I was first introduced to Phantasm almost two decades ago. I had discreetly rented the tape from Blockbuster (that whole “not being 18” thing was a problem). To say that Don Coscarelli took me on a wild ride was an understatement. Terrifying, funny and weird at the same time, Phantasm quickly became one of my favorite films. Now, almost 40 years after the Tall Man first terrorized Mike and Reggie, the Phantasm series is getting a much longed-for sequel in Ravager. In addition, thanks to series fan J.J. Abrahms and his company Bad Robot Productions, we now have a brand new 4K restoration of the original film (entitled Phantasm: Remastered) that made its d&eacte;but at this year’s SXSW festival. Nostalgia be damned, Phantasm still holds up after all these years. But is the restoration as kind as time?

A small Oregon town has been besieged by a number of mysterious deaths. While Jody Pearson (Bill Thornbury) and his friend Reggie (Reggie Bannister) attend the funeral of a mutual friend, Jody’s kid brother, Mike (Michael Baldwin), sees the local mortician (Angus Scrimm) perform an unnatural feat of strength. Mike begins to suspect the mortician (dubbed the Tall Man) has something to do with the deaths. Mike’s suspicions are confirmed after some weird encounters with cloaked dwarf creatures, flying silver spheres, and the Tall Man himself. It’s up to Mike, Reggie and Jody to discover just what’s going on, and what they can do to stop the Tall Man before it’s too late.

One of the first things that struck me about Phantasm was its presentation. I’m not talking about the obvious (the 70s hair, fashion and cars). Rather, I’m referring to the use of colour, music and cinematography. I’ve heard that Phantasm is the equivalent of an Americanized Giallo film, and I have to agree. Coscarelli’s use of imagery and sound evoke similar thoughts when compared to works by Mario Bava and Dario Argento. The vivid colours of blood (both yellow and red), the dream-like sequences that are actually the film’s reality, and the mysterious score all contribute to Phantasm‘s surrealism. Of course, it all makes for a pretty strange film that loves dipping into the fantasy realm right from the start. But that’s part of the fun of the film. It’s not done in a hokey manner, even though you’re bombarded with scenes where you’re unsure if they’re real or a dream or seemingly being played out of sequence. It makes you sit up and take notice, wondering what’s going to happen next.

Now in the era of high definition, the audio and visual aspects of Phantasm, while still strong for the time, were in need of an upgrade. The past DVD releases didn’t entirely do the film justice. Thankfully, that’s been remedied with this new 4K restoration and sound mix. Colours are more vibrant than ever, and details such as rain during the opening scene in the cemetery are finally given the attention they needed. The score is just as mesmerizing and menacing as before, but with an added “oomph” that makes it more tense with added clarity. It’s quite the revelation as to just how much better the film looks and feels thanks to Abrams’ efforts. I know that some will claim that the wire removal during the caretaker sphere scene and the giant fly sequence constitute going into George Lucas territory of revisionism, but honestly, I didn’t mind.

Another big attraction is the late, great Angus Scrimm. Purposely clad in a suit that was a size too small to make him even more imposing, the man obviously delighted in his role. His numerous appearances at conventions and interviews only cemented that view. He loved being the Tall Man. He WAS and IS the Tall Man. Coscarelli has talked in amazement about how a kind, sweet man in Scrimm could turn it off and become something of nightmares. It’s truly a sign of a great actor. The mannerisms in which Scrimm moved and talked all contributed to a memorable horror villain. Scrimm’s iconic “BOOOOOYYY!” still gets me giddy after all these years. The subsequent sequels only served to add to and solidify the character. Of course, a villain is only as good as the hero. Michael Baldwin definitely got what his role was in the film, and made it work. He didn’t play it like so many other child actors fumbling around the script. Mike is believable and sympathetic, while having a nice bit of attitude and humour thrown in. The “Umm…oh, shit” line perfectly summed up how good he was in his delivery and in drawing the audience in. Reggie, who eventually became the series’ hero, makes being an ice cream truck driver badass and endearing simultaneously.

Admittedly, the bizarre happenings of Phantasm works for it and against it. The film’s narrative is all over the place, with sequences (like the fortune teller and car chase scenes) making little sense when equated to the rest of the film. The film’s ending steps over the line of being “out there” to almost eye-rolling in terms of the disposing of the Tall Man. But again, given the surreal nature of what we’ve witnessed already, the ending still fits (albeit a bit awkwardly).

If you haven’t seen Phantasm, you really ought to. Scrimm’s performance is captivating, and the music pulls you into the film’s dream-like world and completes the picture. Yeah, it’s not for everyone with the weirdness, but dammit, see it just to experience it. In addition to Ravager, this new 4K remaster is seriously the best treat that fans could hope for, and is definite proof of the film’s endearing and timeless appeal. I can’t wait for the Blu-Ray release.

Phantasm is out in theatres for a limited engagement October 7th, and available On Demand and Digital HD October 4th.