Poltergeist 2: The Other Side (1986)

When a film is so extremely successful, the temptation to try to recapture that magic in a sequel is hard to resist. Sadly, the magic was not to be found in "Poltergeist 2: The Other Side". While the film is decent and watchable, it brings down the quality of the franchise by being such an inferior entry; the good news is that it is still vastly better than the third and final entry of the franchise! The movie focuses on the Freeling family, with all the same characters and actors as before with the exception of the older daughter Dana, played by Dominique Dunne and who killed in 1982 by a jealous boyfriend. Jerry Goldsmith wrote a new score for the sequel, only using Carol Anne's theme from the original film.

The Freeling family has relocated to Arizona and is living with Diane's mother, Grandma Jess. Grandma Jess is a clairvoyant and tells Diane that she and Carol Anne have this ability as well. This is one reason why the evil Beast from the original film is able to find them; the Beast has taken on a human form known as Kane. He finds the family and makes several attempts to steal back Carol Anne. It's discovered, by Tangina and her friend Taylor, that Kane was an deluded reverend who led his congragation into a cave believing that the end of the world was coming, but after the date had passed, he refused to let anyone leave. And of course that cave was right underneath the Freeling's home in the original film! The family decides to take a stand against the Beast/Kane by following him into the cave and on to the "Other Side". Indian Shaman magic takes place, Carol Anne almost goes in to the Light, and Grandma Jess makes a last moment appearance saving the day.

Steven and Taylor

In the cave

The Beast, the Reverend Henry Kane

Poltergeist (1982)

“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.

The Devil's Advocate (1997)

Al Pacino as the Devil? Yes Please! In a role that allows him to be deadly serious and yet cheesy as Hell (pardon the pun) at parts, “The Devil’s Advocate” is the perfect film for him and the amazing cast that includes Charlize Theron, Craig T. Nelson, Jeffrey Jones, Delroy Lindo, and Keanu Reeves. I consider this film a guilty pleasure because it does have an uneven Keanu Reeves performance as the main character but I’m able to overlook this because Pacino and Theron are so freaking amazing. I really enjoy the story, the special effects, and the quick flow of the final act. And for once the results of the final confrontation with the Devil are not an all or nothing/the end of the world as we know it type of situation.

Kevin Lomax is a defense attorney in Gainesville, Florida who has never lost a case. At times his clients include people who have done some very bad, very despicable acts that he knows that they are guilty of, but his job is to prove that they are innocent and he refuses to lose. His stunning record attracts the attention of a New York City law firm who ultimately hires and relocates him and his wife Mary Ann. Kevin’s abilities are tested with various tasks including picking a jury and defending a voodoo priest before he is given a high profile case defending a billionaire who is accused of murdering his wife, one of his children, and a maid. As Kevin spends more time with the firm’s lead partner, John Milton, and working on the murder case, Mary Ann begins a horrifying descent into madness, seeing visions of demons and a baby holding her bloody uterus. Kevin only begins to realize that something strange is going on when the office manager, Eddie Barzoon, is murdered by two homeless men/demons while running through Central Park and the sudden death of a U.S Attorney asking about John Milton. When Kevin finds Mary Ann covered in deep cuts and naked in a church and then learns that Milton is responsible, Kevin confronts his boss and learns exactly what he has gotten himself and his loved ones involved with.

Favorite moment – “favorite” is not the correct word to use here, but the most intense scene in the movie is when Mary Ann kills herself in the mental ward, unable to deal or live with what has happened to her.