It’s strange that I have never reviewed any of these films. But I have only ever seen the original, just once. And I love it when I saw it. Why did I never return? Why did I never watch the others? Was I scared of the supposed curse?
First off, I’m not really a big believer in curses associated with films or film franchises. This one had 4 deaths between the original and the third film. If you choose to believe in the curse, I’m not criticizing you. I think Shudder or AMC included this in their cursed film series. To be honest, I didn’t really enjoy that series. It was a bit over the top for me, but then again, what did I truly expect?
Let’s talk cast and director. Speilberg wrote this and I think wanted to direct it, but contractually, he couldn’t direct this because he was directing E.T. This is normally where I would make a joke about him making the wrong decision, but I can’t. E.T. was the first film that my mom took me to, so it will always have a fond place in my heart. Speilberg stay on as a producer and was on set a lot. Tobe Hooper of Texas Chainsaw Massacre got the directing gig. So far, so good. Then there is the cast. Craig T Nelson is Steve Freeling, the dad. You know Craig from Coach and the Devil’s Advocate. Jobeth Williams plays his wife, Diane. I know that Heather O’Rourke as Carol Anne is beloved and she had a tragic ending. I think the biggest icon from this film though, may be Zelda Rubinstein, who plays the role of Tangina. When you think of this film, she’s the first voice that comes into my head. She is in all 3 of the original Poltergeist films. Her final film to be released was Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, which is a personal favorite of mine. I can’t wait for the sequel. She was also in an episode of Tales From The Crypt. As far as I’m concerned, she’s a horror icon.
I also know that there is a big scare somewhere in here that is pretty well known. Except I don’t know what it is and I’m not gonna look it up. I think it involves a clown. So I am not excited to experience a jump scare, but oh well. Let’s enjoy a true American classic.
Start Film
The film starts with the National Anthem playing before the TV network went off the air. So here’s a weird thing about me. When I was very young, I was at my paternal grandparent’s house a lot in the summer and on weekends. They would stay awake and play pinochle with my parents. I would take advantage of this and stay up and steal cookies when I would go to the bathroom. I remember that when the anthem would come on, I would get a bit freaked out because the snow or static on the TV was inevitable, and in my young mind, that’s when the bad things would happen. Keep in mind, back then on certain nights, the last thing that may be on TV would be a horror film or science fiction. That’s how I first saw The Fly. I would say for a good 6-12 months of my life, this was the absolutely most terrifying aspect of my visits, and I can’t fully explain why.
I love the opening of the dog going bedroom to bedroom trying to find things to eat and scored with the bag of Lays chips. This has that magical feel of an ’80s film. The dog wakes up Carol Anne who makes her way downstairs and stares at the TV with the snow. And then she starts talking to the TV as if she sees or hears someone. Just like that, I think you are hooked. This wakes up everyone in the house. Yup, that was creepy as hell. How do you go wrong with a 5-year-old girl talking to someone who isn’t there?
The whimsical and playful music, the bright lighting of a suburb, the prank pulled on the guy on the bike, the Star Wars bed sheets, Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, and the neighbors with the same remote controller for the tv, do any of this feel like a horror film? Well, the bird died, so there’s one death. Carol Anne now wants a goldfish and she is feeding it a lot. We have 16-year-old Dana, 8-year-old Robbie, and 5-year-old Carol Anne. Robbie and Carol share a room together. At some point, that becomes weird, right? In theory, the hope is that Dana moves out by then, I assume. Having kids is difficult. Robbie seems enamored or scared by the tree during this thunderstorm. Lots of cool stuff in this room, many Star Wars toys, an Alien poster, and a creepy ass clown.
Robbie can’t sleep and then he finger-shoots the clown. I wanted to say fingerbangs…..but that is a whole other thing. He covers up the clown with a Chewbacca jacket. Steven’s company built the neighborhood. Carol Anne gets a call on her phone, it is for Steven, haha. That tree is pretty creepy. Despite reassuring the kids that nothing was bad, they end up in bed with their parents. There’s the anthem again. Carol Anne wakes up and crawls toward the TV. You couldn’t watch this if you have epilepsy. SO much flashing. There are weird things happening on the TV, like a weird bar, then bright spots, and then a ghostly hand comes out and creates a weird something on the wall, and then there’s like an earthquake. Carol Anne infamously says “They’re here”.
At breakfast, Diane asks Carol Anne about who was “here”. She casually says “the TV People”. Well, that is simple. A glass of milk breaks in Robbie’s hand and his silverware is bent all to hell. Carol Anne changes the channel to watch more static. The construction guys are like checking out Dana and she flips them off.
The dog is barking at the wall where the hand did whatever last night. He is very pissed at the wall. now all the chairs are pulled away from the table. Carol denies doing this. Diane pushes them back in, gets a rag and cleaner and now the chairs are stacked on the table. Hahaha. I am not sure if this was supposed to be funny or creepy, or both. What percentage of ’80s films featuring families had a Station Wagon?
