“If this one doesn’t scare you, you’re already dead” – the tagline for the Don Coscarelli cult classic Phantasm (1979) foreshadows an experience not to be forgotten. And, it delivers. There is nothing like Phantasm with its nightmare narrative, the Tall Man and those deadly flying spheres. The Black Saint and Doc Rotten tackle another groovy horror film from the 1970s.
Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 29 — Phantasm (1979)
Thomas Mariani, co-managing editor of OneofUs.net and co-host of Horror News Radio, joins The Black Saint and Doc Rotten to discuss a bonafide classic of horror movies, Seventies or otherwise, Phantasm. In recent months the film is set to get a 4K makeover with a release shepherded by J.J. Abrams and another sequel called Phantasm Ravager. And with the passing of the film’s Tall Man, Angus Scrimm (Lawrence Rory Guy), Decade of Horror is revisiting Phantasm with bitter sweet joy and a heavy heart. After all these years, the film holds up tremendously well, even if some of its tricks are beginning to show their low-budget origins. Check out that marble wall paper and glimpses of the rope used to help Angus pick up the coffin. Still the Tall Man will haunt your dreams and the flying spheres will make you piss your pants.
We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave us a message or leave a comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at theblacksaint@decadesofhorror.com or docrotten@decadesofhorror.com.
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Doc a lifelong fan of horror films, sci-fi flicks and monster movies first discovering Universal Monsters and Planet of the Apes as a young child in the 1970's searching out every issue of Famous Monster of Filmland (and, later, Fangoria). Favorite films include Jaws, The Car, The Birds, The Tingler, Vampire Circus and The Exorcist. Still a huge fan of horror films from the 70s, Doc continues consuming horror films to this day for the site, for the podcasts and for the fun of it all.
