Poltergeist 3 Description | Retro Junk

Description

Evil spirits follow a young girl from the suburbs to the city in the second follow-up to the blockbuster horror film Poltergeist. Carol Anne Freeling (Heather O'Rourke) is now 12 years old and living with Patricia and Bruce Gardner (Nancy Allen and Tom Skerritt), her aunt and uncle, in a high-rise apartment building in downtown Chicago. Carol Anne attends a school for gifted children, where the staff psychologist Dr. Seaton (Richard Fine) attributes her past troubles with noisy ghosts to mass delusions and hypnotic suggestions. However, Carol Anne isn't so sure that the explanation is that simple, especially since she still sees threatening apparitions in the mirrors of her apartment. Particularly troubling is the ghost of the wicked Reverend Kane (Nathan Davis), who is eager for Carol Anne to join him and his followers in the unknown world on the other side of the light. Sadly, Heather O'Rourke died due to surgical complications resulting from an intestinal blockage several months before Poltergeist III was released.

Heather O'Rourke From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

36. Heather O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 – February 1, 1988)^[2] was an American child actress. She was discovered by director Steven Spielberg while visiting MGM studios.^[3] Spielberg cast her as Carol Anne Freeling in the 1982 horror film Poltergeist, where she had the movie's most recognizable line: "They're here!" She reprised the role in the second and third installments.
    O'Rourke also had a recurring role on Happy Days from 1982 to 1983, and made several television guest appearances. She died at the age of 12 of cardiac arrest and septic shock caused by a misdiagnosed intestinal stenosis in early February 1988.
    
    

    Early life

    Heather O'Rourke was born on December 27, 1975, in San Diego, California, to Kathleen and Michael O'Rourke. Her mother worked as a seamstress and her father was a construction worker. She had an older sister, Tammy. Kathleen and Michael divorced in 1981, and O'Rourke's mother married truck driver James A. "Jim" Peele in 1984.^[4][5] After her parents' divorce, O'Rourke rarely saw her birth father and called her stepfather "Dad".^[6]
    Before O'Rourke began acting, the family lived in a trailer park in Anaheim. Her success later allowed the family to purchase a home in Big Bear Lake, California.^[5] In between acting jobs, O'Rourke attended Big Bear Elementary School where she was president of her class.^[7] At the time of her death, the family was living in Lakeside, California.^[8]
    

    Career

    In a contemporary interview with American Premiere magazine, producer Steven Spielberg explained that he was looking for a "'beatific' four-year-old child...every mother's dream" for the lead in his 1982 horror film Poltergeist.^[9] While eating in the MGM commissary,^[3] Spielberg saw five-year-old Heather O'Rourke having lunch with her mother^[9] while older sister Tammy was shooting Pennies from Heaven.^[10] After his lunch, Spielberg approached the family and offered O'Rourke the Poltergeist role; she was signed the next day, beating Drew Barrymore, who was up for the role.^[9][11]
    In the Poltergeist trilogy, O'Rourke played Carol Anne Freeling, a young suburban girl who becomes the conduit and target for supernatural entities. The New York Times noted that she had played the key role in the films and commented, "With her wide eyes, long blonde hair and soft voice, she was so striking that the sequel played off her presence."^[3] During the production of the original Poltergeist, Spielberg twice accommodated the child actress when frightened. When scared by performing a particular stunt, Spielberg replaced O'Rourke with a stunt double wearing a blonde wig; and when disturbed by the portrayal of child abuse, Spielberg did not require her to perform the take again.^[12] For her work in Poltergeist, O'Rourke earned between $35,000 and $100,000.^[13] O'Rourke played the role in all three films.^[14] O'Rourke and Zelda Rubinstein were the only original cast members to appear in the third film, Poltergeist III.^[15]
    

    	They're here! Menu 0:00 O'Rourke's performance of her famous line from Poltergeist
    Problems playing this file? See media help.