As soon as Steven gets home, Diane rushes outside to show him something. She has a drawing on the floor in the kitchen/dining room. She sets a chair in the circle and eventually, it slides about 15 feet. This is so much fun. Time to put Carol in the circle and she slides. Diane didn’t cook so they’re getting pizza Hut tonight. Wait, what the hell just happened? My movie just skipped. The hell? Nope, just a really odd scene cut to Steven and Diane talking to their neighbor, Ben. They ask if anything weird has been happening at his place while they are getting bit by mosquitos.
There’s another storm and Robbie is counting between lightning and thunder. That tree is freaking him out. The tree moves and reaches out and grabs him. Alright, you have my attention. The family goes to check n Robbie, but Carol Anne’s closet door just opened and some weird shit is happening. Is that a tornado outside? In the bedroom, everything Is getting sucked into the closet, including the clown and Carol Anne. Steven saves Robie and the tree enters the tornado. They check on Carol and she’s gone.
They end up looking in the swimming pool hole. Robbie in his parent’s bedroom and hears Carol Anne from the TV, I think. This is very similar to the Twilight Zone episode, Little Girl Lost, which the Simpsons also parodied.
Steven goes to Dr. Martha Lesh, who is a parapsychologist. He hasn’t even gone to the police yet. Lesh and her two cohorts, Ryan and Marty, come visit the house. They have locked off the room. The room is unlocked and the bed is spinning, many things are floating in air. This looks silly as hell, but probably looked cool then. Lesh explains the differences between poltergeists and hauntings. Hauntings don’t usually revolve around living people and tend to be shorter in duration.
In the living room, time to call Carol Anne. We hear whispering and then Carol says hello Daddy. Carol is afraid of the light. Lesh says to stay away from the light. Marty suggests that this is a trick with a CB transmitter. Then some stuff started falling from the ceiling. Carol just went through Diane, I guess. But shit is about to go down. Lesh wants to investigate where Carol was last playing, in the closet. The parents tell her that “they won’t let her in”. Marty comes back down like he’s been attacked on his side.
Every once in a while, the visuals are weird, like a different camera lense. Robbie has an idea about having a rope tied to him so he could go rescue Carol….just like in the Twilight Zone. Lesh’s speech about dying and walking into the light is very good and creepy at times.
Marty has the old red bag of Cheetos. I just had few…..30-40 cheetos. That’s a reasonable amount, right? Marty finds a steak in the fridge. Seriously, you’re gonna take someone’s steak? And the steak is now moving. So there’s that. The steak starts blowing up from the inside. The piece of chicken in his mouth suddenly has maggots. He goes to puke in the sink but now there is like a cut on his face. The water is running. This scene is great. He starts tearing out chunks from his face. It was cheesy looking but effective. And then he’s back to normal.
Ryan is writing or doing a puzzle and listening to music and the camera next to him is moving. His equipment is picking up some creepy activity, but not necessarily Paranormal Activity. Marty sees the ghostly specter and alerts Ryan. The effects are great here. It comes down the stairs. And it makes its way to the middle of the room, a bunch of lights, and then it dissipates. The camera caught all of these beings individually walking.
The next day Robbie and the dog go to his grandma’s house. Lesh notes that 2 watches were among the things that fell from the ceiling, one was 100 years old, one was closer to 4. I think they had to squish the frames at times. Marty won’t return. Ryan will stay. Lesh will come back.
Steve’s boss visits Steve, who has been calling out with the flu. The boss wants him to go for a ride and show him something. Diane curiously opens Carol’s bedroom door and it is still crazy in there. The boss says to Steve that Carol has been missing a lot of school and that she was actually born in the house that Steve’s family lives in now. His boss’s name is Mr. Teague. He is worried about losing Steven because he is responsible for 42% of all the sales. He offers to make Steve a brand new home with a beautiful view. But there are plans to relocate this cemetery. Teague is cool with it because it’s not an ancient tribal burial ground. They’ve done it before, in 76. Well, that explains it. Mr. Teague is played by James Karen, and he has been in some cool stuff like Mulholland Dr and the Return of the Living Dead. Mulholland Dr is still one of the most underrated films, in my opinion.
Back at the house at night, Lesh has brought someone to help, Tangina, played by Zelda Rubinstein. I am so happy right now. She has such a great commanding presence. She makes her way up the stairs, practically running. Steven is doubting this lady. He doesn’t respond to her questions. Lesh is wondering what is happening and Steven says that he thought that this lady could read minds, he’s whispering and he answers while upstairs and she can hear his thoughts. So good. She really was the final piece to this film’s puzzle.
