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At a time when horror films focused on a rogues' gallery of masked slashers, Steven Spielberg took the road less traveled with Poltergeist, a classic haunted house tale set amid cookie-cutter homes and under picturesque suburban skies. The film follows the Freeling family's inevitable crumbling as an unearthly force transforms their home into a house of horrors, culminating with the disappearance of five-year-old Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke, who passed away upon completion of Poltergeist III). Spielberg's original script blends terror with comic relief, and the mind-blowing special effects of George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic help make the film more than a mere two hours of things going bump in the night. Spielberg even recruited The Texas Chainsaw Massacre's Tobe Hooper to direct a cast of actors then unknown, including Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams. Upon opening in theaters, Poltergeist quickly became a cultural phenomenon, as the sight and sound of television static took on a whole new meaning and little Carol Anne's cry, "They're here!" became the catchphrase for 1982 and beyond. Jason Bergenfeld

All Movie Guide

With Poltergeist, directed by Tobe Hopper, Steven Spielberg had his first great success as a producer. Released around the same time as Spielberg's E.T., the film presents the dark side of Spielberg's California suburban track homes. The film centers on the Freeling family, a typical middle class family living in the peaceful Cuesta Verde Estates. The father, Steve (Craig T. Nelson), has fallen asleep in front of the television, and the dog saunters around the house revealing the other family members -- Steve's wife Diane (JoBeth Williams), sixteen-year-old daughter Dana (Dominique Dunne), eight-year-old son Robbie (Oliver Robins), and five-year-old Carol Ann (Heather O'Rourke). Soon strange things begin to happen around the house; the pet canary dies, mysterious storms occur, and Carol Ann is summoned to the TV set, where a strange shaft of green light hits her and causes the room to shake ("They're he-e-ere!"). As curious events continue, Carol Ann is repeatedly drawn to the television, where she begins to talk to "the TV people." Soon Carol Ann is sucked into a closet, disappearing from this reality plane. Unable to find his daughter, Steve consults Dr. Lesh (Beatrice Straight), a para-psychologist from a nearby college. Lesh finds that paranormal phenomena is so strong in the Freelong household she is unable to deal with it and sends for clairvoyant and professional exorcist Tangina (Zelda Rubinstein) to examine the house in hopes of finding Carol Ann. Tangina makes a horrifying discovery: Carol Ann is alive and in the house, but is being held on another spectral plane. Paul Brenner

Product Details

• UPC: 012569647510
• Source: WARNER HOME VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound
• Editions: Remastered, Anniversary Edition, Special Edition, Subtitled, Dubbed, Restored
• Time: 1:54:00
• Sales Rank: 6,118

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