DISSECTING THE DIRECTOR: Don Coscarelli

Last Updated on July 23, 2021

“DON COSCARELLI”

If I want to see something unique, I’ll go and watch a Don Coscarelli film. To me, that is what the man does: originality through and through. Each of his films have such original ideas and execution, I can’t help but love the guy. He’s managed to create such memorable films and characters; he even has his own horror franchise. He also writes as well as directs. I am not sure what goes on in his head but it must be some kind of awesome. On some level even his weakest efforts are still entertaining, which definitely is not something easy to achieve. He really is a great talent, a true staple in the cult world. If you aren’t familiar with the man and his films, you’re in for a real treat. He is the man who gave us the second coming of Bruce Campbell; with a role so memorable it rivals Ash (Evil Dead series) as his best.

BEST WORK

Get Bubba Ho-Tep on DVD here

Naming Coscarelli’s best film is far too easy, because this film is easily one of the best genre films to come out in the past ten years. I would naturally be talking about Bubba Ho-Tep, the film in which Bruce Campbell plays an aged Elvis who battles a Mummy with a black JFK. I mean really, do I need to say anything else about this film? The premise alone is legendary. Who else could come up with something so awesome? From the get-go, this film lures in the audience, telling us about an Egyptian Mummy and then showing us that Elvis is in fact still alive and resting in a nursing home. Of course the Mummy comes to the nursing home and it’s up to Elvis and his pal JFK to put a stop to it.

We get to see just how Elvis got to the nursing home, having switched positions with an Elvis impersonator. The script by Coscarelli is pure genius; I never in a million years thought I’d ever see a film that could play with those conspiracy theories of Elvis being alive and making it seem so credible. Coscarelli didn’t have much of a budget with Bubba Ho-Tep, but at times you can’t really tell. The first time that I watched this film, it didn’t even occur to me that none of Elvis’ songs were used. Coscarelli hid it well. The set of the nursing home actually looks creepy, and was a great setting. The only thing that made the film look cheap were some of the actual affects, like the scarab beetle. But that kind of thing added to the fun (think Re-Animator with the cat). Of course I can’t speak about this film without talking about Bruce Campbell a little more. Perfect casting is the only two words to describe it. He was meant to play this role, I can’t help but think that Coscarelli had Bruce in mind from the get go.

He embodies this character so perfectly, that it almost feels like he really is an aged Elvis. Props to Campbell and Coscarelli for making this work so well, if it didn’t this film wouldn’t be the classic that it is now. However Bruce isn’t the only awesome one in the film Ossie Davis is fantastic. He didn’t have an easy role to play, and his character was quite the enigma throughout. I like that they kept a real mystery about him, and left you guessing if he really was JFK. It’s such an awesome experience to watch this film; I don’t think my words can do it any kind of justice.

WORST WORK

Get Phantasm IV: Oblivion on DVD here

Now this isn’t easy to say, because the franchise is so much fun and so original. But his worst work is definitely Phantasm IV: Oblivion. While Phantasm itself is a strange film, it at least made sense for the most part. But as the films went on, as fun as they were they became less and less coherent. By the time this one comes along, I was so lost. I had no idea what was going on, why it was going on, and I just started to care less and less for such fantastic characters. I think Coscarelli got caught up in this world he created and he kind of lost his way with the script, which is the weakest part of Phantasm IV. I really didn’t have much fun with the film, despite all the main characters (and actors) being back from the original film.

He even tried to add layers with unused footage from the original film, but it just didn’t seem to fit all that much. It felt more like an excuse for old friends to see each other again, and the performances just weren’t as lively as they previously had been. It felt like a forced film rather than something that should have just flowed on naturally from Part III. The acting as well just wasn’t very good, yes the series isn’t known for Oscar-worthy performances but at times these performances were Troll 2 awful, and it didn’t work. And let’s face it, by the end we really wanted to see Reggie finally get laid for real and have a good time. That didn’t happen, and it honestly didn’t sit well with me. The film was just an unfortunate disappointment in a franchise that for the most part had been pretty good.

