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J.J. Abrams Overseeing 4K Restoration of ‘Phantasm’

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Remember a few months ago when we spoke about how J.J. Abrams named one of the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens characters after the 1979 cult horror film Phantasm? Well, it turns out that the director’s passion for the title goes a bit further than just creating a character. In fact, he’s heading a 4K restoration of the film that will include a 5.1-channel audio mix, all with the blessing of director Don Coscarelli! AICN originally broke the story, which is one of the coolest bits of fandom I can think of happening in recent years.

Coscarelli explains to EW how everything came about:

[The restoration] came about because [J.J. Abrams] wanted to show Phantasm at Bad Robot. I told him, “Well, the prints are really bad.” He generously offered to help create a restoration. Obviously that’s an offer we couldn’t refuse.

It’s going to be finished in the next month or so. Of course, the little downside is that I had to stop work on the fifth and final Phantasm — Phantasm: Ravager (which is being directed by David Hartman). But both of those movies are now pretty much done. We’ll looking for a first- or second-quarter release for both of them.

For those wondering why we’ve been waiting so long for a fifth Phantasm film, you now have your answer. Personally, I think it’s 100% worth it. Let’s reignite interest in the franchise and then drop a new film, especially now that the J.J. Abrams crowd are going to experience it, many for the first time.

Below is a screencap from the 4K restoration, which shows just how sharp and beautiful the end result will be.

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‘Dead Mail’ Exclusive Images: SXSW Horror Movie Begins With a Blood-Stained Postal Box Delivery

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Dead Mail SXSW Dead Mail interview

One of the genre films we’re looking forward to checking out at SXSW this year is Dead Mail, written and directed by Joe DeBoer and Kyle McConaghy and premiering on March 9.

Meagan Navarro will be reviewing Dead Mail for Bloody Disgusting as part of her SXSW coverage, and she writes in her preview for the upcoming fest: “Dead Mail leans heavily into the ’80s analog aesthetic, delivering a unique crime thriller unafraid to get offbeat with its dark narrative. Expect its characters to be as atypical as Dead Mail‘s sense of style.”

In the SXSW 2024 horror film…

“On a desolate, Midwestern county road, a bound man crawls towards a remote postal box, managing to slide a blood-stained plea-for-help message into the slot before a panicking figure closes in behind him. The note makes its way to the county post office and onto the desk of Jasper, a seasoned and skilled “dead letter” investigator, responsible for investigating lost mail and returning it to its sender. As he investigates further, Jasper meets Trent, a strange yet unassuming man who has taken up residence at the men’s home where Jasper lives.

“When Trent unexpectedly shows up at Jasper’s office, it becomes clear he has a vested interest in the note, and will stop at nothing to retrieve it…”

Sterling Macer, Jr., John Fleck, Susan Priver, Micki Jackson, Tomas Boykin, and Nick Heyman star in Dead Mail. Preview the film with an exclusive image gallery below.

Dead Mail SXSW horror movie

Dead Mail SXSW horror

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