Shared with you
(at around 59 mins) The scene in which Reggie finds out that Jennifer's breasts are in fact spheres and gets attacked by them was directly taken from a dream sequence featured in the original screenplay for "Phantasm's End", penned by Roger Avary. Its inclusion in this film was intended as a homage / tribute to this doomed Phantasm sequel project. The scene in question was even fully storyboarded in color and depicted Reggie (dressed up with his ice cream vendor uniform, another idea also picked up in Phantasm IV: Oblivion) trying to get laid with a dominatrix hooker in a brothel room. To his surprise, he discovers that her breasts are spheres attached to her chest and gets attacked by them. In the struggle, he gets both of his hands drilled and, before one of the spheres can penetrate his skull, he suddenly wakes up and realizes it was just a nightmare.
After a very mixed fan reaction and some harsh criticism received in relation to Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994), Don Coscarelli decided that he had already gone too far in the action/comedy direction. Subsequently, he wanted to bring the saga "back to its roots" crafting a low budget sequel more focused in the horror and surrealist aspects of the story, in the vein of Phantasm (1979). At the same time, plenty of unused footage from the original film was located after having being lost for years. The conjunction of both things ultimately became the basis for Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998).
The synopsis for the canceled "Phantasm's End" script written by Roger Avary goes as it follows: "The year is 2012 and there are only three U.S. states left. Between New York and California is the wasteland known as the Plague Zone. Unfortunately, the evil Tall Man controls that area. Since many people are dead, the Tall Man is able to make thousands of dwarf slaves for his planet daily in the Mormon Mausoleum. Besides him, the other residents are "baggers," human-like creatures that are infected by the Tall Man's blood, the dwarves, and, of course, the silver spheres, all trying to break out of the barrier that contains them and into the real world. A group of hi-tech troops are sent in to destroy the red dimension where the Tall Man gets his power. Reggie follows so he can find Mike after a series of nightmares he had. Will they be able to finally destroy the Tall Man for good?"
The song that plays during the end credits, "Have you seen it?", was actually composed and performed by Reggie Bannister and his band under the name Reggie "B" & The Yizz Wailin' Ya' Doggies. It is included in their 1996 album "Fool's Paradise".
In the original script, Tim's character, portrayed by Kevin Connors in Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994), was savagely eaten alive by the dwarves at the beginning of the movie, but budget constraints prevented the scene from being filmed.
(at around 5 mins) Angus Scrimm was suffering from laryngitis during the filming of the opening scene. That's why his usually deep Tall Man voice sounds more like Orson Welles.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
