The Freeling Library

Poltergeist is 1982 supernatural horror film directed by Tobe Hooper from a screenplay by Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais, and Mark Victor. The film stars JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Heather O’Rourke, and Beatrice Straight. It is the first installment in the Poltergeist franchise.

Plot[]

Cast[]

Production[]

Release[]

Reception[]

Franchise[]

In 1986, Poltergeist II: The Other Side retained the family but introduced a new motive for the Beast's behavior, tying him to an evil cult leader named Henry Kane, who led his religious sect to their doom in the 1820s. As the Beast, Kane went to extraordinary lengths to keep his "flock" under his control, even in death. The original motive of the cemetery's souls disturbed by the housing development was thereby altered; the cemetery was now explained to be built above a cave where Kane and his flock met their ends. It also reveals that the women of the family are actually psychics.

Poltergeist III in 1988 finds Carol Anne as the sole original family member living in an elaborate Chicago skyscraper owned and inhabited by her aunt, uncle and cousin. Kane follows her there and uses the building's ubiquitous decorative mirrors as a portal to the Earthly plane.

A remake of the original film was made by MGM and 20th Century Fox, directed by Gil Kenan. Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Roy Lee produced the film, which stars Sam Rockwell, Jared Harris, and Rosemarie DeWitt. Poltergeist was released on May 22, 2015. On April 10, 2019, it was announced that the Russo Brothers would helm a new remake.

Trivia[]