Reggie (Phantasm)

Last updated
Reggie
Phantasm character
First appearance Phantasm
Last appearance Phantasm: Ravager
Created by Don Coscarelli
Portrayed by Reggie Bannister
In-universe information
GenderMale
OccupationIce cream vendor
StatusDeceased

Reggie is a fictional character from the Phantasm series of horror films. In all of his appearances, Reggie has been portrayed by Reggie Bannister.

Contents

Concept and creation

Writer/director Don Coscarelli wrote the character for Reggie Bannister and based it on their friendship. They then pushed the character into new directions, divergent from Bannister's personality. Bannister describes the character as an everyman. [1] According to Coscarelli, everyman characters like Reggie are important, because they ground the film and allow humor to unfold. [2] Bannister further described the character as written to be extremely loyal; Bannister says that Coscarelli "wrote this character to be every guy's guy, every man's friend, the guy that would throw himself on the flames to the door of hell to save a friend." [3] The character was named after Bannister himself, as Coscarelli liked to draw characters from his own experiences. Instead of struggling to find a unique name, Coscarelli named him after the inspiration. [4] Bannister had much input into the character's portrayal, and Coscarelli frequently sought his opinion. [3] Bannister was influenced by the comedy of Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin; he states that Reggie is "a humorless character" who, like the characters of Lloyd and Chaplin, does not recognize the humor of his situations. [5] Nate Yapp describes the character as rising in prominence from a third lead to main protagonist. [1] Bannister states that the character starts as a simple ice cream vendor and progresses into an action hero, [3] and his rise to series protagonist turns him into the Tall Man's nemesis. [5] While working as a musician, Bannister was drafted during the Vietnam War, and he used this experience to guide his characterization of an ice cream vendor forced to confront evil. [6]

Characteristics

Marc Savlov describes the character as "a shotgun and guitar-wielding mensch with a receding hairline and a turbo-charged libido". [7] Brad Miska of Bloody Disgusting describes Reggie as "always horny" and identifies a traditional "Reggie Girl", a beautiful woman sent by The Tall Man to tempt Reggie. [8]

Appearances

In Phantasm (1979), Reggie is a friend of Jody (Bill Thornbury), whose younger brother Mike (A. Michael Baldwin) tries to convince them that a mortician called the Tall Man is responsible for a series of local deaths. Mike, Jody, and Reggie investigate the Tall Man and discover that he is reanimating the dead to use as slaves in another dimension. In a final confrontation, Jody and Mike defeat the Tall Man, and Reggie is seemingly killed. However, Mike wakes up with a start, and Reggie tells him that he was having a nightmare. Reggie explains that he has been taking care of Mike since the death of his older brother from a car crash, and nightmares have been a common occurrence. Confused, Mike goes upstairs and is attacked by the Tall Man, who captures him.

In Phantasm II (1988), Reggie saves Mike (James LeGros) from the Tall Man, but Mike is institutionalized for six years. Convinced that the events of the first film were not just a dream, Mike fakes his recovery and tries to recruit Reggie to help him track down the Tall Man and help Liz (Paula Irvine), a girl with whom Mike shares a telepathic link. Reggie at first resists and denies the existence of the Tall Man, but, when his family is killed by the Tall Man, Reggie vows revenge and joins Mike. After Liz is kidnapped by the Tall Man, Reggie and Mike break into the crematorium where she is held and pump the Tall Man full of acid-laced embalming fluid, which causes him to melt. However, the Tall Man reappears, captures Mike and Liz, and leaves Reggie for dead.

In Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994), Reggie saves Mike (A. Michael Baldwin) by threatening to blow up everyone with a grenade; the Tall Man, who desires Mike alive, retreats with the body of Liz, who has died. After Mike recovers in a hospital, the Tall Man kidnaps him. As he pursues the Tall Man, Reggie is joined by Tim (Kevin Connors), an orphan who has survived the Tall Man's destruction of his town, and Rocky (Gloria Lynne Henry), a tough soldier. In a dream, Reggie saves Mike with the help of Jody (Bill Thornbury), who has been transformed into a sphere. They follow the Tall Man to another mausoleum, where Reggie remembers that the Tall Man can not stand cold, and they use liquid nitrogen to freeze him. However, Mike realizes he's got a sphere in his head, and Reggie is attacked by dozens of spheres. A new Tall Man appears and watches as Tim is captured and killed.

In Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998), Reggie is released by the Tall Man "to play one last game". Jody (Bill Thornbury) convinces Reggie to find Mike (A. Michael Baldwin). Reggie is first attacked by a demonic policeman and then by a woman whom he rescues. In the desert, Mike learns more about the Tall Man's background and attempts to force a final confrontation. When Reggie and Mike reunite, Mike tells Reggie not to trust Jody. After unsuccessfully trying to prevent the creation of the Tall Man, Mike is captured by the Tall Man and Jody. Reggie and Mike fight off the Tall Man and lure him to a trap, where he is destroyed in an explosion. However, another Tall Man walks out of a dimensional portal and removes a golden sphere from Mike's head. Reggie chases after the Tall Man, and Mike apparently dies.

Reception

Twitch Film says, "Reggie Bannister remains one of the most unlikely action heroes ever committed to celluloid, but the man sells it like crazy." [9] Fearnet chose the character as one of their favorite sidekicks. [10] Nate Yapp of Classic-Horror.com calls him "the most badass dude ever to drive an ice cream truck." [1] William J. Wright of Film Threat calls him "one of horror's most interesting and truly human heroes". [6] In a positive review of Phantasm II, Amy Alexander of the Philadelphia Daily News states that Bannister brings both authority and a sidelong look of helplessness. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Avary</span> Canadian producer, screenwriter and director

Roger Roberts Avary is a Canadian-American film, television director, screenwriter and producer. He worked with Quentin Tarantino on Pulp Fiction, for which they won Best Original Screenplay at the 67th Academy Awards. Avary directed Killing Zoe, The Rules of Attraction, Lucky Day, and wrote the screenplays for Silent Hill and Beowulf.

<i>Wishmaster</i> (film) 1997 American film

Wishmaster is a 1997 American fantasy horror film directed by Robert Kurtzman. The film was executive produced by Wes Craven, and is the only film of the Wishmaster series with his name attached. Its plot concerns a djinn, a wish-granting, evil genie who is released from a jewel and seeks to capture the soul of the woman who discovered him, thereby opening a portal and freeing his fellow djinn to inhabit and enslave the Earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Coscarelli</span> American screenwriter

Don Coscarelli Jr. is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Born to Italian settlers in Libya, he is best known for his work in horror films. His directing credits include the first four films in the Phantasm franchise, as well as The Beastmaster (1982) and Bubba Ho-Tep (2002).

<i>Bubba Ho-Tep</i> 2002 American film

Bubba Ho-Tep is a 2002 American comedy horror film written, co-produced and directed by Don Coscarelli. It stars Bruce Campbell as Sebastian Haff, a man residing in a nursing home who claims to be the real Elvis Presley. The film also stars Ossie Davis as Jack, a black man who claims to be John F. Kennedy, explaining that he was patched up after the assassination, dyed black, and abandoned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reggie Bannister</span> American musician, actor and producer

Reginald Horace "Reggie" Bannister is an American musician, actor, producer, writer, and activist. He is known for his role as Reggie in the Phantasm film series.

<i>Phantasm</i> (film) American horror film

Phantasm is a 1979 American science fantasy horror film that was directed, written, photographed, and edited by Don Coscarelli. The first film in the Phantasm franchise, it introduces the Tall Man, a supernatural and malevolent undertaker who turns the dead of Earth into dwarf zombies to be sent to his planet and used as slaves. He is opposed by a young boy, Mike, who tries to convince his older brother Jody and family friend Reggie of the threat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angus Scrimm</span> American actor, author, and journalist

Angus Scrimm was an American actor, author, and journalist, known for his portrayal of the Tall Man in the 1979 horror film Phantasm and its sequels.

<i>Phantasm II</i> 1988 film by Don Coscarelli

Phantasm II is a 1988 American science fantasy action-horror film and the sequel to Phantasm (1979). It was written and directed by Don Coscarelli and stars Angus Scrimm, James LeGros and Reggie Bannister. The first film's protagonist, Mike, recently released from a mental institution, recruits Reggie and some new friends in an effort to defeat the villain Tall Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Dougherty</span> American director, screenwriter, and producer

Michael Patrick Dougherty is an American writer, director, animator, and producer known for his work in a variety of genre films, both big and small.

<i>Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead</i> 1994 American film

Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead is a 1994 American science fantasy horror film and the second sequel in the Phantasm series, written and directed by Don Coscarelli. The film stars Angus Scrimm as the Tall Man, Reggie Bannister, and A. Michael Baldwin. It is followed by Phantasm IV: Oblivion.

<i>Phantasm IV: Oblivion</i> 1998 American film

Phantasm IV: Oblivion is a 1998 American science fantasy horror film. The film was written, produced and directed by Don Coscarelli and starring A. Michael Baldwin, Reggie Bannister and Angus Scrimm. It is the third sequel in the Phantasm series and is followed by Phantasm: Ravager.