    O'Rourke's delivery of the lines "They're here!" in the first film, and "They're baa-aack!" in the second (that film's tagline), placed her in the collective pop culture consciousness of the United States.^[16] "They're here!" is #69 on the American Film Institute's list of 100 Movie Quotes.
    After her work in 1982's Poltergeist, O'Rourke secured several television and TV movie roles. In April 1983 she starred as herself alongside Morey Amsterdam and well-known Walt Disney animated characters in the hour-long television special, Believe You Can ... and You Can!^[17][18] She also appeared in CHiPs, Webster, The New Leave It to Beaver, Our House, and had a recurring role on Happy Days as Heather Pfister.^[3] In the television movies Massarati and the Brain and 1985's Surviving: A Family in Crisis, she played Skye Henry and Sarah Brogan, respectively.^[14]
    

    Death

    O'Rourke became ill in early 1987 and was misdiagnosed by doctors at Kaiser Permanente Hospital as having Crohn's disease. She was prescribed prednisone to treat the disease, which caused her cheeks to appear puffy and large.^[19] On January 31, 1988, O'Rourke suddenly became ill again, vomiting and unable to swallow. The next morning she collapsed while preparing to leave for the hospital and her stepfather called paramedics. O'Rourke suffered a cardiac arrest en route to the hospital, and after resuscitation she was airlifted by helicopter to Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego,^[10] where she died later that day.
    Speaking to reporters, O'Rourke's manager David Wardlow initially announced that it was believed she died of influenza.^[20][21] However, hospital spokesman Vincent Bond announced that O'Rourke died during surgery to repair an acute bowel obstruction (caused by congenital stenosis of the intestine)^[22] complicated by septic shock;^[3][23] this report was corroborated by the San Diego County coroner's office on February 3, two days after her death.^[24] Later reports changed the specific cause of death to cardiac arrest caused by septic shock brought on by the intestinal stenosis.^[22][25]
    
    
    Plaque marking O'Rourke's interment
    O'Rourke was interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery on February 5, 1988.^[26]
    

    Lawsuit

    On May 25, 1988, Sanford M. Gage, the O'Rourke family attorney, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Kaiser Foundation Hospital in San Diego. O'Rourke had been seen by doctors at Kaiser since birth, and the suit claimed that they failed to properly diagnose her long-standing small-bowel obstruction: had they not simply treated her for Crohn's disease with prescription drugs, she could have had a period of remission by means of a major bowel surgery;^[27][28] and this misdiagnosis caused O'Rourke's death.^[29] Kaiser Permanente spokeswoman Janice Seib responded: "We have reviewed the case extensively, and we believe that the diagnosis and the course of action taken by our physicians was entirely appropriate. It's a very complex case, complicated by a number of factors, and not given to any simple answers."^[10] The case went to arbitration and was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.^[30]
    

    Aftermath

    O'Rourke's death complicated Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's marketing for her last work, Poltergeist III, out of fear of appearing to be exploiting her death.^[31] Tom Skerritt and Nancy Allen, O'Rourke's co-stars, were discouraged from giving interviews about the film to avoid questions about her death.^[32] O'Rourke died four months before the theatrical release of Poltergeist III, which was dedicated to her memory.^[33]
    On September 26, 2008, DirecTV began airing a national TV advertisement developed by Deutsch; directed by Erich Joiner and cinematographed by Daniel Mindel,^[34] the advert features O'Rourke's famous "They're here!" scene from Poltergeist blended with contemporary footage of her co-star, Craig T. Nelson, intended to mimic the film. After the advertisement drew criticism from bloggers and columnists for exploiting O'Rourke,^[35] DirecTV responded in a Q&A session with readers of The New York Times. Jon Gieselman, DirecTV's senior vice president for advertising and public relations, explained that O'Rourke's family "was involved in the spot from start to finish [and that] Heather's mother not only approved, [...] she also commented that Heather's inclusion was a wonderful tribute to her daughter."^[36]
    

    Filmography

    Film

    Year	Title	Role	Notes
    1982	Poltergeist	Carol Anne Freeling
    1986	Poltergeist II: The Other Side	Carol Anne Freeling
    1988	Poltergeist III	Carol Anne Freeling	Released posthumously. Dedicated to her memory.

    Television

    Year	Title	Role	Notes
    1981	Fantasy Island	Liz Blake (Age 5)	Episode: "Elizabeth's Baby / The Artist and the Lady"
    1982–83	Happy Days	Heather Pfister	Recurring role, 12 episodes
    1982	Massarati and the Brain	Skye Henry	Television film
    1983	CHiPs	Lindsey	Episode: "Fun House"
    1983	Matt Houston	Sunny Kimball	Episode: "The Woman in White"
    1983	Webster	Melanie	3 episodes
    1984	Finder of Lost Loves	Jillian Marsh	Episode: "Yesterday's Child"
    1985	Surviving: A Family in Crisis	Sarah Brogan	Television film
    1986	Around the Bend	The Daughter	Television film
    1986–87	The New Leave It to Beaver	Heather	2 episodes
    1987	Our House	Dana	Episode: "A Point of View"
    1987	Rocky Road	Russian Girl	Episode: "Moscow on the Boardwalk"