I am convinced the weird filming is definitely intentional. I see it more and more as the film continues. Carol is not like those who she is with. She has a strong life force. Carol’s light is serving as a distraction from the real light that they need to pass on. Carol must help these souls pass on. There is a terrible presence in there with her, and it’s really bad. The bad presence keeps Carol close and uses Carol to restrain the other souls.
They have prepped tennis balls, red ribbons, a rope, bath water, and I don’t know what else. Now they will try to save Carol.
Diane tries to reach out to Carol. Carol is being restrained. Tangina tells them the disciplinary parent has to be firm and demand that she talk to them. Carol breaks free. Diane has to tell Carol to go to the light. Time to clear their minds and open the door. I am pumped. Oh, this room looks great and terrifying. It is dark but there is a bright light. Okay, Ryan goes downstairs by the target. Tangina throws a ball into the closet and comes out of the target.
Diane enters the room now. Carol is close but can’t go into the light. Steven throws the rope into the light. This is very well done. Tangina is gonna tie the rope around her and go. Diane says no, it has to be her, plus Tangina has never done this before. Tangina quickly agrees. Steven wants to, but they need the man’s strength. Lesh is ordered to go help Ryan. Diane enters the closet. Will she find Tom Cruise and R Kelly?
Tangina is telling them to go into the light and Steven starts pulling and causes this ghostly face to come out of the closet. But Diane and Carol come out covered in the pink goo. Who doesn’t love pink goo? They get them in the bathtub. “This house is clean” proclaims Tangina.
The next day, the family is packed and ready to move. Dana leaves but the younger ones stay. Seriously, why wouldn’t Dana be there to help? Steven is gonna quit his job with Teague. Diane has a lot of grey hair. She hears Robbie and Carol playing in his room. Diane is gonna take a bath. Well alright. The dog is gonna watch her take that bath. I have a feeling this is jump scare time. The kids are in bed, and Carol’s doll’s head comes off, but who cares? The dog is still watching but he’s bored because Diane takes boring baths. Robbie is sleeping and then wakes up. He hears something. The clown is gone. He looks under the bed. Nothing. He sits back up and the clown is there and pulls him under the bed.
Jobeth is looking good at the moment. She hears Robbie yelling. She is in an orange shirt and panties and she goes to move but her shirt gets lifted a little. They knew what they were doing. Remember Tina’s death in A Nightmare on Elm Street? This scene had to have served as an inspiration as Diane is going up the wall, up the ceiling. Robbie is fighting the clown The closet door opens. Diane is back on the floor. The closet door has some shit growing out of it. Diane is dealing with an angry spirit. Diane gets rolled downstairs and keeps getting shocked. Carol is just sitting there. She doesn’t want this anymore. Diane s outside begging for help. She slides into the hole for the pool. Various skeletons rise up, and then a coffin rises up. I believe that they used real skeletons for this. Is that a fact or rumor? Ben and his wife come save Diane.
Diane begs Ben to help and his wife says no. Really, lady? The kid’s bedroom door has a red glow to it. The closet is like a throat now. Diane grabs Robbie. Robbie grabs Carol. Carol pulls them both out. Steven returns home to a bunch of crazy lights. Another coffin just came up through the floor. More and more coffins. Teague is there. We discover that the company only moved the headstones but not the bodies. Oh, that’s just in poor taste.
Steven, get your family out of there and yell at Teague later. Do they have the dog? Dana shows up now. They do have the dog! It’s pure chaos. Explosions and bodies and confine all in the neighborhood. A wave of power knocks people down. The house starts to implode into a ball of light. The family gets away and finds refuge at the Holiday Inn. Did they only get one room? Steven wheels the TV outside, haha.
End Film
That was fun. I need to start with a quick complaint. Vudu has changed the cover or movie poster to something that isn’t indicative of the film. They did the same with the Lost Boys. It’s annoying. The cover for this that makes the most sense is Carol Anne with her hands pressed on the TV screen. It’s simple and easily recognizable. I would like to know why. Okay, I have an answer. It’s the new cover for the 4K disc. So I’m not mad at VUDU so much anymore. It’s not a good cover.
Anyway, in 1982, this movie had to be awesome, right? 40 years later, this still holds up for the most part. The acting is good, but never great aside from Zelda and Jobeth. I thought those ladies shined brightest.
The special effects all worked fairly well unless you’re gonna nitpick every last little detail. Yes, we could see a fishing line to help pull something. Okay, and??? Seriously, who gives a damn? If I saw that today, I would have questions because I think you can cover that much easier. Back then, this had to look fantastic.
There were times in this movie that felt a bit too whimsical, almost like they didn’t want to make this movie as dark as something like The Amityville Horror, and I get that. I prefer the tone of Amityville, but I also enjoyed some of the sillier aspects of this. I am guessing this was much more viewer-friendly and probably killed at the box office.
Final Rating: 7.7 – It’s a damn good movie. Not many flaws to it. It’s iconic for a reason. It may even deserve a higher rating, but I am comfortable with this.
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