Connect with us

Movies

[Review] NECA’s Ultimate Ash Isn’t As Ultimate For Some, But Is Still Groovy

Published

on

Image Source: NECA

I know I’m not the only one who wore out their local Blockbuster’s VHS copy of Evil Dead 2. For me, it was the “Swallow this.” line (gets me every time). The film is rightfully one of the best B-movie horror films of all time, and while Bruce Campbell may not be (to borrow a line from My Name Is Bruce) “the greatest actor of his generation”, is still an amazing master of slapstick humour. That, and being tortured by Sam Raimi. I know I’m a little late on this one, but dammit, seeing as I missed out on the original waves of figures based on Evil Dead 2, NECA giving folks like me a second chance with this Ultimate Ash figure was too good to pass up. As for those who already have those figures, does this release warrant a double-dip?

necaultash02

Packaging:

As with the other figures in the line, Ash comes in a collector-friendly windowbox packaging, recreating the poster art for the film. The back of the box features shots of the figure, as well as mentioning the events of the original Evil Dead film (something Evil Dead 2 didn’t actually do). The flap on the front of the box opens to reveal the figure in the cabin, probably looking for his possessed hand.
necaultash04
Sculpting/Paintwork:

As previously mentioned, it’s a re-release of the original figure with some updated articulation. The details are still top notch, even with a four-year-old sculpt. When compared to NECA’s Ash Vs. Evil Dead line of figures, Evil Dead 2‘s Ash has a bit of a stylized look, although we’re dealing with a much younger Bruce Campbell in this case. Regardless, the look of the figure is still accurate to the film, right down to the smears of goop on Ash’s clothes, and the duct tape on the stump of Ash’s right hand. I love the textured look of Ash’s pants, and the washes used to bring out the texture. There’s no instance of sloppy paint application here, even with the “accuracy” of the film’s continuity. Great-looking figure, overall.

necaultash03

Articulation:

Ash has been given 25 points of articulation with this update, and all the joints are tight with no floppiness. The head is on a balljoint, and can move around without any problems. The same can be said of the pin-and-socket joints for the shoulders. Ash’s shirt isn’t the same soft vinyl used in current NECA figures, but still allows the arms to fully rotate and move out to almost a T-pose. The arms bend and rotate at the elbows, and can bend to 45°. The waist is on a ball joint, but partly because of the plastic used in the upper torso as well as the sculpt, it doesn’t quite allow full movement. Then again, it’s Ash we’re talking about, so no acrobatics. The new articulation in the lower torso allows the legs to move up and down, in and out, as well as rotate at the hip. The joints at the knees allow the legs to rotate and bend at roughly 45°, and the ankle joints allow for foot rotation and some pivot, but are hindered by the sculpt. Again, Ash isn’t doing ninja kicks.

necaultash06

Accessories:

All of the accessories from the Series 1 wave of Evil Dead 2 figures are included here. First is the trusty shotgun, which is sculpted nicely with some nice silver paint applications mixed in to give it a worn look. Then there’s the axe with Evil Ed’s green blood smeared on it. Again, great paint application with the blood splatter effects. Next is Linda’s possessed severed head. Again, some wonderful detail in the doll texturing, and the detail in the hair is amazing. The reel-to-reel tape player has some fantastic details as well, right down to the back with the battery compartment and speaker. There’s also the Necronomicon, and like the original release, there’s a nitpick. In spite of the great sculptwork and painting, this version of the book is from Army Of Darkness, not Evil Dead 2. A rights issue, unfortunately. Oddly though, the 8-inch clothed action figure was able to have the Evil Dead 2 version of the Necronomicon. Oh, well.

Also included is Possessed Ash’s head, which you’ll probably need a hair dryer to warm up the plastic before attempting to pop it on the peg. We also get Ash’s severed hand, which again, has some great details worked into the sculpt. Finally, there’s the swappable forearm that can be popped on to give Ash his hand back, and that hand can be popped out for a possessed version. Now I know that some people are going to be complaining about the lack of a chainsaw and sawed-off shotgun. And that’s a good point. However, those were all part of the Hero Ash figure that came in Series 2, and wouldn’t fit in with this one (the missing straps for the sawed-off, ripped shirt and so on). Yeah, it sucks. It’s not quite the “Ultimate” Ash that some were expecting, but at least we’ve got the Ash vs. Evil Dead figures as a consolation.

necaultash05
Overall:

Again, since this is a re-release with updated articulation, those who already have the original Evil Dead 2 figures from 2012 aren’t going to have much reason to pick up this Ultimate version (unless you’re a diehard collector). For those who did miss out on those figures (sadly, myself included), this is a welcome second opportunity to grab an awesome Evil Dead 2 version of Ash without breaking the bank. All of the original accessories and features are included, so it’s a definitely less-expensive alternative.

