Why wait until October to do the Get Down Goblin? Thanks to Saint Antonio & Jan Terri.
Phantasm II
If you watch the extras on the DVD for the original PHANTASM, one thing director DON COSCARELLI was particularly proud of was his casting choices. He felt that the audience automatically sympathized with characters that they could recognize from their own lives rather than perfecto Hollywood types. I agree with that thought but guess what? UNIVERSAL PICTURES didn't, and so PHANTASM star A. MICHAEL BALDWIN was replaced by JAMES LEGROS for PHANTASM's nearly decade later sequel. Apparently BRAD PITT was also up for the role so I guess the word we can use is "compromise." Hey, JAMES LEGROS is a likable enough guy and I don't have my glasses on right now, but nobody could accuse him of being a pretty boy, right? Let's give him a break! Still for some PHANTASM fans this was a bit of a disappointment although they must have been at least partially appeased by the presence of Mr. Irreplaceable himself REGGIE BANNISTER.
PHANTASM II was released in 1988. Do you remember what song the world of horror was singing in 1988? I do. It went a little something like this: "Freddy Krueger, Freddy Krueger, yea, yea yea!" So ironically, even though our Mr.Krueger pretty much climbed up out of the dream world on ANGUS SCRIMM's back, now "The Tall Man" has got to start dancing to Freddy's tune! At least that's how I read an early scene where his tallness appears as a worm creature protruding from a hunchback in order to bark out nasty threats. Once the ELM STREET pandering is out of the way, COSCARELLI begins a rather brave attempt at expanding his PHANTASM universe triple fold. By which I mean, instead of one killer ball you now get three and instead of one cemetery you're now conceivably dealing with every cemetery in the world. MICHAEL (now JAMES LEGROS) and REGGIE, their families wiped out by "The Tall Man" and his minions, hit the road HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN style and decide to destroy the scourge once and for all.
PHANTASM II has somewhat of different tone than its predecessor. It's post apocalyptic, it always seems to be night and, whereas the original sported vibrant crayola box hues, we now get muddy watercolors. You also suddenly get two, count ‘em two, pretty lady characters. One is Liz (PAULA IRVINE) who shares a lovey-dovey psychic link with Michael and one is Alchemy or "Chemmy" (SAMANTHA PHILIPS) who has a very convenient for Reggie case of Acomophilia (sexual attraction to baldness). Although the first half of the film putters around a bit as it tries to get newbies up to speed, the second half, where it is decided that THE EVIL DEAD is the film to cuddle up to and emulate, gets to be more rousing. Cameras bust through doors, chainsaw fights ensue, one liners fly about and we even get a bag of ashes marked SAM RAIMI. I prefer this half to the earlier one, but it is still a bit difficult for me to adjust to this new approach. Look at me, I just called something from 1988 "new," how sad is that?
PHANTASM II is a likable enough sequel but it often breaks a noticeable sweat in its effort to please. As fun as it is to visit with the characters and to witness the special effect upgrades, I kind of miss the laid back, lazy summer charm of the original film. I also can't help wondering what could have been had COSCARELLI been left to his own devices and allowed to let his imagination run wild (preferably with A. MICHAEL BALDWIN in tow). That said, even with the forced action set pieces and panting attempts to keep up with the times, PHANTASM II still keeps at least one bony finger on the morbid wonder that made the first movie so great and I thank it for that. I also thank it for my favorite Tall Man line of the series, "You think that when you die you go to heaven…YOU COME TO US!"
NOTE: Even though the movie PHANTASM II doesn't exactly knock my tube socks off, this promo spot sure does. I can remember the anticipation it injected in me like it was yesterday. Is it a dream? No, it's not!
Traumafessions :: Reader Nicki M. on Welcome to the Dead House
When I was around six, I was obsessed with the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stein. (Mostly the movies, as I couldn't read well at the time). One of the first of the Goosebumps movies I ever saw was one of the scariest and most traumatic moments of my young life. It was enclosed in a creepy little VHS tape with an almost AMITYVILLE HORROR-style house on it with the words "Welcome to Dead House" written above it.
I don't remember the plot very well (it WAS 9 years ago, after all) but it was something about this family who moves into a house and the neighbors start acting weird, and then something about burning a wreath. I dunno. I do know that this movie scarred me in ways neither me nor my parents would have expected.
Even now, 15, a freshman in high school, my Dad has to close the windows for me at night and shoo the rabbits out from under my bed (I let them out to run, they like to hide under there) because I am terrified of bending down to look. I have been totally petrified of horror movies and scary pictures to this day (even reading your site has induced some heart-jumps) and I can owe it all to that wonderful story about zombies and some stupid rotting wreath.
Traumafessions :: Reader Carol on Darby O'Gill & The Little People
Wow, where to begin….
My big trauma as a kid took place at a drive in. There were five of us kids, all cousins and routinely, my mom and aunt would pile us into a an old tank of a station wagon, and take us to the Disney Films as they came out. I guess I was about 6 or 7, anyways, they took us to see DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE. The movie was harmless enough and, as kids do, we would climb over the seats bouncing around to the light music.
I liked cute King O'Brien and Katey Darlin, but then it happened… the storm started up and all of a sudden is there is what seems to be a huge horse that takes on a ghostly looking cast.
