The second sequel to the hit 1982
haunted-house extravaganza is an erratic affair, containing some
promising ideas and clever effects that, unfortunately, are haphazardly
presented in a narrative so perfunctory as to be almost nonexistent. The
brainchild of writer-director Gary Sherman
(who had the project dumped in his lap by
the studio), POLTERGEIST III shifts the focus of the series from the
suburbs to the city, setting the action in a newly constructed,
state-of-the-art high-rise complex in Chicago full of shops, offices,
and apartments. Little blonde-haired Carol Anne
(Heather O'Rourke) lives with her Aunt
Trish (Nancy Allen), her Uncle Bruce (Tom Skerritt), and her teenage
cousin (Lara Flynn Boyle). Carol Anne is enrolled in a school for highly
intelligent but emotionally disturbed youngsters. Her therapist, the
pithy Dr. Seaton (Richard Fire), attributes the
poltergeists that have haunted Carol
Anne's past to mass hypnosis caused by her suggestions. He ignores her
protests that the ghost of the evil Reverend Kane (Nathan Davis) has
located her. Kane, however, has indeed found Carol Anne in the Windy
City, appearing in mirrors and reflections and
beckoning her "into the light." The little
girl is frightened but knows no one will listen to her, so she keeps
her mouth shut and tries to ignore the malicious ghost who won't go
away. The movie works perfectly well as an excuse to parade a number of
cleverly conceived and executed in-camera
(live) special effects before the public.
When the handful of truly remarkable tricks have passed, however, what
is left behind is an incoherent mess filled with bad dialog, weak
performances, unintentional humor, and some surprisingly dull scenes of
poltergeist mayhem. This was the final film for
O'Rourke, who died just after its
completion. POLTERGEIST stars seem to have been cursed over the
years--Dominique Dunne, Will Sampson, and Julian Beck all died after
appearing in installments of the series.
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