Hey, BU-DDY. Eric is out for blood. And, really, who can blame him?! Disfigured when some greedy commercial real estate developers set fire to his house in order to build a mall over it, Erik now hides himself in the air ducts and the subterranean passageways, cutting anyone who dares cross him who has any ties to the mall’s crooked investors.
Welcome back to 1989! It’s the place when MALL LIFE was at an all time high. Anything could happen here and, as all the young people flocked to its open doors, anything absolutely did happen . . . including murders. All joking aside, the mall might be a bust these days - where gang shootings still happen - but, when this horror flick was made (on the cheap, there was a time when it was a sort of gathering place for all the shiny, happy, people out there.
Those days might be over but this film lives on!
Directed by Richard Friedman (Scared Stiff, Doom Asylum), and featuring star-making turns from Pauly Shore and Morgan Fairchild, Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge is yet another mall-bound horror film which - borrowing from Phantom of the Opera - shows us the darker side of shopping and, yes, even the mall cops can’t be trusted here.
For high school sweethearts Eric and Melody, love’s young dream turns into a nightmare when Eric apparently dies in a fire which engulfs his family home. One year later, Melody is trying to move on with her life, taking up a job at the new Midwood Mall along with her friends. But the mall, which stands on the very site of Eric’s former home, has an uninvited guest – a shadowy, scarred figure whom Melody recognizes - but can it possibly be Eric?! And how?
Full of schlocky anthems and a disposable attitude (thanks in part to Pauly Shore), this low budget flick is all about 1989, which - if you weren’t around for it - is as laughably bad as the acting. None of it is high brow entertainment, but Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge is entertaining enough after the third beer. Can you really ask for anything more from this concept? More spying on ladies in the changing room? You pervert.
Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge is now on blu-ray thanks to Arrow Video’s 2K restoration.
Standard Special Edition
Home Video Distributor: Arrow Films
Available on Blu-ray - March 29, 2022
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: LPCM 2.0
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A
For high school sweethearts Eric and Melody, love’s young dream turns into a nightmare when Eric apparently dies in a fire which engulfs his family home. One year later, Melody is trying to move on with her life, taking up a job at the new Midwood Mall along with her friends. But the mall, which stands on the very site of Eric’s former home, has an uninvited guest – a shadowy, scarred figure who haunts its airducts and subterranean passageways, hellbent on exacting vengeance on the mall’s crooked developers. Directed by Richard Friedman (Scared Stiff, Doom Asylum), and featuring star turns from Pauly Shore and Morgan Fairchild, Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge swoops onto Blu-ray in an extras-packed edition which proves that Arrow Video’s love for ’80s slasher fare never dies!
Video:
Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 35mm original camera negative, Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge looks as good as it is going to get. Skin tones are ripe. Colors are bold. Saturation levels are intense. Even black levels retain their edges thanks to the remastering job done here. Framed in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, the 1080p transfer, while not as sharp as you might be expecting, is certainly a plus. The interiors and the grounds are crisp and, while there is a lot of blackness in this movie thanks to the murders in the shadows - details are never lost. The effects - especially when the lawnmower bites it - are quite strong and the bloodletting is thick and goopy with bold reds. The clothing and some of the furniture items are a reason to appreciate the visual “pop” throughout the high definition transfer, too. Even the bare-bottom effects look better than remembered.
Audio:
The original uncompressed mono audio provides all the screaming in this mall.
Supplements:
Commentary:
- There are two commentaries. Check the Special Features for the breakdown.
Special Features:
Arrow Video does cult enthusiasts proud with this release, which is punctuated by the 2K restoration of the original theatrical cut. This Special Edition includes the new transfer, a new commentary from the director, a making of documentary, a look at the theme song,
- 2K restoration of the Original Theatrical Cut from original film elements
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
- Original uncompressed mono audio
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Audio commentary with director Richard Friedman, moderated by filmmaker Michael Felsher
- Audio commentary with disc producer Ewan Cant and film historian/author Amanda Reyes
- Shop Til’ You Drop!: The Making of Phantom of the Mall – making-of documentary featuring interviews with director Richard Friedman, screenwriters Scott Schneid and Tony Michelman, actors Derek Rydall and Gregory Scott Cummins, filmmaker Tony Kayden and special make-up effects creator Matthew Mungle
- The Vandals Go to the Mall - an interview with Joe Escalante of The Vandals on the creation of the Phantom of the Mall theme song
- Alternate and Deleted Scenes from the TV Cut
- Domestic and International Trailers
- Image Gallery
- Scott J. Schneid and Tony Michelman's original script and associated special effects storyboards by Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr. [BD-ROM Content]
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Justin Osbourn
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Composite Blu-ray Grade
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MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 91 mins
Director: Richard Friedman
Writer: Scott Schneid & Tony Michelman and Robert King
Cast: Derek Rydall; Jonathan Goldsmith; Rob Estes
Genre: Horror
Tagline: At Midwood Mall Prices Aren't The Only Thing Being Slashed.
Memorable Movie Quote:
Theatrical Distributor: Fries Entertainment
Official Site:
Release Date: December 1, 1989
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: March 29, 2022.
Synopsis: High school sweethearts Eric Matthews and Melody Austin are so in love, but their youthful romance is cut tragically short when Eric apparently dies in a fire that engulfs his family home. One year later and Melody is trying to move on with her life, taking up a job at the newly built Midwood Mall along with her friends. But the mall, which stands on the very site of Eric's former home, has an uninvited guest – a shadowy, scarred figure which haunts its airducts and subterranean passageways, hellbent on exacting vengeance on the mall's crooked developers.
