Poltergeist (film series)
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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.
MGM and 20th Century Fox co-financed a "revisionist" reboot of the series,[1] which was released in May 2015.[2]
Films
Poltergeist is the original film in the trilogy, directed by Tobe Hooper and co-written by Steven Spielberg and released on June 4, 1982. The story focuses on the Freeling family, which consists of Steven (Craig T. Nelson); Diane (JoBeth Williams); Dana (Dominique Dunne); Robbie (Oliver Robins) and Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke), who live in a California housing development called Cuesta Verde, only it is eventually haunted by ghosts. The ghosts communicate only with Carol Anne through the family's television set, and are under the control of a demon known as the "Beast." The ghosts, attracted to Carol Anne's life force and believing she will help lead them into the "Light", abduct her through her bedroom closet, which acts as a portal to their dimension. Most of the film involves the efforts to rescue her on the part of her family, a group of parapsychologists and a spiritual medium named Tangina Barrons (Zelda Rubinstein). Carol Anne is eventually retrieved from the other side and, following a second attack by the Beast that reveals the ghosts had originated from an improperly relocated cemetery underneath the neighborhood, the family flees Cuesta Verde, while the house caves in on itself and is sucked into another dimension.[3]
The first sequel, Poltergeist II: The Other Side, directed by Brian Gibson and released on May 23, 1986, is set a year following the events in Poltergeist and offers an alternate explanation of the ghosts' origin. The film also develops the identity and backstory of the Beast, who had lived during the 19th century as a religious zealot named Reverend Henry Kane (Julian Beck). Kane was the leader of a utopian cult, who in anticipation of the end of the world, had sealed themselves in an underground cavern located directly below what later became the Freelings' property. Kane is anxious to possess Carol Anne in order to continue manipulating his followers after death. The ghosts follow and attack the Freelings at their current household. Aided by an American Indian shaman named Taylor (Will Sampson), the Freelings manage to escape from Kane and his followers a second time.[3][4]
The final film in the original trilogy, Poltergeist III, was directed and co-written by Gary Sherman and released on June 10, 1988. In order to protect Carol Anne, the Freelings have sent her to temporarily live with her skeptic relatives, Pat and Bruce Gardner (Nancy Allen and Tom Skerritt) and their daughter Donna (Lara Flynn Boyle), who reside in a Chicago skyscraper. However, Carol Anne's recollection of her experiences during her psychiatric sessions enable Kane and his followers to locate her and make contact through the building's ubiquitous mirrors.[3][5] After the ghosts abduct Carol Anne, then Donna, her boyfriend Scott (Kipley Wentz), Pat, and Bruce enlist the help of Tangina to retrieve them, who eventually sacrifices herself to save the family by escorting Kane into the Light.
The reboot of the series, Poltergeist, was directed by Gil Kenan and released on May 22, 2015. It centers on a family struggling to make ends meet and relocates to a suburban home and, like the original, the youngest daughter is kidnapped by spirits that possess the house. Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt star as the married couple, Kennedi Clements plays the daughter, and Jared Harris plays the host of a paranormal-themed TV show who comes to the aid of the family.
The Curse of Poltergeist, a documentary film based on the mystery of the franchise, was set to begin shooting in November 2015. The upcoming film will be directed by Adam Ripp and will be financed and produced by his company Vega Baby, alongside Indonesia-based MD Pictures. The documentary will focus on the life and experiences of actor Oliver Robins, who played Robbie Freeling in the first and second installment of the franchise, as a way to explore the tragedies that have befallen those involved with the films.[6]
Cast and crew
Cast
The following table shows the cast members who played the primary characters in the film series.
| Character | Film | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Poltergeist (1982) |
Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) |
Poltergeist III (1988) | |
| Carol Anne Freeling | Heather O'Rourke | ||
| Steven Freeling | Craig T. Nelson | ||
| Diane Freeling | JoBeth Williams | ||
| Dana Freeling | Dominique Dunne | ||
| Robert Freeling | Oliver Robins | ||
| Dr. Martha Lesh | Beatrice Straight | ||
| Ryan Mitchell | Richard Lawson | ||
| Dr. Marty Casey | Martin Casella | ||
| Tangina Barrons | Zelda Rubinstein | ||
| Jessica Wilson | Geraldine Fitzgerald | ||
| Taylor | Will Sampson | ||
| Bruce Gardner | Tom Skerritt | ||
| Pat Wilson-Gardner | Nancy Allen | ||
| Donna Gardner | Lara Flynn Boyle | ||
| Dr. Seaton | Richard Fire | ||
| Scott | Kipley Wentz | ||
| Reverend Henry Kane / "The Beast" | (Mentioned only) | Julian Beck
Nobel Craig (Vomit Creature)1 |
Nathan Davis
Corey Burton (Voiced)2 |
| Note(s)
1. Henry Kane in his "Vomit Creature" incarnation is portrayed by Nobel Craig. | |||
Crew
| Crew/Detail | Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poltergeist (1982) | Poltergeist II: The Other Side | Poltergeist III | Poltergeist (2015) | |
| Director | Tobe Hooper | Brian Gibson | Gary Sherman | Gil Kenan |
| Writer(s) | Michael Grais Steven Spielberg Mark Victor |
Michael Grais Mark Victor |
Gary Sherman Brian Taggert |
David Lindsay-Abaire |
| Producer(s) | Frank Marshall Steven Spielberg |
Michael Grais Mark Victor |
Barry Bernardi | Roy Lee Sam Raimi Robert Tapert |
| Composer | Jerry Goldsmith | Joe Renzetti | Marc Streitenfeld | |
| Cinematographer | Matthew F. Leonetti | Andrew Laszlo | Alex Nepomniaschy | Javier Aguirresarobe |
| Editor | Michael Kahn | Thom Noble Bud S. Smith M. Scott Smith |
