Don Coscarelli

The Profile

American film director, screenwriter, and producer best known for the Phantasm series and cult films The Beastmaster, Bubba Ho‑Tep, and John Dies at the End.

Creator of the Phantasm franchise and director of cult favorites including The Beastmaster (1982), Bubba Ho‑Tep (2002), and John Dies at the End (2012).

Three reviews praise Coscarelli’s offbeat Bubba Ho‑Tep as a tender, irreverent cult item. They underline the tiny budget, western-tinged score, and Campbell/Davis performances. The film’s heart lies in its bittersweet look at aging more than in scares. Coscarelli’s brave, economical direction is repeatedly noted.