    Heather O'Rourke
    O'Rourke as Carol Anne Freeling in Poltergeist (1982)
    Born	December 27, 1975 San Diego, California, U.S.
    Died	February 1, 1988 (aged 12) San Diego, California, U.S.
    Cause of death	Cardiac arrest caused by septic shock due to intestinal stenosis
    Resting place	Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
    Other names	Heather Michelle O'Rourke[1]
    Education	Big Bear Elementary School Big Bear Middle School
    Occupation	Actress
    Years active	1981–1988
    Notable work	Carol Anne Freeling in the Poltergeist franchise
    Television	Happy Days (1982–83)
    Parent(s)	Michael O'Rourke (father) Kathleen O'Rourke (mother)
    Relatives	Tammy O'Rourke (older sister) James A. "Jim" Peele (stepfather) Charlie Walker (brother-in-law)

     

    References

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75. "'Poltergeist' Star Heather O'Rourke Becomes Ill, Dies". The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York, US). February 3, 1988.
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81. Folkart, Burt A. (February 2, 1988). "`Poltergeist' Star Heather O'Rourke Dies at Age of 12". Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California, US). p. 3. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
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91. Conconi, Chuck (May 27, 1988). "PERSONALITIES". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286.
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93. Speers, W. (May 26, 1988). "Hospital Sued Over Child Star's Death". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D02. ISSN 0885-6613.
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95. Carroll, Richard (March 7, 2005). "Battling over culpability, calculating the price of a life". Los Angeles Business Journal (re-published). ISSN 0194-2603.
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97. "Studio Unsure How To Market Latest 'Poltergeist' Movie". Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, Kentucky). March 27, 1988. p. J5. ISSN 0745-4260.
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99. Cieply, Michael (March 21, 1988). "MGM Ponders Selling of `Poltergeist III'". Los Angeles Times. p. 6. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237.
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101. Van Heerden, Bill (1998). Film and Television In-Jokes: Nearly 2,000 Intentional References, Parodies, Allusions, Personal Touches, Cameos, Spoofs, and Homages (illustrated ed.). University of Michigan Press. ISBN 978-0-7864-0456-8.
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105. Glover, Anne (October 16, 2008). "Critics cry foul over DirecTV ad featuring dead girl". Cincinnati. Scripps Howard News Service. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
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These are the 5 most cursed movies of all time By Kyle Smith

These are the 5 most cursed movies of all time

By Kyle Smith

May 21, 2015 | 2:13pm

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Oliver Robins (from left), Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams and Dominique Dunne in 1982's "Poltergeist." Photo: MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection

Soon after the original “Poltergeist” terrified audiences, it began freaking out fans who noticed that several cast members died under unusual circumstances. Expect more talk of “The ‘Poltergeist’ Curse” now that the remake is hitting theaters. Let’s look at the calamities that hit that production and the other movies said to be “cursed” by misfortunes.

‘Poltergeist’ (1982)

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Heather O’Rourke in 1982’s “Poltergeist.”Photo: MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection

Dominique Dunne, daughter of Vanity Fair columnist and movie producer Dominick Dunne, starred as the teen daughter in the haunted house. She was strangled less than six months after the film came out — by her boyfriend, who served only 3½ years after being convicted of voluntary manslaughter. Heather O’Rourke, the “They’re heeere” and “They’re baaack!” girl, died of a rare disease at age 12, shortly after filming “Poltergeist III,” which was released after her death. Meanwhile, Will Sampson, who played the medicine man in “Poltergeist II” — he also played Chief Bromden in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” — died at 53 of scleroderma; Julian Beck, the evil preacher in the second film, died at 60 of stomach cancer.

‘The Crow’ (1994)

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A crew member was badly burned by a power cable on the first day of shooting, another crew member pierced his own hand with a screwdriver and the set was destroyed by a storm. But the worst was yet to come: Star Brandon Lee, son of martial-arts master Bruce, died after a prop gun that inexplicably contained a live bullet was fired at him. Lee was 28.