Ross Albert | Jeff Betancourt Bob Murawski |
| Running time | 114 minutes | 91 minutes | 98 minutes | 93 minutes |
Reception
Box office performance
| Film | Release date (US) | Budget | Box office revenue | Reference | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Foreign | Worldwide | ||||||
| Poltergeist (1982) | June 4, 1982 | $10.7 million | $76,606,280 | $45,099,739 | $121,706,019 | [8] | ||
| Poltergeist II: The Other Side | May 23, 1986 | $19 million | $40,996,665 | N/A | $40,996,665 | [8] | ||
| Poltergeist III | June 10, 1988 | $9.5 million | $14,114,488 | N/A | $14,114,488 | [8] | ||
| Poltergeist (2015) | May 22, 2015 | $35 million | $47,425,125 | $48,210,406 | $95,635,531 | [9] | ||
| Total | $74.2 million | $178,545,003 | N/A | $272,452,703 | ||||
List indicator(s)
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Critical response
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|
| Poltergeist (1982) | 88% (56 reviews)[10] | 79 (7 reviews)[11] |
| Poltergeist II: The Other Side | 39% (18 reviews)[12] | N/A |
| Poltergeist III | 13% (16 reviews)[13] | N/A |
| Poltergeist (2015) | 33% (100 reviews)[14] | 47 (27 reviews)[15] |
| Average | 43% | 63 |
Television
A spin-off television series, Poltergeist: The Legacy, ran from 1996 to 1999, though it does not have any connection to the films other than the title.[16]
The Poltergeist curse
The "Poltergeist curse" is a rumored curse attached to the Poltergeist trilogy and its crew, derived from the deaths of five cast members in the six years between the releases of the first and third films.[3][17] The rumor is often fueled by the fact that real skeletons were used as props in various scenes of Poltergeist and Poltergeist II: The Other Side.[18] The rumor and the surrounding deaths were explored in a 2002 episode of E! True Hollywood Story titled "Curse of Poltergeist".
- Dominique Dunne, who played the eldest daughter Dana in the first film, died on November 4, 1982, at age 22 after being strangled by her abusive former boyfriend John Thomas Sweeney.[19] He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to six years in prison, but was paroled after serving three and a half years.[17]
- While she was on set filming Poltergeist II, Zelda Rubinstein received word that her mother had died.
- Julian Beck, 60-year-old actor who played Henry Kane in Poltergeist II, died on September 14, 1985, of stomach cancer diagnosed before he had accepted the role.[20]
- Will Sampson, 53 years old, who played Taylor the medicine man in Poltergeist II, died as a result of post-operative kidney failure and pre-operative malnutrition problems on June 3, 1987.[21]
- Heather O'Rourke, who played Carol Anne in all three Poltergeist films, died on February 1, 1988 at the age of 12 during surgery to repair an acute bowel obstruction.[22][23][24]
See also
References
- ↑ "MGM, Fox 2000 To Co-Finance & Distribute ‘Poltergeist’; Production To Start This Fall". Deadline Hollywood. June 20, 2013.
- ↑ Hipes, Patrick. "Rosemarie DeWitt Chimes In For ‘La La Land’". Deadline.com. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Lee, Joseph (4 September 2008). "A Bloody Good Time 9.04.08: Poltergeist Franchise Breakdown". 411mania.com. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- ↑ Kelhoffrr, Josh (23 June 2010). "They’re Back: The Story of the Inevitable Sequel". Poltergeist Online.
- ↑ Kelhoffrr, Josh (23 June 2010). "Spirits in the City: The Third and Final Sequel". Poltergeist Online.
- ↑ Mia Galuppo (October 7, 2015). "Documentary to Explore 'Poltergeist' Movie Curse". The Hollywood Reporter. (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved October 8, 2015.
- ↑ "Interview with the Voice of Kane". PoltergeistIII.com. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
- 1 2 3 "Box Office History for Poltergeist Movies". The-Numbers. Nash Information Services. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- ↑ "Poltergeist (2015)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ↑ "Poltergeist (1982)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
- ↑ "Poltergeist Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
- ↑ "Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Poltergeist III (1988)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
- ↑ "Poltergeist (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
- ↑ "Poltergeist Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
- ↑ Mackie, Drew (May 20, 2015). "20 Things You Might Not Know About the Original Poltergeist Trilogy". People. Time Inc. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
- 1 2 Mikkelson, Barbara. "Poltergeist Deaths", Snopes.com, August 17, 2007
- ↑ "Poltergeist & The Poltergeist Curse". Paranormal Entertainment. 26 December 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- ↑ "Dominique Dunne, Actress, Dies After Being Choked", The New York Times, November 5, 1982
- ↑ S. Freedman, "Julien Beck, 60, is Dead; Founded Living Theater", The New York Times, September 17, 1985
- ↑ B. Folkart, "Role in Cuckoo's Nest; Will Sampson, Gentle Indian Giant, Dies," Los Angeles Times, June 4, 1987
- ↑ Baker, Bob (May 26, 1988). "Suit Blames Doctors in Death of Young Actress". Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California, US: Tribune Company). p. 35. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
- ↑ "Heather O'Rourke, 12; Starred in 'Poltergeist'". The New York Times. February 3, 1988. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
- ↑ Folkart, Burt A. (February 2, 1988). "'Poltergeist' Star Heather O'Rourke Dies at Age of 12". Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California, US: Tribune Company). p. 3. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
External links
- Poltergeist (1982) at the Internet Movie Database
- Poltergeist II: The Other Side at the Internet Movie Database
- Poltergeist III at the Internet Movie Database
- Poltergeist (2015) at the Internet Movie Database
- Poltergeist: The Legacy at the Internet Movie Database
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