2021 Update: Phantasm's Hanging Tree Location

(Top right photo from Don Coscarelli's personal archive.)

Back in 2019, there was some concern that yet another classic Phantasm filming location was going to vanish due to new construction in the area. I'm speaking of the famous "hanging tree," which was featured in an eerie scene removed from the 1979 film that later appeared prominently in 1998's Phantasm Oblivion.

Well, it's 2021 and I'm happy to report that - as of today - the hanging tree is somehow still standing. The construction that seemingly once threatened the tree has held off. Mega-phan Scott Pensa sends in the following photos. Thanks for the pics and update, Scott!

Rare Phantasm Oblivion Set Photos Surface

I don't know about you, but I loved 1998's Phantasm: Oblivion from the moment I first saw it, way before it was cool to like it. (Longtime phans might recall that, before Phantasm Ravager, the fourth film was the most shat-upon entry in the series.) It might not have the bigger budgets of its predecessors, but it arguably has the most heart. Imagine my delight this evening when I discovered the following set photos over in the IMDb gallery for the film. These pics depict stuntman Bob Ivy in his Demon Trooper getup. If memory serves, these rare pics are from Bob's personal collection, which has long been kept off the internet. I have no idea how these snapshots wound up on IMDb, but I thought I'd share them here for your personal enjoyment.

When I interviewed Bob Ivy for Phantasm Exhumed a decade ago, he explained that the top picture was the only known photo of the Demon Trooper with the Tall Man - understandable since they never had a scene together. The second picture shows Bob with Don Coscarelli. (I think that's Gigi Fast Elk Bannister peering over Bob's shoulder?) The final pic shows what appears to be a rehearsal between Bob and Reggie Bannister. All in all, great shots!

The Sphere Is Back on Shudder!?! Apparently so!

 

Well, this was unexpected. Yesterday, Shudder dropped the first trailer for season three of their critically-acclaimed Creepshow series. It looks to be a predictably bloody affair - complete with a silver sphere attack. Wait, WHAT!?!? That's right - we can clearly see one of the Tall Man's sentinels attacking someone here. Watch the trailer below for yourself. 

What might this amount to - a small sphere cameo or a complete Phantasm-themed episode? One can hope! The show did have a pretty swell tribute episode dedicated to Evil Dead in the last season, so a Phantasm-themed episode isn't entirely impossible. The new season of Creepshow kicks off on September 23. Is it any coincidence that the Phantasm series (minus part two) hit Shudder the week after that? Hmm.....