Exclusives
Don Coscarelli on a Sixth ‘Phantasm’ (Exclusive)
Phantasm fans are in for a treat when Well Go USA releases the massive box set on April 11th, which inclues all five films, as well as a poster and massive book. While I feel blessed to have been gifted with a fifth film, last year’s Ravager, I’m greedy and want more.
Within the box set’s booklet, Don Coscarelli, franchise creator and director of the first four films, revealed that he’d never rule out future Phantasm films. We thought we’d check in with Don and see if he wanted to add any clarity to the comments, which made the news rounds over this past weekend. The initial reaction came out of the strong reception for Ravager, which premiered at Fantastic Fest last yeat.
“I remember being at the premiere last year of ‘Phantasm Ravager’ at Fantastic Fest,” says Coscarelli, “I was sitting by director David Hartman and as ‘Ravager’ ended, the audience burst into applause. For both of us it was a huge relief, we had finally finished one of the most ambitious micro-budget movies ever made and our core fan base responded the way we hoped. It was a very long path, full of difficulty and hardship and we had suffered some losses. Our ‘Phantasm’ icon and good friend Angus Scrimm had passed just as post-production ended. But we had successfully finished what we considered to be the final chapter of this iteration of ‘Phantasm’… And then Dave and I went up onstage with the cast and did a Q+A with Tim League and I think the first question was, ‘When’s part 6 coming out?’ We heard this question again and again at subsequent screenings.
“God love ’em, but ‘Phantasm’ fans are insatiable,” he added. “Obviously, the loss of Angus makes the prospect of another sequel challenging. So I guess the short answer is that we aren’t currently planning another sequel at this time. That being said, we always do listen closely to what our long time fans say.”
He continues: “In any case, next week, like a lot of people, I’m going to break open a copy of the new ‘Phantasm’ collection box set and watch all the movies in row. Really looking forward to that!”
We vote with our wallets, and I’m sure the positive outpour and fan support of the new box set could help signal to Coscarelli that we want more Phantasm. While we’ll miss Scrimm, it would be interesting to see what new directions this franchise end up. On that note, here’s a hilarious new promo for the box set. Protect your pets.
Out today in select theaters and on digital platforms is heartfelt and playful documentary Mockbuster, which sees a director cold call a studio and ask to helm a lost-world dinosaur epic.
Inexplicably, they say yes.
Our exclusive clip below highlights both the comedic nature of this bizarre scenario as well as the pressures of shooting dino feature The Land That Time Forgot in a mere six days, with no real feature experience.
A dino attack scene causes friction on set in this scene.
In the documentary, “A struggling filmmaker’s opportunity collides with chaos and compromise when Sharknado’s notorious studio, The Asylum, invites him to direct a ‘mockbuster.’ With six days, a micro budget, and mounting pressure, Mockbuster is a comedic, behind-the-scenes documentary exploring the balance between low-budget filmmaking and creative ambition.”
More than just an inside look at filmmaking via low-budget film studio The Asylum, it doubles as one man’s pursuit of his dreams to charming, humorous effect.
“Mockbuster is a documentary about my own journey, but it’s also a love letter to one of the last grindhouses still functioning in Hollywood. We get to meet the characters and creators of some of the most infamous (and most hated) B-movies of the last few decades. People who make movies purely for profit – no pretension, no artistry, just monsters, C-listers, and chaos. A film that both genre fans and cinephiles can enjoy. But Mockbuster isn’t just about filmmaking, it’s about losing sight of your dreams, and reclaiming them in your own twisted way,” Director Anthony Frith said in a statement.
From Executive Producer and famed documentarian David Farrier, Mockbuster opens in select theaters and on digital platforms beginning July 10.