Poltergeist

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Cast & Crew

Craig T. Nelson
Steve Freeling

JoBeth Williams
Diane Freeling

Beatrice Straight
Dr. Lesh

Dominique Dunne
Dana Freeling

Oliver Robins
Robbie Freeling

Heather O'Rourke
Carol Anne Freeling

Zelda Rubinstein
Tangina Barrons

Martin Casella
Marty

Richard Lawson
Ryan

Michael McManus
Ben Tuthill

Tobe Hooper
Director

Steven Spielberg
Screenwriter

Michael Grais
Screenwriter

Mark Victor
Screenwriter

Frank Marshall
Producer

Steven Spielberg
Producer

Jerry Goldsmith
Original Music

Matthew F. Leonetti
Cinematographer

Michael Kahn
Film Editor

Steven Spielberg
Film Editor

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News & Interviews for Poltergeist

Critic Reviews for Poltergeist

Audience Reviews for Poltergeist

• Nov 11, 2015

  "They're here." From Steven Spielberg and Tobe Hooper comes the seminal horror film Poltergeist. The story follows a family that begins to experience strange phenomenon at their house, but when things turn violent they seek out help from a team of paranormal researches. The casting of Heather O'Rourke is inspired, as she has a natural charisma and an innocence about her that juxtaposes the malevolence of the evil spirits of the house. Additionally, the score is incredibly well-done and captures the ethereal quality of the film. And, Hooper does an extraordinary job at creating some frightful scenes that are quite terrifying. Poltergeist is an iconic horror film and set a new standard for the genre.
  Dann M Super Reviewer
• Jun 18, 2015

  Short, sweet, and grippingly to the point, Poltergeist still earns top marks as a straight-head haunted house tale told with great humor and verve. Rather than walk out of Gil Kenans C-Grade Poltergeist remake, Tobe Hoopers superior original definitely deserves a revisit. Brilliantly directed and tautly scripted, the film wastes not a second of your time, bringing on the terror early on in the first act and never letting up. Even then (E.T. got released the same year), Steven Spielberg knew the makings of great entertainment and his story connects with the audience on every level. You laugh with the Frelings and laugh often, building a camaraderie that makes their daughters abduction and mothers love all the more compelling. Indeed, even when the cadavers fly at you, Poltergeist feels more like a fun house than haunted house. In this PG-rated classic slice of horror, the Freling family's home gets haunted by a host of ghosts. Building on what made 1974's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre so bone-rattlingly scary, Hooper uses tracking shots and oft kilter angles to ratchet up the thrills. With just a PG rating, he amazingly scores some of the most organic boos in cinematic history (it honestly feels R-rated sometimes). Of course, genius casting plays no small part as well. Williams as the mother, Heather O'Rourke as the apple-cheeked daughter and Zelda Rubenstein as the pint-sized paranormal investigator leave such an indelible mark that version 2.0 never stood a chance. Bottom line: The Amityville Honor
  Jeff B Super Reviewer
• Jan 25, 2015

  I remembered Poltergeist scared me a lot when I was a kid and was awkwardly gory on a couple of scenes too, that are forever burned in my mind. I also remember that there are stretches that dragged on for too long without adding much to the movie. After many years later, I rewatched it and not many things have changed from the original impact. Still great overall, but could use some trimming on the editing amongst other things. But it's still a very fun lil' horror movie for teens, with heart and a good Spielberg message about family unity.
  Francisco G Super Reviewer
• May 30, 2013

  If Halloween is the holy grail of slasher movies, this surely is the holy grail of haunted house movies. None are close. There are always three things I think of whenever I watch Poltergeist. First, I am always stunned that this film somehow avoided an "R" rating. You have to wonder if that would have been possible had anyone other than Spielberg been involved. Having Tobe "Texas Chainsaw" Hooper on board certainly couldn't have helped. In any event, this has to be the most frightening "PG" movie ever made. Had "PG13" been around at the time, this movie certainly would have qualified. Incidentally, it was two other Spielberg productions, "Gremlins" and "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" that caused the MPAA to invent "PG13." 2 years, too late. Second, I always wonder just how good this movie might have been had Spielberg fully committed to it, instead of devoting most of his time and interest into the more dramatic but overall inferior, "E.T." This movie is very good. It's almost great. Regardless, it's a thrill ride right from the ominous opening "Star Spangled Banner" scene. I can't help but think of the opening of this movie whenever I hear that song now. Oh, and third, this movie contains some of the scariest scenes ever filmed and THE scariest scene ever involving a clown doll. (See "Amusement" for the second scariest). This movie is what Hooper's "Funhouse" should have been. Fantastic score by Jerry Goldsmith.
  Mark H Super Reviewer

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