‘Superman’ (1978)

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Christopher Reeve in 1978’s “Superman.”Photo: Warner Brothers

Christopher Reeve was paralyzed in an equestrian accident in 1995, then died nine years later at age 52; his Lois Lane, Margot Kidder, suffered from bipolar disorder and in 1996 went missing for several days. Looking back, TV’s flabby 1950s Superman, George Reeves, died in 1959 of a gunshot to the head that was ruled a suicide in a case that sounded to some like a coverup: No fingerprints were found on the weapon and Reeves was said to be having an affair with the wife of a top Hollywood executive. Some curse-theorists also mention Richard Pryor, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis three years after co-starring in “Superman III,” and Christopher Reeve’s wife, Dana, who died of lung cancer at 44 (though she didn’t smoke). Going back even further to what may have kicked off the curse: Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster sold the rights for $130 in 1938, with no share in the billions of profits to come.

‘The Conqueror’ (1956)

The Genghis Khan epic that filmed in Utah downwind from a US Army site where 11 nuclear bombs were tested starred John Wayne, Susan Hayward and Agnes Moorehead, all of whom died of cancer, as did director Dick Powell. By late 1980, a survey found that 91 cast and crew members (out of 220) had developed cancer, 46 of them dying of it. The film was also plagued by a sudden flood and by a panther that nearly bit Hayward.

‘Atuk’ (never filmed)

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John Belushi (from left), John Candy and Chris Farley.Photo: Photo still; AP; Paramount

Based on a novel by Mordecai Richler (“The Incomparable Atuk”), this comedy about an Eskimo who comes to New York attracted the interest of John Belushi, Sam Kinison, John Candy and Chris Farley, each of whom died before he could film it. The details are more complicated: Kinison actually began production on the film in 1988, then clashed with producers and dropped out of the project. He died four years later. Curse-mongers point out that two others tangentially associated with the film also died young: writer and Candy pal Michael O’Donoghue, who read the script; and Farley’s friend and “SNL” co-star Phil Hartman, who reportedly planned to take a supporting role in the film.

The 2016 FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards Winners and Full Results!

