Angus Scrimm in "The Grandfather"

Here's some terrific news for fans of the Tall Man. Holy Mountain Printing has just released a vinyl pressing of Angus Scrimm's performance in "The Grandfather," an episode of the audio drama series Tales from Beyond the Pale. This particular installment was written and directed by the marvelous Graham Reznick, a friend and collaborator of Scrimm's. If you missed this gem when it was originally released back in 2010, I'd highly recommend you check it out. You can read my review of the episode here.

The album comes in split-color vinyl (limited to 400 copies) and glow-in-the-dark (limited to 100 copies). The split-color is $20 and glow-in-the-dark is $22. The photo below originated over on the Glass Eye Pix website.

Angus Scrimm wrote liner notes for countless albums throughout his career at Capitol Records, but this is - to my knowledge - the first time his voice has been featured so prominently on an actual vinyl album!

Get your copy of "The Grandfather" vinyl here!

A. Michael Baldwin in New Slender Man movie 'FLAY'

Phantasm phans, this may be of some interest to you. Several years ago, A. Michael Baldwin appeared in a Slender Man thriller called FLAY from filmmaker Eric Pham, which we first reported on here back in 2017. The film's release was significantly delayed due to a cease-and-desist order filed by Sony Pictures, whose own Slender Man movie released last year. Fortunately, FLAY's filmmakers have prevailed in that legal spat and the film is now available for moviegoers to rent/own from a number of streaming platforms.  Visit the movie's official site here.

As many phans know, the original Slender Man legend was partly inspired by Angus Scrimm's Tall Man character, so it's fitting that Baldwin would make an appearance in the new film. The trailer looks awfully creepy!

Plot description: Patricia Crane dies when she acquires a mysterious black chain that unleashes a centuries-old curse from Flay, a faceless Native American spirit who traps the souls of his victims in the netherworld. Flay begins a killing spree as the evil chain is stolen and passed onto others. Plagued with disturbing and violent visions, Patricia's daughter Moon struggles to understand its enigma and fights to save her teenage brother River as Flay seeks vengeance on anyone who touches its condemned chains.

Ravager's David Hartman Releases New Album!

It seems like just yesterday I was writing here on the Archives about Phantasm Ravager director David Hartman's debut musical album "The Art of Monsters" by Zorgon. I mean, it practically was yesterday as the album dropped in March of this year. Now get this - Hartman has wasted no time in churning out a follow-up Zorgon release called "Walking with Monsters." The album hit iTunes and Amazon yesterday and appears to be MP3 only at the moment.

If you happen to like 80s synth or the musical stylings of Daft Punk or John Carpenter, then this album is for you! "Walking with Monsters" is currently a great value at just under $10 for nineteen tracks, which is more than an hour of terrific music. I've already given it a listen and am immediately declaring "Blood Cop" and "SynthCave" to be my favorite tracks.

Check it out on Amazon here!

A. Michael Baldwin in new Slender Man movie FLAY!

Terrific news for phans - franchise star A. Michael Baldwin is returning to the horror genre with a new film - Flay - based on the popular Slender Man character, which itself was largely inspired by Phantasm and the Tall Man! How appropriate! IMDb reports the plot as follows: "After the death of her mother, an estranged daughter struggles to save her brother, and those around her from a malevolent faceless spirit."

Deadline is now reporting that Uncork'd Entertainment has picked up worldwide rights to the film, which hopefully means we can expect to see it reasonably soon. Flay marks the second feature from writer/director Eric Pham, who also boasts an accomplished career in special effects work including films like Sin City and Grindhouse.

You can catch the film's trailer here.

On an interesting note of trivia, this is not the first Slender Man inspired movie. There was previously a flick called Always Watching: A Marble Hornets Story, which starred cult actor Doug Jones as the nefarious monster. That film also paid tribute to Slender Man's origins by featuring Angus Scrimm in a brief cameo.

Hiking Phan Randomly Meets Phantasm Cast Member

This story involves a strange chance meeting on a hiking trail between a lucky phan and a supporting cast member from the original Phantasm! Robert Weaver (aka Instagram user rew3) was hiking in Malibu when he spotted someone else on the trail with a Phantasm shirt on (and a cool Alien 3 ball cap!) He complimented his fellow hiker's shirt, who then revealed himself to be none other than Bill Cone, aka Tommy! Phans will no doubt recall Tommy's unfortunate hook-up with the Lady in Lavender from Phantasm's opening moments. And then his transformation into a hearse-driving dwarf later on!

Robert writes on his Instagram post: "I met the guy that played Tommy in Phantasm, while on our hike! I commented on his shirt and him and his family said he played Tommy! I totally have to watch this movie again, it's been too long!"

