PHANTASM V: RAVAGER (2016) – Balladeer’s Blog’s month-long celebration of Halloween continues with a review of what is supposedly the final installment of the Phantasm horror film series and what is DEFINITELY the final appearance of Angus Scrimm as the Tall Man. Scrimm passed away early this year, so that’s why I wrote “definitely” and given the obsession with reboots that’s why the “supposedly.”
This 5th Phantasm film answers the musical question “Ya mean there was a Phantasm FOUR?!” Yes, there was. It was released directly to video and was called Phantasm IV: Oblivion with the “iv” in Oblivion forming the Roman Numeral 4 in the title. Similarly the “v” in Ravager forms the Roman Numeral 5 in the title.
From 1979 to this calendar year the movies in this under-appreciated horror franchise forever changed the way we look at funeral homes. And funeral home directors. And Roman Numerals for that matter. For better or worse writer/director Don Coscarelli never sold out, never let the sinister Tall Man become an outer-space joke like Jason Voorhees or a Borscht-Belt Charles Manson like Freddy Krueger. (And it’s hard to believe the first Phantasm was rated X for violence in 1979.) Continue reading
THE WEREWOLF (1896) – By Clemence Annie Housman. Halloween month continues at Balladeer’s Blog! This neglected story features a female author writing about a FEMALE WEREWOLF so that makes it a bit special right there.
NUMBER THREE TAKES A FALL – The 6th ranked SADDLEBACK COLLEGE GAUCHOS welcomed the number 3 FULLERTON COLLEGE HORNETS for a Battle Royal. The Gauchos trailed the Hornets 14-6 in the 1st Quarter and 21-17 by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Fullerton College clinging to a 24-23 edge but Saddleback College managed a 4th Quarter comeback for a 30-27 victory. 
CARMILLA (1871) – By Sheridan Le Fanu. Balladeer’s Blog’s month-long celebration of Halloween continues. I would have thought that the classic vampire story Carmilla would be too well known for me to have to cover it. I’m surprised at how many people I encounter who are not familiar with the original story, however, just some of the adaptations. SPOILERS AHEAD! 
Balladeer’s Blog’s month-long celebration of Halloween continues … 
EIGHT AND O – The top 2 teams in the rankings are a perfect 8-0 now. The number 1 team in the nation – the GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS – thrashed their hosts the 12th ranked DODGE CITY COLLEGE CONQUISTADORS 36-7 ### And the number 2 ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS won a 21-9 road game against the unranked PIMA COLLEGE AZTECS. 
Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall. The wall was where Humpty Dumpty had decided to sit. Humpty Dumpty could be found on the wall, sitting. Sitting was the activity Humpty Dumpty was engaging in and the wall was the place he had chosen to sit. Everyone agreed that the wall was where Humpty Dumpty was sitting. 
