News

Late To The Party – Phantasm II

Published

6 years ago

January 3, 2018

Chris Fischer

In my last edition of Late To The Party we jumped head first straight into the slimy sewers of horror’s smelliest little movies – Ghoulies. After wading hip-deep through that sloppy shit stream of a film it’s time to wash away all of that loathsome stink off of us by finally watching one of horror’s finest offerings – Phantasm II.

Phantasm is among the most sacred horror franchises ever unleashed upon audiences. For the longest time American fans were deprived of owning this masterful collection as any proper Blu-ray set. It was a collection only available to our UK friends, and our shelves were lesser for it. Then rumors began to circulate about a Blu-ray set being released on this side of the pond. J.J. Abrams (Cloverfield, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) was determined to see it happen and became the driving force for the films release.

image via boomstickcomics

All five Phantasm movies made their way home early Spring of last year, and I couldn’t wait to get it! I had only ever seen the first movie and was eager to finally watch the complete saga. So here we are finally watching Phantasm II.

The movie starts out with a literal bang! It wisely opens with the finale of the last film. Reggie and Mike (Reggie Bannister, A. Michael Baldwin) – after narrowly surviving the cataclysmic wiles of the Tall Man (Angus Scimm) – decide to take off and start anew. Someplace with no stained memories of the Tall Man or his hooded minions.

image via Scared Stiff Reviews

But the Tall Man is an eternal entity and not of our dimension. He cannot be stopped which only adds to his malevolent charms. While Mike is in his room packing to leave the Tall Man attacks. If it wasn’t for Reggie’s vigilance Mike could have easily found himself in the eerie dimension of the Tall Man’s bleak reality.

An army of hooded dwarves (trust me it’s darker and cooler than it sounds on paper) swarm the house and attack our heroes. Reggie is always proving to be one step ahead though. He turns on the gas stove (please don’t ever try this at home) and escapes with Mike as the house fills with gas and eventually is ignited by the open fire place. KA-BOOM!

We’re also introduced to our newest hero – Liz (Paula Irvine). She shares a unique telepathic connection with Mike, and together they find themselves pitted against the evils of the Tall Man through haunted dreams. The Tall Man is drawn to their psychic powers and has use for them in his hellish realm. Because of this Mike is convinced Liz is in grave danger and takes off to find her.

image via geeks of doom

Before he can begin his quest though he has to convince Reggie to go along on his hair-brained plan. You see, Mike has been undergoing some (from what we can assume) heavy therapy sessions over the traumatic events of the first film. Reggie tries to assure Mike that’s it was all an illusion – or perhaps a phantasm? Mike makes a very compelling argument though as he shows Reggie that every grave has been emptied, undeniable proof of the Tall Man’s heinous work.

This movie was given a bigger budget and the sets prove it. At times the film is beautiful with its scenes of cemeteries and old mausoleums. They also realized how much fans loved the Phantasm score and really amped it up this time around. Something else they seemed to realize was how much audiences love Reggie. Our favorite guitar-picking ice-cream vendor becomes an action hero this time around. I suppose they explored that in the first movie, but it feels way more accentuated in the sequel.

image via Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

But how could I not talk about the Tall Man? The fiend is a rock star, and I’m convinced Angus Scrimm was somewhat aware of that. He dominates each scene he’s in. He really does seem unstoppable, and that’s what you want from a horror villain. I love that we really know nothing about him, but we’re afraid of him nonetheless. This movie was made at a time when directors knew less is more and it gave us some brilliant monsters.

image via Den of Geek

Unlike Ghoulies I really loved this one. Phantasm II delivers in every way. If you’ve not had the pleasure of seeing this one yet I can highly recommend it.

I still have three more movies in this series to watch so maybe they’ll appear on future installments of Late To The Party.

This has been Manic Exorcism once again. Happy New Year, faithful reader!

“You think when you die you go to Heaven. You come to us!” – Tall Man

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Editorial

Yay or Nay: What’s Good and Bad in Horror This Week

Published

22 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Welcome to Yay or Nay a weekly mini post about what I think is good and bad news in the horror community written in bite-sized chunks.

Yay:

Mike Flanagan talking about directing the next chapter in the Exorcist trilogy. That might mean he saw the last one and realized there were two left and if he does anything well it’s draw out a story.

Yay:

To the announcement of a new IP-based film Mickey Vs Winnie. It’s fun to read comical hot takes from people who haven’t even seen the movie yet.

Nay:

The new Faces of Death reboot gets an R rating. It’s not really fair — Gen-Z should get an unrated version like past generations so they can question their mortality the same as the rest of us did.

Yay:

Russell Crowe is doing another possession movie. He’s quickly becoming another Nic Cage by saying yes to every script, bringing the magic back to B-movies, and more money into VOD.

Nay:

Putting The Crow back in theaters for its 30th anniversary. Re-releasing classic movies at the cinema to celebrate a milestone is perfectly fine, but doing so when the lead actor in that film was killed on set due to neglect is a cash grab of the worst kind.

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Lists

The Top-Searched Free Horror/Action Movies on Tubi This Week

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.

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News

Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Believe it or not, Mattel’s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors.

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy. Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie.

As with any niche collectibles these aren’t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but it’s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time.

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Family’s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift that’s so macabre, it’s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.