The moral of this story is.... keep your eyes peeled next time you go hiking in Malibu! You never know who you might run into.

I met the guy that played Tommy in Phantasm, while on our hike! I commented on his shirt and him and his family said he played Tommy! I totally have to watch this movie again, it's been too long! #la #malibu #phantasm

A post shared by robert weaver (@rew3) on Jun 4, 2017 at 1:54pm PDT

Angus Scrimm's Final Film Screening Soon

The Phantasm Archives has received word that Angus Scrimm's final film, Dances with Werewolves, will be having a special public screening later this month. Angus plays the lovable Neumann, a vagrant character. We can also debut a new still of our beloved Tall Man from the project!

The official press release reads, "George R.R. Martin's Jean Cocteau Cinema will host a special screening of Angus Scrimm's final film, Dances with Werewolves, the night of January 27. Guests will include cast members Tatiana DeKhtyar, Omar Paz Trujillo, Lauren Parkinson, and Madeleine Wade. Also on hand will be composer Don Preston, singer/songwriter Kasey Lansdale, and co-writer/producer/co-director Dan Golden. The Jean Cocteau Cinema is located at 418 Montezuma Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. "

You can view the film's trailer below, which includes a snippet of Angus' final screen performance.

Reggie & Gigi Bannister Debut New Short Film

Reggie and Gigi Bannister have debuted a new short film, The Intruders, on the FilmFreeway website. Based on an old episode of The Twilight Zone, the project was written, directed and produced by Gigi, who also stars alongside the Regman who appears a Rod Serling-esque host. Pay attention to the end credits and you'll see several phamiliar names including crewmember extraordinaire Kristen Deem, Phantasm Ravager actor Daniel Schweiger and mega-phan Jeff Roman. You can watch the short here.

Gigi's director's statement from the site: "My motto was given to me in 1987 by a dear friend, Chis Malanowsky: "I just want to make movies!" I have tried to live by that motto ever since. Every project is like giving birth. One brings the concept from a spark of thought into a tangible thing which lives and breathes for eternity on the screen and in the hearts of others. It is the legacy of all who worked on it. If we are lucky, we are fondly remembered for it and it lives on long after we are gone.

This project is an homage to the Twilight Zone episode "Invaders" with Agnes Moorehead." It was one of Rod Serling's favorites, one of the most recognizable, and legendary. It has no dialogue, only three rooms and the roof for the set. The nemesis are tiny robots from Earth. We built the set at a local ranch made from a three room horse stall. Miss Moorhead was notorious for her manicured nails so we included that detail - as we did many others. We took artistic license with the ending to make it our own story. It is intense but a bit lighthearted in places and includes some comedic moments not in the first, but, we hope that the viewers appreciate the send up as much we did bringing to them. My husband, Reggie Bannister, and I are so proud of our amalgamation of Riverside City College student crew and cast, volunteers from Crestline Creative Arts Foundation, Professionals, Friends and Phans who have helped give this "baby" life."

WATCH IT HERE!

Phantasm Ravager's Supporting Cast - What We Know

We're close.... can you feel it? This long spell of radio silence from the official camp is about to end! Distribution plans for the hotly anticipated Phantasm Ravager (and the preceding films) are surely about to be announced now that 2016 is at hand! But until we're inundated with new photos, posters, trailers, interviews and release dates - why not review some information on Phantasm V that may have been overlooked?

You're probably aware by now of the returning cast members - Reggie Bannister, A. Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Kathy Lester, Gloria Lynne-Henry and Angus Scrimm. We're now going to take a moment and rattle through five of the film's supporting cast, one of whom hasn't even been officially announced yet (and no, we're not talking about Peter Dinklage.)

~ WARNING - SPOILERS BELOW! ~

The following cast members are all represented in the image above in order from left to right!

Daniel Schweiger as "Thief" - A veteran of Don Coscarelli's last two films, Schweiger actually created a temporary score used in editing Phantasm Oblivion before Christopher Stone had created that film's permanent music track. His role in Ravager is one that will cause great trouble for Reggie. What exactly will his character be stealing? Aside from his scenes, let's just say it's something that has been stolen from Reggie before.

Daniel Roebuck as "Demeter" - Another Coscarelli vet, Roebuck shot his part back in late 2008 when the project was being envisioned as web series called "Reggie's Tales." His scenes were kept throughout the following years and eventually inserted into Phantasm Ravager when the project switched gears to feature film. Demeter comes across Reggie in the flick and, shortly thereafter, a nasty shiny killer orb. As you can see in the film's first teaser trailer, that second encounter is not going end well for him. Trivia: Roebuck traveled to Crestline, California for his scenes, which is where the real-life Reggie calls home.

