A One Mann’s Movies review of “Poltergeist” (1982).
Just to make me feel really, REALLY old again, “Poltergeist” has been re-released to cinemas, for a limited run, on its 40th anniversary. (Basil Fawlty: “That was your life, Mate! Oh, that was quick. Do I get another? Sorry, Mate. That’s your lot.“)
I was expecting to cringe a bit at the effects. But, it really holds up pretty well still.
By the way, if you can’t find a big screen showing (recommended!) then I note that it is also available on BBC iPlayer in the UK at the moment.
(P.S. I first published this weeks ago before I went on hols, but for some reason my web site had ditched it! So this is a re-publish).
Bob the Movie Man Rating(s):
Plot Summary:
The Freeling family are an everyday family living the surburban dream on the estate that husband Steve (Craig T. Nelson) is the real-estate maestro for. But when their youngest daughter Carol-Ann (Heather O’Rouke) starts hearing voices in the television static, a series of supernatural events tear the family and the house apart.
Certification:
Talent:
Starring: Jobeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Heather O’Rourke, Oliver Robins, Dominique Dunne, Beatrice Straight, Martin Casella, Richard Lawson, Zelda Rubenstein.
Directed by: Tobe Hooper.
Written by: Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais & Mark Victor.
Twitter Handles: #Poltergeist.
“Poltergeist” Review:
Positives:
- There’s always been comment about whether the real director of this movie was writer and co-producer Steven Spielberg, rather than Tobe Hooper. Hooper might have shouted “Action” and “Cut”, but you only have to watch the movie to see Spielberg’s artistic prints all over it. The surburban estate – much like the one Spielberg grew up on – is almost a copybook for the one in “ET”. And it’s all beautifully realised. One of the joys of the movie is how it slowly and carefully builds up its environment and characters before any of the serious action gets started. For me, this makes the first half of the film a 5* engrossing movie classic.
- And I’d forgotton how funny the script is! There are lots of laugh-out-loud moments: from the dog trying to dig up the dead canary (in the box that “smells funny”, because Diane (Jobeth Williams) and Steve (Craig T. Nelson) keep their reefers in there!); through the “clicker wars” between the neighbours; to the off-screen sexual adventures of teenage Dana (Dominique Dunne) – (Dana: “The Holiday Inn? Oh I know that place“. Mum: “What??!”). One of the best belly laughs (for me) is Carol-Ann watching an untuned kitchen tele and Diane saying “don’t do that, it’s bad for you” before turning it over to a war movie scene!
- Craig T. Nelson and Jobeth Williams are great in delivering a believable couple going through hell. Williams in particular (who I had a big crush on in 1982!) is great. And Heather O’Rourke kills it as the 5-year old, reminding me of Cary Guffey in “Close Encounters”. (You suspect she probably also had the classic Spielberg “kid-direction” treatment behind the camera!).
- Special effects have come on A LOT in 40 years, but the effects still hold up pretty well in this movie. The film utilizes both early CGI and practical effects. And, in many ways, I prefer seeing the practical effects to the overuse of CGI in modern films. And ‘that face scene’ for poor Marty (Martin Casella)! Yes, it’s a bit obvious that we start the effect with a model face. But the scene was HORRIFIC in 1982 when I first saw it, but it still manages to disturb today.
- Good also to see the “cloud master” of ILM, Gary Platek (good film trivia knowledge there!) again demonstrating his skill through the approaching storms.
- Jerry Goldsmith’s music is beautifully fitting. That lilting main theme is a real ear-worm, and his more atonal “Alien”-like orchestrations are strikingly good.
Negatives
- The second half of the film goes a tad OTT for me, especially as regards to the “false ending” and the emerging ‘visitors’.
- Curiously, the thing that ages the film is the concept of television actually STOPPING late at night rather than being 24 hours! This will need explaining to younger viewers!
Trigger Warning
Just a quick viewer advisory on this one that there are quite prominent strobe effects used in the movie. These are clearly a lot more prominent if you see this on the big screen rather than the small screen. So if you suffer from epilepsy, this might not be for you.
Summary Thoughts on “Poltergeist”:
It’s a bit of a horror-lite classic, and still manages to pack an entertaining punch.
It’s actually more poignant watching it now, knowing that Heather O’Rourke actually did “walk into the light” before the filming of “Poltergeist 3” wrapped, tragically passing away at the age of 12. She died of cardiac arrest and septic shock caused by a misdiagnosed intestinal issue. Very sad.
Trailer for “Poltergeist”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eZgEKjYJqA .
I introduced this movie to my 22 year old daughter recently – who avoids horror movies at all costs. I told her this was a great intro to the genre, not least because it captures a sense of wonder as well as delivering some very good jump scares that are not OTT (like so many horror movies these days). To this day (I have never watched the ‘making of’), I cannot figure out how they made Heather O’Rourke slide across the kitchen floor in the football helmet – just such a great effect. One of my favourite movies of the… Read more »
It does hold up pretty well, for its age. I think for some of the effects they got to building revolving room sets long before Inception did.
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