Big thanks once again to Northmen Collectibles for making this figure available.

Writer/Artist/Gamer from the Great White North. I try not to be boring.

Editorials

‘Phantasm’ – Why the Horror Classic’s Exploration of Death Still Resonates 45 Years Later

Published

on

As Benjamin Franklin famously wrote, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

The horror genre offers a controlled environment in which viewers can reflect on their own morality, whether it be via catharsis or escapism, but a personal loss can complicate one’s relationship with horror. Even the most hardened of fans may struggle to find comfort in the genre after experiencing the death of a loved one.

45 years ago today, Phantasm helped viewers confront death head-on while subtly exploring the grief that accompanies it. In the film, 13-year-old Mike (A. Michael Baldwin) convinces his older brother-turned-guardian Jody (Bill Thornbury) and their affable neighborhood ice cream man, Reggie (Reggie Bannister), to investigate a mysterious mortician dubbed The Tall Man (Angus Scrimm).

Phantasm was the third feature from writer-director Don Coscarelli (The Beastmaster, Bubba Ho-Tep). The seed was planted upon witnessing the audience react to a small jump scare at a preview screening for his previous effort, the 1976 coming-of-age tale Kenny and Company. Chasing that jolt of adrenaline, he challenged himself to make a movie that delivers scares regularly throughout.

The independent production was shot in 1977 on weekends over the course of nearly a year in and around southern California’s San Fernando Valley. The 23-year-old Coscarelli shrewdly rented the film gear on Fridays and returned it Monday morning, getting three days of work out of a single day’s rental fee. When all was said and done, the film cost an estimated $300,000.

Unable to afford a full crew, Coscarelli also took on director of photography and editing duties. His father, Dac Coscarelli, receives a producer credit for providing a large chunk of the film’s funding. Additional financing was invested by doctors and lawyers, accruing a total estimated budget of $300,000. His mother, Kate Coscarelli, served as production designer, wardrobe stylist, and makeup artist under different pseudonyms, and she later wrote the novelization.

Hot off the success of John Carpenter’s Halloween, AVCO Embassy Pictures purchased Phantasm for distribution. It was released on March 28, 1979 in California and Texas before expanding to other territories and becoming a box office success. It spawned four sequels, with Coscarelli and the core cast on board throughout, along with a cult following that counts Quentin Tarantino, Rob Zombie, Snoop Dogg, and JJ Abrams (who named Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ Captain Phasma in its honor) among its ranks.

PHANTASM Remastered

The film embraces nightmare logic – in part by design, as Coscarelli drew influence from Suspiria; partly the result of extensively editing down an overlong first cut to a tight 89 minutes. The it-was-all-a-dream ending is a rare one that doesn’t undermine the entire movie that preceded it. Not every plot point is spelled out for the viewer, and some dots may not completely connect, but the narrative is conveyed in such an engrossing manner that it hardly matters.

A particularly striking pair of back-to-back sequences occur at the conclusion of the first act. Following a late-night graveyard excursion, the camera pulls out on a shot of a sleeping Mike to reveal his bed in the cemetery with The Tall Man poised over him while ghouls attack from their graves. The next day, Mike witnesses The Tall Man affected by the chill of Reggie’s ice cream truck via a spine-tingling slow-motion zoom.

The special effects also shine, from flying metallic spheres that suck the blood out of victims’ heads to lifelike severed fingers that bleed viscous yellow gore. The visuals are supplemented by progressive music composed by Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave, to whom Coscarelli recommended electronica maestro Vangelis and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Despite its repetition throughout the film, the power of their haunting musical theme is never diluted.

The cast was populated by amateurs, but occasionally hammy performances are far outweighed by naturalistic character moments, best exemplified by the scene in which Jody and Reggie jam on their guitars together. In addition to serving the plot by introducing the tuning fork that plays an integral role in the finale, it allows the viewer to better connect with the characters, thereby making their peril all the more frightening.

It’s character building like this that makes Phantasm‘s exploration of death so effective. The film is ultimately about Mike coming to terms with the passing of Jody, portrayed as the cool older sibling every adolescent wishes they had. Mike confronts his fear by dreaming up a final adventure with his dearly departed brother in which they manage to defeat death itself, represented by The Tall Man. Upon doing so, he’s awakened to the harsh reality that Jody died in a car accident, allowing Mike to reach the final stage of grief: acceptance.

Continue Reading