TRADEMARKS

There are two things I can always hope to see in a Coscarelli film, and it doesn’t feel right if one of the two isn’t involved. Those two things would be Reggie Banister and Angus Scrimm, who usually make appearances in Coscarelli’s films. Of course, they made their presence known in the Phantasm series, as both play prominent roles. But they do tend to show up, whether Reggie is the director of the nursing home in Bubba Ho-Tep, or if Angus shows up in Coscarelli’s Masters Of Horror entry. It really feels good to see one of them pop up. It just feels right. Another really cool trademark from Coscarelli is what he puts in the closing credits of the film. The copyright notice concludes that you will face ‘criminal prosecution and the wrath of Bubba Ho-Tep’ or ‘the wrath of The Tall Man’ in their respective films. As I’ve touched upon already, Coscarelli usually writes everything he directs.

Which is why his films are so different, not only from each other but also from other films that are out there. You can’t deny the man has dedication and when he has an idea he runs with it. He’s also quite visual, with his films being filled with scenes that really stick with you. For example, he had an excellent scene in Phantasm where Reggie is at his ice cream truck and The Tall Man is just standing behind him, all the while the scene plays out in slow motion. It’s a scene I will never forget, and you’ll find those kinds of scenes in his films. He’s got such a great eye for locations and sets for his films that it really is a trademark for each and every one that he’s made.

HIDDEN GEM

Get Survival Quest on DVD here

The film I have chosen Coscarelli’s hidden gem is actually a film I didn’t expect to like, let alone end up loving. I am talking about his 1989 film Survival Quest, starring none other than the legend that is Lance Henriksen. Haven’t heard of this film? I hadn’t either until a few weeks ago, and I am glad I discovered it too. I didn’t have any sort of expectation going into this one, as it honestly didn’t seem like a Coscarelli film. Once I started watching the film, however, it really felt like one of his films, albeit in a strange way. Each film he makes his so different, which is why I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one. It really is about what the title suggests: survival. The story is about a group of different people who go out into the wilderness as part of a self-help kind of thing to be one with nature and learn how to survive in the wild.

At the same time, though, a group of paramilitary guys are also out in the woods. Not expecting to run into each other, they go about their own business, but when members of each group meet up, shots are fired. The paramilitary group then goes after the other group seeking an unjustified vengeance. The self-help group have to put their new survival skills to work in order to get out of the forest and escape the danger. The film has a great story at its core, about friendship, respect, teamwork, survival (obviously), over coming fears and the fallout of miscommunication. The film has some fantastic locations, and it really does feel real. It was a great ride to be taken on; a real surprise and I definitely will watch the film again. It also features some early work from the likes of Catherine Keener and Dermot Mulroney.

NEXT PROJECT

Coscarelli is currently working on a film adaptation of the David Wong novel, ‘John Dies At The End’. The film has Paul Giamatti and Clancy Brown in the cast, which is more than enough to get me to watch it. The synopsis sounds so strange that it fits Coscarelli like a glove. It seems to me this will be more like Phantasm in terms of weirdness and other dimensions. I honestly can’t wait! Other projects that have been discussed include a Bubba Ho-Tep prequel called Bubba Nosferatu: Curse Of The She-Vampires, with Ron Perlman attached to play Elvis this time. Not sure on the state of this project as I haven’t heard anything since October of last year. Coscarelli keeps teasing a 5th Phantasm film but I honestly am not sure I want or need a fifth one, especially after IV was such a mess. I guess time will tell if we will see that happen. Until then, keep an eye out for John Dies At The End.

OVERALL

Get Phantasm on DVD here

There really isn’t anyone else out there like Don Coscarelli. The man has given us some great and unique films. You really do never know what you’re in for when you watch one of his films. You might expect one thing but you’ll get something else. He’s got a love for the horror genre no matter what film he’s making, as there are always horror elements in them. The man definitely has a way of getting the most out of every cent in his budget, and not making the film look cheap. You can’t deny that no matter what you think of the man, if you watch a one of his films, you’re in for a wild ride.