The Tall Man Returns – A Look at Phantasm: Ravager
[Reloaded from a past iteration of my blog]
The time has come. For 37 years we’ve watched as a mysterious force from another dimension wrecks havoc on our world. He comes in the form of a tall, sinister mortician, one who is capable of more destruction than you would believe. His signature raised eyebrow and deep, elongated enunciation of his famous single-word phrase — Boooooy — reminds you who the devil fears: the Tall Man.
The series began in 1979. A kid named Mike stumbles upon a plot to remove, reanimate, and enslave the bodies of the recently deceased. With the help of his brother Jody and best friend Reggie, they begin to wage a secret war against a seemingly unstoppable villain.
When I say unstoppable, I really mean unstoppable. Over the course of four movies, our heroes hang, bury, stab, set fire to, dismember, freeze, blow up, and even embalm with acid the terror that is ravaging graveyards and towns across the country. It doesn’t matter what they do or how much damage they cause — the Tall Man always returns completely unharmed. It’s like he hit the reset button on himself. Better yet, it was as if he was Xeroxed and a replica was sent back. In the third film, we see that this may be the case.
Bring Forth Ravager
After every iteration of Phantasm, “Phans” of the series start clamoring for more. It’s easy to understand why. The series is a spectacular display of creative storytelling. The primary cast is always spot-on with their characters — so much so that people will always recognize them as that person. No matter what Reggie Bannister is in, he will always be the bald, middle-aged ex-ice cream vendor that fights evil with a quad-barrel shotgun.
After 1998’s Phantasm IV: Oblivion, the chatter for a fifth installment began. Ideas and rumors floated around about what could or would happen next.
But nothing happened.
Year after year, Horrorcon after Horrorcon, Phans asked and begged for another film. The minds behind the series teased the possibility, but nothing definitive. Eventually, we began to realize it might not happen — Angus Scrimm, the actor behind the Tall Man, was getting too old for the physically demanding role.
Then, on March 26th, 2014, everything changed. Not only was a fifth film possible — it was already complete. Everyone involved managed to keep the movie completely under the radar. A trailer for Phantasm: Ravager hit the web and Phans went nuts.
But then… silence. It took two more years before the movie was actually released.
Today is October 7th — The Day the World Ends
Phantasm: Ravager was released on October 7th to select theaters across the nation. Video On Demand services like Vudu, iTunes, and Amazon made it available a day early.
The film picks up where Oblivion leaves off. Reggie is wandering the desert (like Moses, according to Mike). Things get worse, fast — and then, bam, we’re somewhere else. Suddenly, Reggie — and the audience — are in an entirely different story.
Phantasm: Ravager jumps between different timelines and realities. The previous films would mess with your head, but this one takes it even further. Even Reggie is confused.
“I can’t tell what’s real anymore.” – Reggie
It all leads up to an unexpected ending — one that hurts. Not because it’s bad, but because it’s powerful.
Several familiar faces show up. Some you’ll have to wait for, but they’re there. Don Coscarelli even makes a cameo in the credits.
And I must say — Kathy Lester and Gloria Lynne Henry are still hot. Kathy is just a little more terrifying now, thanks to her ability to morph into monsters.
The movie runs 1 hour and 25 minutes. It’s packed with digital effects — a major shift from the practical, guerrilla-style FX of earlier films. Visually, it feels more like a made-for-TV movie than a theatrical release.
People who aren’t into the Phantasm series won’t get it. But this film wasn’t made for them. It was made for the Phans.
Thoughts from a Phan on Phantasm: Ravager
As a longtime Phan, I think the ending was terrific — heartbreaking but fitting. The original cast nailed it. The new characters… not as much. Some of the acting felt straight out of a low-budget TV movie. But let’s be real — this isn’t a Brad Pitt production. Given the budget, they did fine.
The editing and pacing could have been better. The film feels rushed. The story isn’t bad, but the delivery was sometimes lacking. Still, they had a tiny budget and a small window to shoot in. They did what they could.
And that’s what Phantasm is known for — making the most of what they had.
The digital effects are hit or miss. The massive sphere attacks on the city? Pretty cool. The digital smoothing of the Tall Man’s face? Understandable. He’s a clone, after all.
Unfortunately, many scenes are smothered by CG. It’s not Transformers quality — but ILM wasn’t helping out either. If they had more budget, we might’ve seen more of the Tall Man’s world or the collapse of Earth.
Maybe JJ Abrams — a fan of the original — will swoop in and do a special edition one day. Or maybe not. Who knows.
Was Phantasm: Ravager perfect? No. Will it win awards? Nah. But it was never about that.
This was the end. Ravager closes the book on one of the most unique horror franchises ever made. Angus Scrimm, our beloved Tall Man, has passed. He was terrifying on screen and by all accounts a wonderful man off it. There will never be another like him.
I grew up on Phantasm. The story, the cast, the gritty DIY effects — they were part of what made horror fun. And now, it’s over.
And that sucks. It really does.
The Phantasm series was built on heart. These movies weren’t made by suits in a boardroom — they were made by people who wanted to make them. They wore multiple hats. They pulled favors. They made it work.
So seriously, thanks to everyone involved — for the films, for the love, for the insane amount of effort you gave this story.
I’m off to watch Phantasm: Ravager for the third time. Yes — the third.
Check out Phantasm Exhumed for a complete history, behind-the-scenes photos, and more.
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