The Poltergeist (1982)

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The Poltergeist (1982)

7/10

Starring

Craig T. Nelson

JoBeth Williams

Beatrice Straight

Directed by Tobe Hooper

The Poltergeist is a classic Steven Spielberg movie (he wrote the movie, did the screenplay and produced it) released in 1982 and it spawned two sequels and a remake is said will be done to be released in 2015. The movie is really good, it didn’t try hard to weigh so much on special effects, although there were many, but the weight of the movies was more in the story. The whole idea that a child was lost in a realm where spirits who have failed to crossover dwelled, is engaging enough.

How the family reacted to the news is also fun to watch, the panic the lack of trust in the lady who claimed she was a medium and then the lack of trust from the people who showed up to help, the movie presented the idea of a ghost “Poltergeist” haunting in a way that many will react if it were happening to them.

First there is the surprise, then the sudden intrigue and when you finally realize that spinning chairs, moving objects, lights going on and off are not actually a good thing, it is too late.

Poltergeist starts with a little girl Carol (Heather O’Rourke), she was captivated by a voice only she could hear coming from the TV. The whole family is awoken by what she discovered and what seemed like a child over active mind turned to a life and death issue, and it was only by grace that the family survived.

Poltergeist was a financial success and it was up against Spielberg’s other film E.T. (1982) in the Academy Awards for its effects (it lost the Best Visual Effect Category to E.T.).

The movie is seen as cursed though, because some of the actors in the movie died mysteriously. Dominique Dunne who played Dana Freeling was murdered by her boyfriend and Heather O’Rourke died after filming Poltergeist 3. Some believe this curse was because the movie used real human skeleton for its effects.

My final take on this movie is that, it may not scare you like it was intended too, but it will thrill you. The movie is well written and the screenplay captures your attention and won’t let go because as you are thinking that all is over and the family can now run to safety, you will be drawn in again to know that it just started and that alone, is one thing I feel all the good horrors of today is missing.

Every other Poltergeist movie that was released after this was neither a critical nor commercial success, so it is certain this is one movie that stands out. Go see it