-Carol Anne Freeling
Directed by: Tobe Hooper (possibly Steven Spielberg?)
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams, Heather O’Rourke, Oliver Robins, Dominique Dunne
Trailer/Video: Here
The premise: The Freelings, a suburban family, discover the hard way that their home is possessed by evil spirits who have a particular interest in their five-year-old daughter...
My Familiarity With the Movie: I’ve heard of it, and saw Family Guy’s parody of it.
Random thoughts as I watch it:
- Wasn’t expecting a movie called “Poltergeist” to start off with the national anthem.
- CUTIE ALERT: Diane Freeling
- Not even five minutes into it yet, and the spookiness has already begun.
- What’s up with the picture of the girl in the bonnet? I used to see those all the time when I was a kid at my grandmother’s place. Was there a whole brand of merchandise featuring a girl who’s face is obscured?
- We sell the DVD of the remake where I work, and I wondered why there’s a clown on the cover. Haven’t seen the remake, but if it’s like this one, I understand now.
- Kid’s a Star Wars fan. And a Captain America fan. Cool!
- Steven and Diane seem like good parents.
- We’re still two years away from Ghostbusters, so these three will have to do.
- I, uh, don’t think that’s what a “face-off” is supposed to be.
- Too much whispering.
- So, when the small woman refers to it as “the beast”, is she referring to “The Beast” from the Book of Revelation?
- “Go into the light/Don’t go into the light” make up your mind!
- The tramua-induced grey streak, also seen in Nancy from Nightmare on Elm St. and Ash in Evil Dead 2.
- I thought you said the house was “clean”!
- Diane wins the award of “Most Badass”. Not the most badass mother. But the most badass. She’s going through all this hell for her kids. And without pants!
The Good:
- Very spooky. Some great moments that don’t rely on gore or jump scares, and some are scary in just how mundanely unsettling they are, like the chairs being stacked.
- Not only is the movie scary to kids, but the whole aspect of losing a child and her being so close, but also so far out of one’s reach, and the feeling of helplessness...it’s terrifying.
- Some moments of humor, like Diane and Tangina arguing about who goes in the portal, or the gag at the end with the TV. Or even the remote control battle at the beginning.
- The special effects. Even for a 1980s vintage, they’re remarkably well-done. The beast itself is wonderfully spooky every time in all of its forms.
The Bad:
- I’m aware of the “Poltergeist curse”. And I feel that it’s incredibly tragic, but it’s not due to any fault of the movie itself. So that’s all I’m gonna say about it here.
- I guess the twist of Steven’s boss being responsible for what happened is a bit predictable?
Best Scare: The researcher tearing his own face off.
What Did We Learn Today? That back in 1982, it was cheaper to use real skeletons as props instead of plastic ones (no, seriously. Those were real. Look it up)
Recommended? Definitely.
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