With Poltergeist (2015) being released this weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to review the original film Poltergeist (1982). So without further ado...
The film centers on the Freeling family, a typical middle class family living in the peaceful Cuesta Verde Estates. Steve (played by Craig T. Nelson), has fallen asleep in front of the television, and the dog saunters around the house revealing the other family members -- Steve's wife Diane (played by JoBeth Williams), sixteen-year-old daughter Dana (played by Dominique Dunne), eight-year-old son Robbie (played by Oliver Robins), and five-year-old Carol Ann (played by Heather O'Rourke). Soon strange things begin to happen around the house; the pet canary dies, mysterious storms occur, and Carol Ann is summoned to the TV set, where a strange shaft of green light hits her and causes the room to shake ("They're he-e-ere!"). As curious events continue, Carol Ann is repeatedly drawn to the television, where she begins to talk to "the TV people." Soon Carol Ann is sucked into a closet, disappearing from this reality plane. Unable to find his daughter, Steve consults Dr. Lesh (played by Beatrice Straight), a para-psychologist from a nearby college. Lesh finds that paranormal phenomena is so strong in the Freelong household she is unable to deal with it and sends for clairvoyant and professional exorcist Tangina (played by Zelda Rubinstein) to examine the house in hopes of finding Carol Ann. Tangina makes a horrifying discovery: Carol Ann is alive and in the house, but is being held on another spectral plane.
I really love this film. As you go through the history of horror film this is one that comes up a lot and for very good reasons. It presents a lot of interesting ways to scare you and in a very different and original fashion. I will say however that some of the scares didn't get to me and it got a little predictable at times. I did like the performances in the film and I thought they all had their standout moments and it brought the film full circle. One of the big controversies about the film is who actually directed the film. Some people say that the attached director Tobe Hooper or Stephen Spielberg who produced and couldn't direct due to contract obligations with Universal to not direct any film before production on E.T. began. I personally think they both had a hand in making the film. You can see both directors styles in the film. While I love Spielberg, I personally like Hooper's style more in the film and to me Spielberg's style really hurt the film and it was really hard to figure out the tone of the film. Overall I really enjoy and love this film, but I wish the film would've settled on one tone instead of using two completely different styles. I give Poltergeist an 8.5 out of 10.
So ladies and gentlemen what do you think of Poltergeist (1982), what would you rate it, what did you think of my review and are you excited for Poltergeist (2015)? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.
Jonah Sparks
The film centers on the Freeling family, a typical middle class family living in the peaceful Cuesta Verde Estates. Steve (played by Craig T. Nelson), has fallen asleep in front of the television, and the dog saunters around the house revealing the other family members -- Steve's wife Diane (played by JoBeth Williams), sixteen-year-old daughter Dana (played by Dominique Dunne), eight-year-old son Robbie (played by Oliver Robins), and five-year-old Carol Ann (played by Heather O'Rourke). Soon strange things begin to happen around the house; the pet canary dies, mysterious storms occur, and Carol Ann is summoned to the TV set, where a strange shaft of green light hits her and causes the room to shake ("They're he-e-ere!"). As curious events continue, Carol Ann is repeatedly drawn to the television, where she begins to talk to "the TV people." Soon Carol Ann is sucked into a closet, disappearing from this reality plane. Unable to find his daughter, Steve consults Dr. Lesh (played by Beatrice Straight), a para-psychologist from a nearby college. Lesh finds that paranormal phenomena is so strong in the Freelong household she is unable to deal with it and sends for clairvoyant and professional exorcist Tangina (played by Zelda Rubinstein) to examine the house in hopes of finding Carol Ann. Tangina makes a horrifying discovery: Carol Ann is alive and in the house, but is being held on another spectral plane.
I really love this film. As you go through the history of horror film this is one that comes up a lot and for very good reasons. It presents a lot of interesting ways to scare you and in a very different and original fashion. I will say however that some of the scares didn't get to me and it got a little predictable at times. I did like the performances in the film and I thought they all had their standout moments and it brought the film full circle. One of the big controversies about the film is who actually directed the film. Some people say that the attached director Tobe Hooper or Stephen Spielberg who produced and couldn't direct due to contract obligations with Universal to not direct any film before production on E.T. began. I personally think they both had a hand in making the film. You can see both directors styles in the film. While I love Spielberg, I personally like Hooper's style more in the film and to me Spielberg's style really hurt the film and it was really hard to figure out the tone of the film. Overall I really enjoy and love this film, but I wish the film would've settled on one tone instead of using two completely different styles. I give Poltergeist an 8.5 out of 10.
So ladies and gentlemen what do you think of Poltergeist (1982), what would you rate it, what did you think of my review and are you excited for Poltergeist (2015)? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.
Jonah Sparks
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