After years of fans clamouring for conclusion, years of series creator Don Coscarelli negotiating to try to get the project off of the ground, and even rumours of Bruce Campbell joining the series, the David Hartman-helmed Phantasm: Ravager is here to take a bow for the Phantasm series finale, with Coscarelli serving as co-writer and producer. The series has definitely had its ups and downs, but there’s no question that it holds a place in many horror fans’ hearts. But the questions remains: Does Hartman do the series justice after Coscarelli had helmed all the previous entries, and is this the worthy send-off that we’ve been hoping for?
Still on the hunt for his friends Mike (Michael Baldwin) and Jody (Bill Thornbury), shotgun-toting Reggie (Reggie Bannister) wanders throughout time and dimensions searching for them, as well as the one responsible for all of this, the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm). Reggie’s journey leads him to realities where he’s left in a dystopian world the Tall Man has conquered, the “present” where Reggie rides his 1971 black Plymouth Barracuda in search of the Tall Man, to even being stuck sharing a nursing home room with someone who may (or may not be) the Tall Man himself.
From the opening scene of Reggie walking down a deserted road, you know you’re in for something special. Hartman uses the opportunity to bring fans up to speed with Reggie narrating a quick series overview (it’s been over 18 years since OblIVion, after all), accompanied by some epic orchestral music. The title card hits, and we’re off. If there’s one thing to take away from Ravager, is that there’s definitely a lot of heart here. Everyone on the screen enjoys being in the film and giving their all. Hartman does the best he can with an indie-style budget, and certainly tries to make the most of it with some shots. Several shots harken back to past films, which is so much fun to see. Speaking of which, Ravager can be thought of as an amalgamation of the best of the past films. Part balls-out action flick (pun intended), part surrealist nightmare. There’s a lot of those silver spheres floating around, alongside ghouls to blow away, and plenty of the red stuff. The film also flips between different narratives where you’re not quite sure what’s “reality” and what’s a “dream”. There are also some rather poignant moments (such as the first conversation between Reggie and Mike) that touch on a sad reality. You realize that this is the last go-round for the series and the cast, and that the film, despite the hints of a potential sequel, really is meant as a send-off. Regardless, Ravager is one that you have to pay attention to in order to make sense of what’s going on, and fans of the series will have fun doing it.
Ravager is Reggie Bannister’s film. Reggie carries the film, blowing away spheres and ghouls where he can, while doing the appropriate bumbling around with women and getting himself into trouble. Series vets Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury and Gloria Lynne Henry all show up at various points to delight fans. Newcomer to the series Stephen Jutras as Chunk fits right in with the slapstick antics that he and Reggie get into. Dawn Cody as Dawn also turns in a fun performance. Angus Scrimm, of course, does what he does best as the Tall Man. It’s a shame that he’s not in more of the movie, but given his real-life state at the time (and subsequent passing), it’s understandable. The scene in the nursing home when Reggie first discovers the Tall Man (or is he?) is a perfect example of Scrimm being able to draw you in.
Moments like that are key for Ravager, as there are also some aspects of the film that threaten to take you out of the experience. Going in, I heard words like “disjointed” and “rough” being thrown around. And Ravager does have its rough spots. The disjointed feeling comes partly from the flipping through realities as the narratives pile on top of each other, but that’s to be expected (it’s Phantasm, after all). What isn’t so covered up is the CGI, which is okay at its best, and cringeworthy at its worst. There’s obvious greenscreening in parts where actors are seemingly separate from what’s on the screen, and the gore is often a victim of CGI squibs. Being shot digitally also gives the film a certain look that feels “off” in places, but that’s to be expected. Lastly, there are some action moments that could’ve been a bit tighter, but nothing to really take you out of the film.
So, does Ravager cap the series off in a way that will satisfy fans? Absolutely. There’s enough throwback to past entries, enough gore, action and surrealist moments that fans will enjoy. Plus, there’s a real sense that this was a labour of love for everyone involved, which makes it special. Is it a perfect film? Certainly not. There’s an obvious indie vibe going on, and the cheap CGI pulls the film down at points. But to be picking at Ravager for being an indie production isn’t really fair, seeing as the original was considered a low budget independent at the time. Newcomers to the series are best to go back and watch the original films before stepping into this one, but the longtime fans will feel a sense of satisfaction in this final entry.
Phantasm: Ravager is out in theatres for a limited run October 7th, and available On Demand and Digital HD October 4th.