<i>The Mangler Reborn</i> 2005 American film

The Mangler Reborn is a 2005 American horror film and the third entry in the Mangler film series based on a 1972 short story by Stephen King. The film was released straight to DVD on November 29, 2005 by Lions Gate Entertainment and Baseline StudioSystems. Directors Gardner and Cunningham intended the film to be a "rebirth" of the film franchise, with the film not requiring viewers to have seen the prior two films. It is an alternate sequel to the first film.

<i>Kenny & Company</i> 1976 American film

Kenny & Company is a 1976 American comedy-drama film directed by Don Coscarelli. It stars A. Michael Baldwin and Reggie Bannister, who would both later star in Coscarelli’s Phantasm.

Crypticon is a horror-oriented media event held annually in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Seattle, Washington, and Kansas City, Missouri. Guests have included authors, actors, directors, producers, and writers from classic and upcoming horror titles.

Tall Man (<i>Phantasm</i>) Fictional character

The Tall Man is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the Phantasm series of horror films. The Tall Man first appeared in the first Phantasm in 1979, and his most recent appearance in the film Phantasm: Ravager in 2016. In all of his film appearances, the Tall Man has been portrayed by Angus Scrimm, while he is voiced by Jeff Bergman in Mike Tyson Mysteries.

Bloody Bloody Bible Camp is a 2012 American horror-comedy/splatter film. The film was directed by Vito Trabucco and produced by Reggie Bannister, who stars as Father Richard Cummings. The film also features Tim Sullivan as a cross dressing nun and Ron Jeremy as Jesus.

Rammbock is a 2010 German horror film directed by Marvin Kren, written by Benjamin Hessler, and starring Michael Fuith, Theo Trebs, Anka Graczyk, and Emily Cox as survivors of a rage virus in Berlin. Besides its native Germany, it was theatrically released in Austria, the UK, and the US.

<i>Phantasm: Ravager</i> 2016 American film

Phantasm: Ravager is a 2016 American science fantasy action horror film, and the fifth and final installment in the Phantasm series. It marks the only film in the series not directed by Don Coscarelli, although he acts as producer and co-writer. It is directed by David Hartman and stars A. Michael Baldwin, Reggie Bannister, and Angus Scrimm in his final appearance as the Tall Man.

Joe Egender, is an American actor, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his collaborations with The Butcher Brothers, Holy Ghost People, and his television roles.

Phantasm is an American horror film series that consists of five films, novels, comic books, and merchandise. It is mainly about the Tall Man, a supernatural and malevolent undertaker and the main antagonist who turns the dead into dwarf zombies to do his bidding and take over the world. He is opposed by a young boy, Mike, who tries to convince his older brother Jody and family friend Reggie of the threat. The first film was released in 1979, received generally positive reviews and has garnered a cult following.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Yapp, Nate (2008-11-25). "Reggie Bannister ("Phantasm") Interview". classic-horror.com. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  2. ↑ Pace, Dave (2013-04-11). "Q&A: Don Coscarelli on "JOHN DIES" & Independent Filmmaking for 30+ Years". Fangoria . Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  3. 1 2 3 Johnson, Steve (2009-07-28). "30 Years of Phantasm: An Exclusive Interview with Reggie Bannister". iconvsicon.com. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  4. ↑ Quint (2000-11-20). "QUINT interviews REGGIE BANNISTER Part 1!!!And Here's Part II". Ain't It Cool News . Retrieved 2013-08-12.
  5. 1 2 Hennessey, Cristopher; McCarty, Michael (12 July 2023). "The Phantasm Man". More Giants of the Genre. Wildside Press. p. 79. ISBN   9787770047060 . Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  6. 1 2 Wright, William J. (2004-03-04). "Reggie Bannister: Hot as Love". Film Threat . Retrieved 2013-08-12.
  7. ↑ Savlov, Marc (2000-03-31). "Spheres of Influence". Austin Chronicle . Retrieved 2013-08-12.
  8. ↑ Miska, Brad (2008-08-26). "Phantasm IV". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved 2013-08-12.
  9. ↑ Hurtado, J. (2013-04-24). "Now on Blu-ray: Don Coscarelli Double Feature - PHANTASM II, JOHN DIES AT THE END". Twitch Film . Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  10. ↑ Castillo, Sara (2012-12-03). "Our Favorite Horror Sidekicks - 'Phantasm's' Reggie". Fearnet . Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  11. ↑ Alexander, Amy (1988-07-08). "'Phantasm II' Blood Feud". Philadelphia Daily News . Retrieved 2013-08-18.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.