Jay Olivia as "Hooded Dwarf" - This casting is kind of interesting, especially considering that Olivia is credited on IMDb as playing a "Hooded Dwarf," yet the man stands 5 foot 6 inches tall! That may constitute the tallest dwarf in series history! Olivia has dabbled in acting, but is primarily a director and storyboard artist. As the latter, he's worked on a slew of big budget blockbusters including Thor: Ragnarok, Wonder Woman, Dawn of Justice: Batman v Superman, Ant Man and Man of Steel. As director, he's tackled numerous animated films for DC Comics including Batman vs Robin, Batman: Assault on Arkham and Justice League: War. He's a longtime associate of Ravager director David Hartman.

Solly Duran as "Raina" - Here is one cast member we haven't seen depicted yet in anything from the movie, so information on her character Raini is scant. Duran was most recently seen in Cabin Fever: Patient Zero, so this won't be her first romp into the horror genre. Considering she is often cast as a partying, tough-as-nails type - she could be a romantic interest for Reggie or a lethal scavenger he comes across on the road - or possibly something else.

Dawn Cody as "Dawn" - Here is the one supporting cast member on this list that hasn't been formally announced yet or credited on the film's IMDb page. Like Olivia, Cody is an old associate of Hartman. They've both made appearances on The Sarah Silverman Show. Trivia: Cody also appeared in 1998's Pleasantville, which also featured Phantasm III's Kevin Connors (Tim) in a supporting role!

Like Roebuck, Cody was a part of this project back when it was being referred to as "Reggie's Tales," and could be glimpsed in the sequel's Texas Frightmare preview (If you've seen her in the leaked trailer, shame on you for watching it!) Her character takes her own name (not unlike Mike and Reggie!), though prepare to be confused when Reggie talks about "Don" and "Dawn" since they sound an awful lot alike! As for her ultimate fate in Phantasm Ravager.... well, let's just say.... we've heard there will be blood!

Bill Thornbury Releases New Album

Bill Thornbury, better known to Phantasm phans as Jody Pearson, has released a new album of classic hymns. Titled "12 Golden Treasures," the release is a throwback to the gospel music he grew up enjoying. This marks his third such album after previous releases "Five Loaves, Two Fishes" and "Torn Little Page." Whether singing "Sittin' Here At Midnight" in Phantasm or bringing classic hymns into the present here on his new album, Bill's music is always easy on the ears. You can find his new release on CDBaby and on iTunes as well.

Bill wrote on social media, "Dear friends, the release of 12 Golden Treasures is a new recording project very close to heart. I grew up singing "the old gospel songs" in a Baptist church in the small farming community of Kingsburg, California. Many years later, and with two previous Contemporary Christian albums as a singer/songwriter, I was determined to one day express my love and appreciation for the "old hymns." I have done my best to present these 12 Golden Treasures in the most creative and artistic way that I can. I thank God for this opportunity to share them with you, Love, Bill"

Grab a physical copy or digital download here.

Angus Scrimm writing liner notes for ISTD Score!

Deep Focus Records, the company behind the recent vinyl Tales From Beyond the Pale release, have announced they are soon to release a vinyl soundtrack album for Glenn McQuaid's 2008 horror-comedy I Sell the Dead. If you have not caught this one yet, it is fantastic and boasts a marvelous cast that includes Dominic Monaghan, Larry Fessenden, Ron Perlman and the always great Angus Scrimm in a dastardly role. 

Jeff Grace's score was a shining part of the film and a major enhancement to the also stellar writing and performances. Even better, Deep Focus reveals that Scrimm will be dusting off his liner note quill for the album! Phantasm phans will recall that long before he became the Tall Man the towering performer wrote liner notes for Capitol Records. These notes earned him a handful of Grammy nomations and an eventual win in 1974.

You can read the full press release over on the Glass Eye Pix site. Personally, this will be a must-own album for 2015!

See A. Michael Baldwin Harlem Shake with Zombies!

This video and story aren't exactly new, but I'm willing to bet there's a significant handful of phans that have yet to experience their glory! You may have seen the Harlem Shake done in an office, on a plane and even while skydiving, but have you ever seen a Harlem Shake performed by zombies? Or better yet, have you ever seen a Harlem Shake by Phantasm star A. Michael Baldwin and dance crew of zombies? If not, read on to read about how everyone's favorite BOOOY got down with some funky dead-heads.

If you somehow missed out on the 2013 viral sensation that was Harlem Shake and have absolutely no clue what I'm referencing, consult the almighty Wikipedia's entry on it here. It's sort of like a video meme that swept the internet two years ago.

Click here to read the story and see the video!

Vintage: See Reggie Bannister in 1965!

