“Poltergeist” is still one of the best ghost movies ever
made. How a PG rated movie ended up being so frightening is still a mystery;
everything is so simple and yet so very effective. Just the opening scene where
five year old Carol Anne is talking to the static of the television, with the
flashing strobe light like effects, can be spooky if you’re in the right mood. Some
of the special effects and the dangerous situations that involve the children
are particularity effective. Even the music adds the right amount of suspense
at the perfect moments. Both Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg were involved in
this film, as director and producer respectively although there is debate about
how much Hooper actually directed when Spielberg was on the set.
It’s interesting to see plot devices in this film that would
later be the main focus for future ghost related films like “White Noise” and “Pulse”.
I would not be surprised if the scene where Steven shows the children’s room to
the paranormal research team possibly influenced a scene or two in “Evil Dead 2”.
The Freelings are a happy family of five living in a planned
community in California. There is Steven who is a real estate developer; Diane
is a stay at housewife, and the children Dana, Robbie, and Carol Anne. One day
Diane and Carol Anne discover odd occurrences taking place in their kitchen,
and then that night a tree in the back yard becomes animated and tries to eat
Robbie. While Steven and Diane save Robbie, Carol Anne is “kidnapped” and taken
to the Other-Side. Steven and Diane bring in a paranormal investigation team to
help them Carol Anne. After witnessing several events, the team adds a
spiritual medium, Tangina, to help bring Carol Anne back. With her help, Diane
goes over and brings Carol Anne back, after which Tangina declares that the
house is clean. But it’s not….
Carol Anne as she is being taken.
Tangina
How did this scene make it into a PG movie?
Steven picks up Diane and Carol Anne after they cross back over.
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