n:  Fearful Features,Home,Movies/TV,News   |   May 10,2016 - 9:44 am   |  by:  Fangoria Staff   |   Comments Off on The 2016 FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards Winners and Full Results!
We got a record number (by a wide margin) of ballots for this year’s Chainsaw Awards, so it took us a little longer than usual to tally the votes, but now we’re ready to announce Fango readers’ choices for the best of 2015. The winners, as voted by Fango readers, are listed below, as well as how the runners-up placed.
Here’s a complete rundown of how the nominees ranked, in descending order, with write-ins also acknowledged:
BEST WIDE-RELEASE FILM
IT FOLLOWS
CRIMSON PEAK
KRAMPUS
THE VISIT
THE GIFT
Write-in: SCOUTS GUIDE TO THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
BEST LIMITED-RELEASE/DIRECT-TO-VIDEO FILM
WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS
WE ARE STILL HERE
THE FINAL GIRLS
ANGUISH
SOME KIND OF HATE
Write-ins: BONE TOMAHAWK; HE NEVER DIED; MAGGIE; THE BOY; SPRING; ZOMBEAVERS
BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
GOODNIGHT MOMMY
WHEN ANIMALS DREAM
DER SAMURAI
CUB
ALLELUIA
BEST ACTOR
Kurt Russell, BONE TOMAHAWK
Tom Hiddleston, CRIMSON PEAK
Mark Duplass, CREEP
Henry Rollins, HE NEVER DIED
Lou Taylor Pucci, SPRING
Write-ins: Jason Bateman, THE GIFT; Jared Breeze, THE BOY; Maurice Luijten, CUB; Ronen Rubinstein, SOME KIND OF HATE
BEST ACTRESS
Maika Monroe, IT FOLLOWS
Barbara Crampton, WE ARE STILL HERE
Abigail Breslin, MAGGIE
Susanne Wuest, GOODNIGHT MOMMY
Ryan Simpkins, ANGUISH
Write-ins: Mia Wasikowska, CRIMSON PEAK; Toni Collette, KRAMPUS; Taissa Farmiga, THE FINAL GIRLS
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Joel Edgerton, THE GIFT
Larry Fessenden, WE ARE STILL HERE
TIE: Richard Jenkins, BONE TOMAHAWK and Rainn Wilson, THE BOY
Pit Bukowski, DER SAMURAI
Write-ins: Jim Beaver, CRIMSON PEAK; David Koechner, KRAMPUS
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jessica Chastain, CRIMSON PEAK
Malin Akerman, THE FINAL GIRLS
TIE: Deanna Dunagan, THE VISIT and Krista Stadler, KRAMPUS
Kate Greenhouse, HE NEVER DIED
Write-ins: Olivia Luccardi, IT FOLLOWS; Lin Shaye, INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3
BEST SCREENPLAY
Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS
Joel Edgerton, THE GIFT
M.A. Fortin and Joshua John Miller, THE FINAL GIRLS
Sonny Mallhi, ANGUISH
Sarah Adina Smith, THE MIDNIGHT SWIM
Write-ins: David Robert Mitchell, IT FOLLOWS; S. Craig Zahler, BONE TOMAHAWK; Jason Krawczyk, HE NEVER DIED; Guillermo del Toro, Matthew Robbins, CRIMSON PEAK; Matt and Ross Duffer, HIDDEN
BEST SCORE
Disasterpeace (Rich Vreeland), IT FOLLOWS
Fernando Velázquez, CRIMSON PEAK
Wojciech Golczewski, WE ARE STILL HERE
Claudio Simonetti, Carpenter Brut, Brian Wiacek, Jeremy Gillespie, THE EDITOR
Hauschka (Volker Bertelmann), THE BOY
Write-ins: Steve Moore, CUB; Various artists, DEATHGASM; Douglas Pipes, KRAMPUS
BEST MAKEUP/CREATURE FX
Weta Workshop, KRAMPUS
Marcus Koch, WE ARE STILL HERE
Hugo Villasenor, BONE TOMAHAWK
Roger Murray, Andrew Beattie, Vanessa Hurley, Storm McCracken, Tim Wells, DEATHGASM
John Nolan, THE HALLOW
Write-ins: Robert Kurtzman, IT FOLLOWS; Tony Gardner, SCOUTS GUIDE TO THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
WORST FILM
The top five vote-getters (as write-ins, not from nominations) were:
POLTERGEIST
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION
THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE 3 (FINAL SEQUENCE)
THE GALLOWS
THE VISIT
BEST TV SERIES
ASH VS. EVIL DEAD
HANNIBAL
THE WALKING DEAD
PENNY DREADFUL
SALEM
Write-ins: AMERICAN HORROR STORY: HOTEL; FEAR THE WALKING DEAD
BEST TV ACTOR
Bruce Campbell, ASH VS. EVIL DEAD
Mads Mikkelsen, HANNIBAL
Hugh Dancy, HANNIBAL
Josh Hartnett, PENNY DREADFUL
Matt Ryan, CONSTANTINE
Write-in: Shane West, SALEM
BEST TV ACTRESS
Eva Green, PENNY DREADFUL
Vera Farmiga, BATES MOTEL
Caroline Dhavernas, HANNIBAL
Lady Gaga, AMERICAN HORROR STORY: HOTEL
Janet Montgomery, SALEM
BEST TV SUPPORTING ACTOR
Richard Armitage, HANNIBAL
Evan Peters, AMERICAN HORROR STORY: HOTEL
Lennie James, THE WALKING DEAD
Rory Kinnear, PENNY DREADFUL
Seth Gabel, SALEM
Write-ins: Ray Santiago, ASH VS. EVIL DEAD; Timothy Dalton, PENNY DREADFUL; Silas Weir Mitchell, GRIMM; Denis O’Hare, AMERICAN HORROR STORY: HOTEL; Harold Perrineau, CONSTANTINE; Steven Yeun, THE WALKING DEAD
BEST TV SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Gillian Anderson, HANNIBAL
TIE: Jamie Lee Curtis, SCREAM QUEENS and Dana DeLorenzo, ASH VS. EVIL DEAD
Billie Piper, PENNY DREADFUL
Lucy Lawless, SALEM
Write-ins: Kathy Bates, AMERICAN HORROR STORY: HOTEL; Patti Lupone, PENNY DREADFUL
BEST TV MAKEUP/CREATURE FX
Gregory Nicotero, Howard Berger, THE WALKING DEAD
Francois Dagenais, HANNIBAL
Eryn Krueger Mekash, David LeRoy Anderson, AMERICAN HORROR STORY: HOTEL
Steve Newburn, Sean Sansom, THE STRAIN
Matthew Mungle, Clinton Wayne, SALEM
Write-ins: Roger Murray, ASH VS. EVIL DEAD; Bill Johnson, Toby Sells, CONSTANTINE
FANGORIA HALL OF FAME
This year, the fans chose longtime bad-ass and John Carpenter fave Kurt Russell and beloved horror heroine Barbara Crampton for induction into these hallowed ranks. Congratulations to them and the rest of the winners, and thanks to all who voted!

