Ep. 05-36: Phantasm (1979)

PHANTASM (1979)—The residents of a small town are dying under strange circumstances, leading young Mike (Michael Baldwin) to investigate. After discovering that the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), the town’s mortician, is killing and reanimating the dead as misshapen zombies, Mike seeks help from his older brother, Jody (Bill Thornbury), and local ice cream man Reggie (Reggie Bannister). Working together, they try to lure out and kill the Tall Man, all the while avoiding his minions and a deadly silver sphere.

Sex slayings by gender-fluid villains, giant flying skull-drilling pinballs, Jawa-esque zombie slaves from another world. That’s right. We’re talking Phantasm (1979). Join us as we discuss this genuinely unique entry into the horror canon, including its memorable franchise villain (the Tall Man), the quirky script, impressive effects, terrible acting, and everything else that makes this film a bona fide cult classic. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys investigates a peculiar mortuary/mausoleum, where the halls are stalked by killer balls, robed dwarfs, and a tall man guarding the gateway to another dimension! 

SHOW NOTES:

• Phantasm (1979)
• Original trailer
• Don Coscarelli
• Twin Peaks (1990)
• Star Wars (1977)
• Frank Herbert
• Halloween (1978)
• Army of Darkness (1992)
• Dario Argento
• Basket Case (1982)
• The Thing (1982)
• Salem’s Lot (1979)
• Burnt Offerings (1976)
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1976)
• A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
• George Romero
• Wes Craven
• John Carpenter
• Sam Raimi
• A View to a Kill (1985)
• The Brood (1979)
• The Green Slime (1968)
• Georges Melies
• An Andalusian Dog (1929)
• Beauty and the Beast (1946)
• Last Year at Marienbad (1961)
• Repulsion (1965)
• Diabolique (1955)
• Invaders from Mars (1953)
• Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) 

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