BLU-RAY REVIEW

Phantasm: Ravager

Featured In Issue 215, March 2017

Picture4.5
Sound4.5
WSR Score3.5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Well Go USA
(Catalog Number):
WGU01767B
(MPAA Rating):
Not Rated
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$$29.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
86
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
(Disc Release Date):
12/6/2016
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
David Hartman
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

After battling with the Tall Man in Phantasm: Oblivion, in Phantasm: Ravager, a battered Reggie (Bannister) wanders through the desert in search of his missing friend, Mike (Baldwin). After recovering his 1971 Hemi 'Cuda, Reggie is targeted by two of the Tall Man's Sentinel Spheres and destroys them. He awakens suddenly to find himself siting in a wheelchair pushed by none other than the elusive Mike. Reggie must travel between dimensions and discern what is reality in order to confront the mysteries at the heart of a decades-long struggle against evil. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director David Hartman and Writer and Producer Don Coscarelli; a behind-the-scenes featurette (HD 05:24); three deleted scenes: Giant Dwarf (HD 03:47), Escape From Dawn's Cabin (HD 02:24) and Cuda vs Sphere (HD 01:42); bloopers and outtakes (HD 08:40); the theatrical trailer; and upfront previews.

The 1.78:1 1080p AVC picture is natural throughout with a well-balanced color palette. Hues are rich and warm and consistently natural. Earthy tones are perfectly natural as well. Fleshtones are perfectly hued. The lighting design effectively renders the darkest scenes with well-delineated shadow detail. Contrast is excellent with deep, natural blacks. Resolution is excellent with fine detail exhibited throughout, especially during close-ups of facial features, hair, clothing and object texture. The imagery at times is quite haunting and engaging, as well as visually stylized. Overall this is a great improvement in image quality compared to the original, and should fully please fans. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is dynamic sounding with good fidelity throughout. Dialogue is perfectly intelligible and effectively integrated spatially. Foley sound effects are well executed. Atmospherics and sound effects are also well rendered with effective aggressive surround envelopment. Deep bass is prominent and effective in boosting sound effects. The music score is quite active and dynamic sounding with excellent fidelity. The music extends wide and deep and nicely engages the entire soundfield for an engaging holosonic´presence. This is a fine soundtrack that effectively delivers a haunting, mysterious sonic experience. (Gary Reber)