“They’re Back!”: Celebrating 30 Years of ‘Poltergeist II’

By JonathanBarkan on May 23,2016@JonathanBarkan

Good sequels are a rare breed. Most attempts fail to capture the essence, charm, and magic of the first film, failing to live up to the expectations that audiences hold. And in those cases, it’s often a shame. There are great stories that have huge potential to be expanded upon, revealing backstories, parallel storylines, and who knows what else? And it’s a shame when the stars don’t align and we’re left wanting.
But then there are sequels that actually hold up in a lot of ways to what was originally produced. Some exceed expectations while others meet them, but no matter what, the audiences are left feeling like they’ve gotten a bigger piece of the greater story.
Such is the case with Poltergeist II: The Other Side, the 1986 sequel to the Steven Spielberg-produced, Tobe Hooper-directed smash hit of 1982. And while many don’t hold it in as high of an esteem, I personally really enjoy the movie, which goes into some rather twisted directions.
Directed by Brian Gibson, the movie continues the story of the Freeling Family after their terrifying supernatural ordeal in Cuesta Verde, CA. Unable to maintain his real estate license and forced to sell vacuum cleaners door-to-door, Steve takes the family to live with Diane’s mother in Arizona. Their constant struggles with the insurance company, who argue that their previous home wasn’t destroyed but is instead “missing”, has left them in a financial pickle.
As their insurance woes continue, Diane’s mother suddenly passes away one night, an event that Carol Anne seems to have known about before anyone else, especially when she talks to her grandmother’s spirit on a toy phone mere moments after giving her a farewell kiss.
This loss sets off a storm of events that bring the evil spirits from the first film back after the Freeling’s, even though they are hundreds of miles away from the origin. But “The Beast”, who takes the physical form of Reverend Henry Kane, isn’t done trying to get Carol Anne and will do anything it takes to take hold of her soul.
Something of interest with Poltergeist II is that it expands upon the Indian burial ground concept that the first film was thought to have. The reality is that Poltergeist never mentioned the graves being part of an Indian burial ground. This was simply a myth that gained widespread traction, so much so that the sequel embraced the idea, turning it into something nearly as eerie.
The expanded storyline is that Reverend Kane convinced a large group of people that the Judgment Day was fast approaching, so he took them all into an underground cavern, where they all perished a slow, lingering death due to dehydration, starvation, and exhaustion. His evilness was so great and persistent that it turned him into a monster after his death, one that was capable of hosting “The Beast”, a force that, “…comes in many forms.”
The only connection to Native Americans that the film offers is in the form of Taylor (Will Sampson), a shamanistic character who protects and aides the Freeling’s through these difficult times. But that’s really about it. Even a casually mentioned Native American massacre has nothing to do with the overall story. It’s just…there.
If you haven’t seen Poltergeist II, you’re missing out on Reverend Henry Kane, who is, in my opinion, one of the creepiest villains in horror history. His little jingle, “God is in his holy temple…” is turned into a horrifying chant used in the soundtrack itself, as though those poor souls who died for Kane’s misguided beliefs are still bound by his creed.
Then, when Kane appears in his “true form”, the stumpy demonic vomit creature that was designed by H.R. Giger, it’s both horrifying and, as a horror fan, truly exciting and eye-grabbing.
Both Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams play their roles with enthusiasm and gusto while Heather O’Rourke (who tragically died after the release of Poltergeist III) is just as innocent and doe-eyed as she was in the original, making the assault against her all the more distressing. Alas, Domnique Dunne, who played Dana in the first film, wasn’t able to reprise her role as she was killed the same year the original came out.
Overall, Poltergeist II: The Other Side is a really solid sequel that delivers scares, great characters, and interesting ways to expand the story. You’ll just have to suffer through a quintessentially hokey 80’s ending. Floating through heavenly mist to defeat the evil because you have familial strength? Really?

