The Phantasm Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

The Phantasm Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman April 7, 2017

It really hasn’t been all that long since Well Go USA released both Phantasm and Phantasm: Ravager on Blu- ray, and so the label’s decision just a few months later to revisit the Phantasm well with a new Phantasm Collection may seem at least a little risky, perhaps especially considering the fact that Shout! Factory offered up Phantasm II in its own “Collector’s Edition” several years ago, a version which is included in this release down to the Shout! banner at disc boot up. That would mean that some devoted Phantasm fans may already have three of the five films, albeit perhaps not in the version presented on this release with regard to the first and fifth film, since Well Go USA has sweetened the pot and offered up a handsomely packaged deluxe set with this new release, one with quite a bit of new bonus material (even for some of the previously released Well Go versions) and an in depth book as added allure.

For reviews of the five films in this set, please click on the following reviews:

Phantasm Blu-ray review

Phantasm II Blu-ray review

Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead Blu-ray review

Phantasm IV: Oblivion Blu-ray review

Phantasm: Ravager Blu-ray review

The Phantasm Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Video quality for each release is assessed in the above linked reviews. All of the screenshots accompanying this review come from the Bonus Disc's special features (see listing below).

The Phantasm Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio quality for each release is assessed in the above linked reviews.

The Phantasm Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Supplementary material included with each film is detailed in the above linked reviews. Additionally, this set includes a sixth Bonus Disc which contains the following material:

• Phantasm and You: A Comic Recap of the First Four Films by Ravager Director David Hartman (1080p; 3:28) is a kind of funny fake documentary done "old school" (literally, like one of those black and white documentaries they used to show in school back in the Dark Ages).


• Phantasm Flashback Weekend Chicago Convention Panel Discussion (2008) (1080i; 32:22) includes Reggie Bannister, Don Coscarelli, Kathy Lester, Bill Thornbury, Michael Baldwin and Angus Scrimm.


• Phantasm Flashback Weekend Chicago Convention Cast Panel (2014) (1080i; 39:34) includes Reggie Bannister, Bill Thornbury, Don Coscarelli, Kathy Lester, Michael Baldwin and Angus Scrimm.


• Phantasm Flashback Weekend Concert Performance by Kat Lester (1080i; 5:47) features a musical performance.


• 2016 Fantastic Fest Premiere and Q&A (1080p; 32:48) includes Don Coscarelli, Kat Lester, Bill Thornbury, Reggie Bannister and Michael Baldwin.


• Phantasmagoria: A Documentary and Interviews with the Cast and Crew of Phantasm (1080p; 1:41:51) probably unavoidably covers some material already detailed in the "Making Of" featurettes included on the discs with the films, but for fans this is another cornucopia of production trivia, with some fun interviews and looks at things like special effects "magic".


• Phantasmagorical Mystery Tour with Your Host, Reggie Bannister (1080i; 13:55) visits some of the locations. This has unfortunately been anamorphically squeezed.


• Phantasm Genesis (1080p; 17:50) is an archival retrospective.


• Phandom (1080p; 18:27) looks at the fan phenomenon that has sprung up for this franchise.

In addition to the on disc supplements, this handsomely packaged set also includes a 120 page softcover booklet entitled The Phantasm Compendium, which has tons of information on all the films, including interviews and an introduction by Don Coscarelli. Rounding out the non disc supplements is a reversible poster.

The Phantasm Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Maybe it wasn't that much of a risk after all for Well Go USA to revisit Phantasm so soon after their standalone releases of the first and fifth films, for the franchise's fan base is ardent (to say the least) and in this particular case the label has gone the extra mile by providing more supplementary material as well as roomier real estate for its own previously released films. Phantasm aficionados are almost certain to want this set, but even those who haven't yet fallen under the sway of the Tall Man may be enticed by this package's technical merits and supplementary material. Highly recommended.