Talk to Reggie Bannister long enough and you'll probably hear him tell you how he is both blessed and cursed with two talents. The man does have a foot firmly planted in two worlds - movies and music. You obviously know him from the Phantasm films, but he's also put out a number of terrific albums. The last two are especially good and of interest to phans if you haven't checked them out yet. (Learn more about Reggie's musical offerings here.)

What most people don't know, however, is that Reggie's musical past goes back, way back all the way to the Greenwood County Singers, a touring folk group from the 1960's. Expand this post to hear what Reggie had to say about the group when asked and see vintage video of him performing with them!

Click here to read and see more!

Angus Scrimm on TMZ!!

In a really weird turn of events, everyone's favorite Tall Man turned up on the front page of celebrity gossip website TMZ this morning as part of their "Memba Him?" photo series. The goal is apparently to contrast current photos of celebrities with older photos from their career. Even decades after first donning the Tall Man's suit, Angus still looks smashing and mighty fearsome if I do say so myself.

Was anyone else kind of hopeful he might have made the front page for sphere-drilling Miley Cyrus or embalming Kim Kardashian? Now THAT would be a great TMZ article. Special thanks to Kristy Jett for the head's up on this one!

Phantasm Exhumed headed to New York City

Scrimm Photo by Casey Tejavej

Next month, the New York City Horror Film Festival will honor actor Angus Scrimm with their prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on the Phantasm franchise and in numerous other genre classics. Previous recipients include Rob Zombie, Lloyd Kaufman, Robert Englund and Wes Craven. Even better, the Tall Man himself will be on hand to receive the award at a special presentation!

Yours truly will also be in attendance signing copies of PHANTASM EXHUMED with the Tall Man and series crewmember/book photographer Kristen Deem! The festival is also honoring Norman Reedus, better known as Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead. Reedus will also be signing copies of his new book THANKS FOR ALL THE NICENESS.

More details available on the Fangoria website. I look forward to seeing some "phans" in the Big Apple!

New Music Video with Michael Baldwin

Everyone's favorite boooooooy, Michael Baldwin, is back in a new music video from band Lucid Dementia. Directed by Justin Warren, Michael plays "The Conjurer" in this super spooky short. Chock full of great makeup effects and a creepy location, "It Came From the Dead" is sure to be enjoyed by Phantasm phans. Turn down the lights, turn up the volume and watch it below!

Catching Up With A. Michael Baldwin

To those phans eagerly awaiting A. Michael Baldwin's return to the horror genre, your thirst is about to be quenched. Everyone's favorite 'boooooooy' is back before the camera with three projects in his first genre work since 1998's Phantasm: Oblivion. And before you ask, the long awaited Phantasm V is not among them.... yet. These projects all appear to be in various stages of either production, post-production or distribution negotiation. I'll be sure to post here when news of their releases is available! 

Read on to learn more about the three spooky projects!

Reggie Bannister returns with Primitive

So the title of this post about Reggie Bannister returning is sort of misleading... he never really left. But he does feature prominently in Primitive, a fun looking creature flick released onto DVD, PPV and VOD this month from Director Benjamin Cooper and Lionsgate Home Entertainment. See the trailer below and be sure to hit up the film's official website and Facebook page. Tom Devlin of Syfy's Face-Off handled the film's special effects, which appear to include one insane looking monster beastie.

From a recent glowing review by the AlienBee website: "Bottom line is, Primitive is a fun creature feature full of practical effects that are all executed extremely well. This DVD drops on November 19th and comes highly recommended!"

Have a Phantasmic Halloween!

Happy Halloween greetings to all! To celebrate the reason for the season, I'm posting here two spooktacular treats for your viewing enjoyment. The first is a terrific looking carved pumpkin by Phantasm Community regular Natalie Tomaszewski. She carved Angus Scrimm as Jebediah Morningside from Kristen Deem's iconic Phantasm: Oblivion set photo. Great work as always, Natalie! Click to see it larger.

The second treat is a short film by Glass Eye Pix collaborator Graham Reznick featuring narration by the Tall Man himself! Titled The Trick is the Treat, you can have a look at it below courtesy Shock Till You Drop. The short is much like a filmed poem. I get a slightly different reading from this short each time I watch it and all I can say for sure is that I'm now skeptical of every Halloween treat featured in it. Thanks, Scrimm and Reznick!

Beyond the Music of Phantasm

Given all of the crap on the radio today, I thought it would be nice to take a moment and review the released work of Phantasm's musically-gifted cast members. Although we know Michael Baldwin to be a talented whistler/singer/musician and Angus Scrimm has been known to write and carry a tune, it's Reggie Bannister, Bill Thornbury and Kathy Lester that have released albums of their work.

Continue reading for a rundown of cast member musical releases.