10 Reasons Why the Much-Maligned POLTERGEIST III is Worth Revisiting

Roger Barr

@imockery

May 4, 2016

POLTERGEIST III is a film that had a lot going against it from the get-go. It had half the budget of POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE, Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams weren’t returning as Carol Anne’s parents, and Julian Beck passed away before he could reprise his memorable role as the evil preacher Kane.
That said, while it’s clearly the weakest of the original POLTERGEIST trilogy, I’ve still always enjoyed the film. It had some creative trick camera shots, nice special effects work, and a handful of memorable sequences.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the reasons I think POLTERGEIST III, after all these years,  is worth another look.

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REASON #1: DR. SEATON!
If there’s one thing we all love in horror movies, it’s a character we can collectively hate. Dr. Seaton (Richard Fire) fills that role perfectly in POLTERGEIST III. He’s a shrink who is trying to figure out what’s wrong with Carol Anne, but he dismisses any problems she has as mental tricks she’s playing on everyone. Indeed, he stubbornly attributes every phenomenon he and other people in the film witness to being mere “powers of suggestion” by a crafty Carol Anne, rather than actual ghosts. Sure, Doc… entire swimming pools freezing over in an instant and someone getting killed right before your eyes were just forms of mass hysteria caused by a terrified little girl. Nice theory.
He also comes off as completely pompous: imagine the voice of Data (Brent Spiner) from STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, only he’s now a total dick, and you have Dr. Seaton in a nutshell. Thankfully, as with most assholish characters in horror films, he meets his untimely demise when one of the mirror-reflection spirits shoves him down an elevator shaft.
Don’t worry, Dr. Seaton; you’re not dead. Your death is just a figment of your imagination caused by Carol Anne… right?

REASON #2: TANGINA, TANGINA, TANGINA!
I’ll never understand why some people didn’t like the psychic Tangina (Zelda Rubinstein) in the POLTERGEIST series. In the third installment, she gets a lot of dialogue, so if you are a fan of hers, that’s a big reason to appreciate this unsung flick.
“Youth is a strong life force. Innocence is pure life force. We lose strength as we lose our innocence. You see, innocence is the only gift we’re given in life; all else must be fought for. In that gift is purity. In that purity lies strength.” Damn right, Tangina! I mean, come on! Tangina is basically the Yoda of the POLTERGEIST films, and you cannot help but give her hypnotic speeches your absolute undivided attention. The way she delivers every word with passion and caution makes you scared to take your eyes off of her for even a second.
FUN FACT: For her role as Tangina, Zelda Rubinstein was nominated for both a Saturn Award and a Razzie Award. I guess her character was divisive among moviegoers, but I’m definitely on the side of “Best Supporting Actress” for ol’ Zelda.

REASON #3: A TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEAK & SPELL CAMEO!
Look, I’ll always be a sucker for the corny speech synthesis that this toy featured, so I was happy to see it make an appearance in the movie. After being introduced at the very start of POLTERGEIST III, the Speak & Spell is used to lure Tangina into a false sense of security as Carol Anne’s sinister reflection plays with it. Would’ve been nice if she typed something like “D-I-E” into it right before attacking Tangina (I’ve always thought that was a missed opportunity), but it still does what it needs to.
Sure, it’s not used hilariously like when we all laughed at Leatherface playing with a Speak & Spell and identifying a clown as “food” in LEATHERFACE: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III, but few things are.

REASON #4: BAD KANE MAKEUP!
Whether or not you liked POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE, there’s no denying that Kane (Julian Beck) was creepy as hell. Sadly, Beck passed away before he could reprise his role as Kane in the third film. Rather than not feature Kane in the story and come up with a new entity to terrorize Carol Anne, the filmmakers recast the role with Nathan Davis playing him on screen and Corey Burton providing his voice. This Kane just doesn’t look right; while they did their best to recreate the original, the makeup team made him look like somebody wearing an obvious geriatric mask.
What the filmmakers failed to realize is that part of what made Julian Beck so perfect for the role of Kane was that he looked like a walking, talking human skeleton. His emaciated appearance, coupled with his singing of old hymns, made him insanely creepy, and he’s just not achieving that here.
Still, I’ve always found it fascinating that they cast two people to replace Beck, and it still wasn’t up to snuff, so that alone makes it for a fun watch.

REASON #5: THE PUDDLE!
I’m pretty sure this scene needs no introduction, as it’s easily one of the standouts in POLTERGEIST III: Carol Anne finds herself alone in the parking garage, running away from the chilling spirit of Kane that’s been stalking her. She walks backward and ends up standing in a puddle that suddenly opens up and begins to glow brightly, as some hands that look like they belong to SWAMP THING try to pull her underwater.
It’s an effective scene, and every time I’ve been in a parking garage that has some pipes leaking onto the ground, I’m immediately taken back to Carol Anne being dragged under, and make a point to avoid them. I’m sure they’re merely shallow puddles… but why risk tempting Kane?

