Poltergeist (film series)
They're Here...
Poltergeist is an American horror film series distributed by Metro Goldwyn Mayer during the 1980s. The original trilogy revolves around the members of the Freeling family, who are stalked and terrorized by a group of ghosts that are attracted to the youngest daughter, Carol Anne. The original film was co-written and produced by Steven Spielberg. The Poltergeist films collected a total of approximately $132 million at the United States box office.
It was followed by two sequels. Poltergeist II: The Other Side attempted to explain in greater detail why Carol Anne was targeted, and introduces the sinister Reverend Kane. Poltergeist III shows the malevolent spirits following Carol Anne to the high-rise apartment building where she has been sent to live with her aunt and uncle.
The franchise is often said to be cursed, because several people associated with it, including stars Dominique Dunne and Heather O'Rourke, died prematurely. "The Poltergeist Curse" has been the focus of an E! True Hollywood Story. The first film is also known for persistent rumors that Spielberg directed most of the movie.
A remake was released in 2015.
- Adult Fear: Hi. We're a bunch of dead spirits who want to be friends with your five-year-old daughter... and we're all being controlled by what is essentially the Anti-Christ. Sweet dreams.
- Creepy Child: Carol Anne has her moments.
- Forgotten Trope: In the 80's, analog television sets would produce a screen of static when not tuned to a specific channel. Nowadays, not so much.
- Also in the 80s and earlier, networks would stop broadcasting late at night. Younger generations have grown up with 24 hour television, so they won't catch the significance of the television turning to static, then commonly known as "dead air"...
- The static-screen did make a reappearance in the United States, with the discontinuation of analog TV broadcasts. These days, it's a channel showing anything else in the absence of a cable or dish hookup that's incongruous.
- Nowadays, hotel televisions are typically tied in place with cables to prevent theft, so the final shot of the father evicting a TV from their hotel room is also dated.
- Also in the 80s and earlier, networks would stop broadcasting late at night. Younger generations have grown up with 24 hour television, so they won't catch the significance of the television turning to static, then commonly known as "dead air"...
- Helium Speech: Tangina, all the time.
- Ironic Nursery Tune: The opening theme.
- God Is In His Holy Temple in the second film. Brrrr.
- It Got Worse
- Last-Note Nightmare: The opening theme starts out with children singing... And then, at the end, disturbing laughter is heard.
- Our Ghosts Are Different: The "angry at the living" type.
- Red Herring: The Indian burial ground has nothing to do with anything.
- Say My Name: CAROL ANNE! CAROL ANNE! CAROL ANNE!
- Soundtrack Dissonance