Poltergeist (1982)

25th Anniversary...Box
Being a huge fan of this 80's masterpiece, I eagerly awaited the arrival of the new DVD, certain it would contain an abundance of special features and extras. I was sadly let down. After the numerous documentaries made on the Poltergeist series, there was no excuse to keep them off of the newly released film. No only did the film NOT deliver the extra features that I expected, but it removed the theatrical trailer that was on the original DVD release. That said, the box was attractive and came with a nice protective cover which was about all the new release had to offer.

Aside from the feature flaws, the film was supurb. The actors were believable and warrented much of my sympathy. I really cared for the Freeling family, which is more than I can say for many characters in the horror genre. The scares were valid and the film brought several common childhood fears to life. One of the final scenes involving young Robbie and his toy clown continues to frighten me each time I watch Poltergeist. Unlike many of the new horror films we see today, Poltergeist is not particularly gory and will appeal to an audience who doesn't relish an abundance of blood, gore, and innards.

Part of what made the film such a great success was the music composed by Jerry Goldsmith who's music was also featured in The Omen. Be sure to check out the sountrack if you enjoyed the music in the film.

I highly reccommend Poltergeist to any avid horror fan or anyone seeking a few hours of quality entertainment. Don't miss this one!

It Says Things Only a Child Can Understand
1982 was a banner year for Speilberg, who has a production credit on "Poltergeist." ET was released about a month after this fine ghost story, and both movies have withstood the test of time. Although the film was directed by Tobe Hooper, Speilberg's presence on the set is undeniable. Craig T. Nelson and Jobeth Williams play "yuppie" parents to three children. The youngest, played with cuteness by the late Heather O'Rourke, is abducted by a supernatuarl force and suspended into a "phantom zone" somewhere within the confines of the cursed house. The classic "They're here" became a well known tagline for the film. The cast is excellent, of course, but perhaps the best of the lot comes in the form of a creepy seer played by Zelda Rubenstein, whose shrilly, infantile voice provides enough goose bumps to last the duration of the film.

Although I can not say that "Poltergeist" is genuinely terrifying, it is good fun with a spooky premise. I liked when Jobeth Williams plunged into the pool and the corpses began to surface, and there's a few touching moments, too, especially considering the unfortunate and premature deaths of two of the children in real life. The music is both whimiscal and eerie. This film also spawned two sequels, neither of which come close to entertaining viewers as this offering.

It Says Things Only a Child Can Understand
1982 was a banner year for Speilberg, who has a production credit on "Poltergeist." ET was released about a month after this fine ghost story, and both movies have withstood the test of time. Although the film was directed by Tobe Hooper, Speilberg's presence on the set is undeniable. Craig T. Nelson and Jobeth Williams play "yuppie" parents to three children. The youngest, played with cuteness by the late Heather O'Rourke, is abducted by a supernatuarl force and suspended into a "phantom zone" somewhere within the confines of the cursed house. The classic "They're here" became a well known tagline for the film. The cast is excellent, of course, but perhaps the best of the lot comes in the form of a creepy seer played by Zelda Rubenstein, whose shrilly, infantile voice provides enough goose bumps to last the duration of the film.

Although I can not say that "Poltergeist" is genuinely terrifying, it is good fun with a spooky premise. I liked when Jobeth Williams plunged into the pool and the corpses began to surface, and there's a few touching moments, too, especially considering the unfortunate and premature deaths of two of the children in real life. The music is both whimiscal and eerie. This film also spawned two sequels, neither of which come close to entertaining viewers as this offering.