"She's chasing a pooka," is what I believe what Darby said as his daughter chased off after her horse into the crags the Irish moors. The five of us kids all screamed at the same time and I hurled myself into the very back of the car and hid under a blanket. I peeked out just in time to see the most horrifying ghost looking thing, wailing and screaming on the screen… the "Banshee."
This was too much to bear. I tore out of the car, in my Dr. Dentons, running to the safety of the playground. I guess I thought the swings could save me. To this day, I don't like the word, or the sounds of that hideous wail. What was supposed to be a sweet little people movie turned, for me, into a tale of horror!
And, to add insult to injury, my husband and I are going to Ireland this spring, I wanted to go see where the "Banshee" was filmed along with the ruins in the scene. Come to find out the whole movie was shot at Foothill Ranch and/or Albertson Ranch and/or at the Burbank Studios…. guess the Banshee is closer than I think!
AUNT JOHN SEZ: Carol, if it's any consolation, one of my elementary school classmates had an even more visceral reaction to this Disney chestnut!
Name That Trauma :: Reader Kevin on an Office Immersed in the Occult
Hi. I stumbled on your site entirely by accident about 3-4 months ago and have been enjoying it ever since. Friends I recommend it to also like it.
I have a childhood trauma that needs identifying. Any help would be appreciated. This would date from sometime in the 1960s and in my memory it was called THE GHOST BREAKERS and was in black and white. But all I've ever found of that name is the old BOB HOPE scare picture and this ain't that. So it may be an episode of a T.V. show rather than a movie. (In fact IMDB lists an unsold pilot called "Ghostbreakers" which aired in 1967, five years after it was filmed but somehow I think I'd remember that MARGARET HAMILTON was in the one I saw; instead I don't remember any particular cast members. Nor does their synopsis match my memory.)
Anyway, this basically had to do with people who worked for a business concern that were being knocked off. One guy, I think, is strangled when his tie gets caught in an office machine or teletype, or whatever. Stuff like that happens and I believe it appears that the company founder, or prior CEO, or somebody, has come back from the dead and his killing people. Revenge or whatever, I don't remember.
The most vivid scene is a guy late at the office who disrespectfully (or just out of boredom) tosses darts at a portrait of somebody (the old boss man?) and when one sticks in the picture what looks like blood seeps out. (That's what freaked me out as a kid.) So the guy is shocked and decides to get out, but sees some figure in the hallway (same boss guy?) and is frightened so he starts to run and gets to the elevator and steps in — and falls down an empty elevator shaft.
That's all I've got! I'd love some help to either confirm that it is/isn't the program listed on IMDB, or some other movie, or whatever the hell it is.
Thanks!
Kevin
Traumafessions :: Reader Steve G. on Paperhouse
Hey there,
Poking about a bit, it appears you don't have an article yet about PAPERHOUSE. I got a deep little scar from that one a long time back that drove me to buy the film on laserdisc even though I don't have a player. Hasn't made it to DVD so far except overseas, but I see that it's on YouTube. Time to see if it's as disturbing as I recall:
Whoa, yeah.
UNK SEZ: Dear Steve, Thanks for bringing up PAPERHOUSE, a perfect film for the pages of Kindertrauma. I have not seen that one in a while but I remember being impressed with it as well. It was directed by BERNARD ROSE the same guy who delivered one of my all time favorites, CANDYMAN. For those interested, PAPERHOUSE involves a young girl named Anna (CHARLOTTE BURKE) who upon becoming ill begins to draw her way into another world. Whatever she adds to the drawing becomes real in this alternative landscape. This is a good thing when she adds a pal named Marc and a bad thing when she adds her long lost dad. Turns out Dad has a thing for hammers and Anna's dreamworld quickly becomes a nightmare. PAPERHOUSE leans toward psycological fantasy more than horror but there is no denying that Anna's pop is a real figure of menace. PAPERHOUSE is based on a book called MARIANNE DREAMS by CATHERINE STORR which also has a devout fan base. As you pointed out Steve, for the time being PAPERHOUSE can only be viewed on youtube or tracked down on VHS. Too bad Anna can't draw PAPERHOUSE onto DVD!
Kinder-flix:: Lego Silence Of The Lambs
Thanks to Popped Culture via Jazjaz!
Name That Traumatot :: Round 4
Kinder-Flix :: Disturbing Strokes
Special thanks to Carrie White Burns in Hell!
Phantasm vs. Star Wars
Everybody knows that those little grave robbing critters from PHANTASM look exactly like those trash pickin' Jawa dudes from STAR WARS. Everybody also knows that STAR WARS came out in 1977 and PHANTASM came out in 1979. Some folks are telling me though that PHANTASM took several years to make and actually got to the miniature robed creatures first! Much like with every other debate that gets people all worked up and ready to blow things up, I like to take a "I could give a crap" stance. (Keep in mind, this is coming from somebody who knows firsthand that GEORGE LUCAS is a plagiarist on account of I invented the Ewok!) Can't we all just get along? To me STAR WARS and PHANTASM are two great tastes that taste great together just like peanut butter and jelly, LAVERNE & SHIRLEY and rainy days and nooses! Check these pix for more proof!
