Phantasm fans will be in for a real treat when the Art House Convergence holds their annual Art House Theater Day on September 24, 2016. The event aims to celebrate the cultural and community growth that art house theaters provide. Over 185 theaters will participate in the event, which just announced its first wave of programming. Among the films playing is Phantasm: Remastered, an all-new 4K restoration of the original 1979 cult classic. Those who purchase a ticket to the film will get to see a never-before-seen sneak peak of Phantasm: Ravager, the fifth and final installment of the long-running franchise. A list of theaters playing the film can be found here.
From the official press release:
Art House Theater Day is excited to announce it will screen the brand-new restoration of Don Coscarelli’s 1979 cult sci-fi/horror classic, PHANTASM: REMASTERED, making its first appearance in theaters nationwide following its world premiere at this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival. In addition to PHANTASM: REMASTERED there will be a never-before-seen sneak peek behind the scenes of the fifth and final PHANTASM: RAVAGER including a tribute to Phantasm star Angus Scrimm.
PHANTASM: REMASTERED, distributed by Well Go USA Entertainment, has been given a loving 4K restoration from the original camera negative and a brand new 5.1 audio soundtrack, overseen by longtime fan J.J. Abrams and his production company Bad Robot. “When I made Phantasm three decades ago, the term “indie” didn’t have the same positive connotations that it does today. But that’s what Phantasm was. And in the decades since, the art house movement has cultivated an appreciation for independent films that break molds and push boundaries. That’s why it doesn’t surprise me that in 2016, art houses have embraced Phantasm and are giving it new life on Art House Theater Day. It’s really a dream come true to see it playing in so many exceptional theaters on the big screen, the way I originally intended, ” said filmmaker Don Coscarelli.
Directed by David Hartman, Phantasm: Ravager is the fifth installment in the long-running Phantasm series and also stars the late Angus Scrimm, who sadly passed away back in January. It will be his final role. Phantasm: Ravager brings one of horror’s longest-running franchises to a close.
Phantasm: Remastered came into being when filmmaker J.J. Abrams, a fan of the original, wanted to screen the film for his team at Bad Robot Productions- only to find the available prints in terrible shape. Working on the premises of Bad Robot with their expert staff, director Don Coscarelli was invited by J.J. to supervise a meticulous 4K digital remaster using their state-of-the-art tools. This included a brand-new 5.1 audio mix using the original stems, ensuring Phantasm will forever be available to scare the hell out of generations to come with perfect picture and sound.
