Poltergeist [1982]

One of those cult classics of the eighties, Poltergeist is a movie that I’m guessing most of us first saw on Television. A masterpiece that scared the generations and that is worth an infinite number of watching’s, it’s directed by the infamous Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre). Although Steven Spielberg (writer and producer) was set to direct, a clause in his contract prevented him from directing any movie during the filming of E.T. And then, there’s the curse regarding this movie. Two people lost their lives immediately after the end of the filming, while Heather O’Rourke, the star of the franchise died some time before the premiere of the third installation. The set of Poltergeist II was exorcised, ’nuff said.

A typical American family is living in the suburbs in their big house. But when strange events start to happen they will have to fight for their lives and the life of their youngest member. Some spirits that are not friendly will try to invade their home and lives. Poltergeist is a trilogy in which only first two parts are worth watching. The third one is a bit boring and with some serious sings of milking. Anyway, Steven Spielberg at its best in this flick. I know that you all have seen it, but as I said it deserves a second watching, especially after all the Paranormal Activity craze. One final thing, remember those skeletons that Diane bumped into when she fell in the pool? They were real.

Director: Tobe Hooper

Cast: Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams, Beatrice Straight, Dominique Dunne, Richard Lawson

Fun Stuff: Heather O’Rourke, who played the little girl Carol-Anne, and Dominique Dunne, who played the teenage daughter, are buried in the same cemetery: Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Dunne was strangled into brain-death by her boyfriend in 1982, the year of the film’s release. Six years later, O’Rourke died of intestinal stenosis.

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IMDb Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084516/