REASON #6: TANGINA’S SURPRISE DEMISE!
I mentioned how the Speak & Spell was used to lure in Tangina, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t discuss her death scene that came completely out of nowhere.
If there’s one thing in the movie that caught me off guard, it had to be Tangina suddenly being killed by Carol Anne’s reflection. And she wasn’t just killed in simple fashion… no, with a simple tap on the shoulder, Tangina was instantly turned into what I can only describe as a mummy corpse. Then, when Tangina’s body collapses to the ground, a hand suddenly bursts through her face and begins ripping her crusty and slimy body apart, only to reveal that it’s Donna (Lara Flynn Boyle). It was one of those scenes that just left you thinking, “Where the hell did that come from!?”

REASON #7: BREAKING MIRRORS!
Unlike the previous two films, POLTERGEIST III takes place inside a large luxury apartment building, which appears to be filled with mirrors on virtually every surface. Well, I’m here to tell you that if you want to play a drinking game that ensures you’ll get alcohol poisoning, look no further than tossing one back every time a mirror is broken in this film. Yes, we know that Kane is on the other side of the mirror and screwing around with everyone, but the filmmakers really wanted to drive this point home by breaking mirrors at any given opportunity.
Of all the mirrors that are broken in the movie, the most laughable is seeing Donna open up her compact and realizing that the mirror is broken. The ominous music that plays during this scene suggests that this is supposed to be scary, but it makes me laugh every single time I see it.
Also, for a series of films known for being cursed, maybe writing a script in which countless mirrors would be broken wasn’t the best of ideas? Please tell me that I’m not the only one who sees the irony here? I’m sure if they filmed a fourth movie, it would’ve featured characters constantly walking under ladders and having black cats cross their paths. Incredible.

REASON #8: THE MEAT FREEZER!
At one point in the film, Patricia and Bruce find themselves locked inside a meat freezer, and it actually turns out to be a pretty great scene. For starters, there are several frozen animals just hanging in there, and they suddenly start moaning and writhing on their meat hooks while the couple panics and tries to open the door. Then, in a nice display of trick photography, a hose begins filling up the freezer vertically with water along the back wall. So rather than rising up from the ground below them, the water approaches Patricia and Bruce from the side. To cap it off, Tangina emerges from the water to give them some hope in the form of her powerful amulet necklace.
It’s a great scene, and I’ve always felt like most people don’t even remember it after having blocked the movie from their memory. Definitely worth revisiting.

REASON #9: SHOVEL SEVERING!
Come on now, what horror fan doesn’t love a good decapitation? While Kane’s makeup certainly wasn’t the best, the scene in which Patricia chops off his head with a shovel was plenty o’ fun. Using practical effects, we see cuts between Patricia’s terrified expression and the flesh melting right off of Kane’s face, revealing the rotted skull beneath it. Good stuff!

REASON #10: MUSTACHE SKELETON!
I’ve always felt like Tom Skerritt landed a lot of his roles because the filmmakers just needed a guy with an awesome mustache. While he wasn’t nearly as interesting to watch as Craig “Coach” Nelson in the previous POLTERGEIST movies, his mighty mustache still fought the good fight against Kane.
Late in the film, Bruce takes Tangina’s advice and makes his way into Carol Anne’s room — where Kane is holding her captive — by breaking through the outside window. When he jumps into the light and smoke-filled room, his fate is unknown… but when his wife follows, she finds his skeleton on the ground. And the best thing about it? THE MUSTACHE REMAINS INTACT! Indeed, not even the evil powers of Kane could destroy that ‘stache. I guess what I’m trying to say here is that filmmakers need to up their game when it comes to featuring skeletons with excellent mustaches. Get on it, Hollywood!
I’m not sure it falls under “so bad it’s good,” but POLTERGEIST III still has plenty of fun moments that I think many horror fans may have overlooked since its initial release. I’ve always had a soft spot for it, and even though POLTERGEIST III is the weakest of the first three films, it still deserves our attention — if for no other reason than it would ultimately and tragically be Heather O’Rourke’s final role.
So what do you think about the film? Drop us a line on Facebook and/or Twitter to let us know what you love (or hate) about POLTERGEIST III!