Launched in 1997 by Rodrigo Gudiño, RUE MORGUE is the world’s leading horror in culture and entertainment brand, spearheaded by its multiple award-winning magazine, RUE MORGUE and RUE MORGUE DIGITAL; RUE MORGUE TV specialty horror channel; RUE MORGUE LIBRARY book series; RUE MORGUE PRESENTS FRIGHTMARE IN THE FALLS horror expo and RUE MORGUE PRESENTS CINEMACABRE MOVIE NIGHTS monthly film series.
Rue Morgue Special Issues
AUTHOR’S NOTE
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION: A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ONE NIGHT AT THE DRIVE-IN
DON COSCARELLI
1979 PHANTASM
WHO IS THE TALL MAN TO
THE AMERICAN WAY OF DEATH • PHANTASM’S ROOTS IN FUNERARY TECHNOLOGY AND CUSTOM
“THE FUNERAL IS ABOUT TO BEGIN…SIR!” • LAWRENCE RORY GUY A.K.A. ANGUS SCRIMM
WHO IS THE TALL MAN … TO YOU?
WHO IS THE TALL MAN TO …JOHN KENNETH MUIR?
REQUIEM FOR THE TALL MAN • LAWRENCE RORY GUY, A.K.A. ANGUS SCRIMM KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, 1926 – TARZANA, CALIFORNIA, 2016
TRAUMATIS PERSONAE
A. MICHAEL BALDWIN • “IT’S MY LITTLE BROTHER. I THINK HE’S GOT SOME KIND OF A PROBLEM.”
REGGIE BANNISTER • “…AND YOU’RE A BALD, MIDDLE-AGED EX-ICE CREAM VENDOR.”
BILL THORNBURY • “YOU’RE NEVER COMING BACK, YOU GODDAMN BASTARD!”
KAT LESTER • “SO, WHAT’S THE ONLY THING TO DO IN THIS TOWN?”
OF SPHERES AND DWARVES
A DIFFERENT END, MY FRIEND FROM PHANTASM AND PHANTASM III: LORD OF THE DEAD • “WELL, I DON’T REALLY THINK THAT THE END CAN BE ASSESSED AS OF ITSELF AS BEING THE END BECAUSE, WHAT DOES THE END FEEL LIKE? IT’S LIKE SAYING – WHEN YOU TRY TO EXTRAPO-LATE THE END OF THE UNIVERSE – YOU SAY, ‘IF THE UNIVERSE IS INDEED INFINITE, THEN HOW, WHAT DOES IT MEAN? HOW FAR IS ALL THE WAY, AND THEN IF IT STOPS, WHAT’S STOPPING IT? AND WHAT’S BEHIND WHAT’S STOPPING IT?’ SO, ‘WHAT’S THE END?’ YOU KNOW, IS MY QUESTION TO YOU.”
SPHERES OF INFLUENCE • COSCARELLI ON INVADERS FROM MARS AND SUSPIRIA
1988 PHANTASM II
WHO IS THE TALL MAN TO …DAVE ALEXANDER?
A VERY, VERY FAST HISTORY OF THE HEMI ‘CUDA
WHO IS THE TALL MAN TO
MUSIC OF THE SPHERES • DON COSCARELLI ON COMPOSERS FRED MYROW AND CHRISTOPHER STONE AND THE PHANTASM SCORE
1994 PHANTASM III: LORD OF THE DEAD
YOU’RE A BETTER MAN THAN I, BOB IVY • PHANTASM III’S INFAMOUS HEARSE CRASH STUNT: THE TRUE STORY
APOCALYPSE POSTPONED ROGER AVARY AND THE PHANTASM SEQUEL THAT NEVER HAPPENED
WHO IS THE TALL MAN TO
1998 PHANTASM: OBLIVION
REVISIT, RESTORE, REANIMATE • PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN ON J.J. ABRAMS’ 4K PHANTASM REVAMP
WHO IS THE TALL MAN TO
BETWEEN THE COVERS – WITH THE TALL MAN • KATE COSCARELLI AND THE NOVELIZATION OF PHANTASM
DARK DESIGNS • RARE AND UNSEEN PHANTASM CONCEPT ART BY JUSTIN ZAHARCZUK
RICHARD ELKIN: O.G.* • MEET THE MAN BEHIND THE SENTINEL
NEW KID IN THE MAUSOLEUM: DAVID HARTMAN
2016 PHANTASM: RAVAGER
EPILOGUE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS