Monday, September 19, 2016

Heather O’Rourke December 27, 1975 - February 1, 1988 "They're Heeeeeeeere..."



Heather O’Rourke
December 27, 1975 - February 1, 1988
"They're Heeeeeeeere..."



Everyone remembers that line from Poltergeist. What a great film.  It tapped into every nightmare...  spooky clown puppets, trees that could eat you and dead bodies in the pool.  The windows of my mind slammed shut. Little Heather starred in the first film, and both sequels.  The last one, Poltergeist 3, should have been called, Everyone Looks Bloated and Unhealthy. Nobody looked good in that film. Nancy Allen looked bad, and little Heather, well, lets just say that I don’t know how pretty of an adult she would have made. It was all filmed in the John Hancock Building, (pre Chris Farley) in Chicago.
 Thanks to Josh Perry for that photograph.
Heather was born two days after Christmas, 1975. In 1988, she was living in Lakeside California, near San Diego. She was attending school, and was president of her fifth grade class. This is where they lived in, and another view.
She was cute, could speak, and could memorize a 60-page script in about an hour.
In June of 1987, she had completed filming Poltergeist 3. During that shoot, she had suffered from "flu like symptoms."  She was diagnosed with a parasite she had picked up from drinking water at a campground. From what I can gather, she suffered from bowel obstructions all her life, but nobody knew about it. Heather was put on medication, and the problem had supposedly been resolved.
On the night of January 31st, 1988, many months later, Heather claimed she didn’t feel well, and crawled into bed with her parents. She woke up vomiting, so her mother gave her a Gatorade drink that was supposed to soothe her stomach.
The next morning she got up, and still complained of feeling bad. Her feet and fingers were swollen and blue. Her mother tried to give her some toast to eat, but Heather complained that she couldn’t even swallow. Her mother was going to call the doctor, but Heather passed out, so she called 911. By the time paramedics arrived, little Heather was in shock. One of them asked if she was feeling bad. "A little," was her reply. On their way to the hospital, her mother told Heather, "I love you." "I love you too," were the last words they spoke. Such beautiful last words.
They took Heather to the Alvarado Medical International Hospital, 8 miles away. 
She had heart failure en route, and was revived at 9:25a.m. She was then taken by helicopter to the Childrens Hospital and Health Centre in San Diego, where they arrived at 10:45a.m. 
Here is the emergency entrance. 
Her parents were informed that Heather might have suffered brain damage, because her pupils were fixed and delighted.

The doctors suspected it might be a bowel obstruction, and rushed her into surgery. They were too late. Heather died on the operating table at 2:43 p.m. Her intestines had burst, and she died from the infection. She was only 12.
Findadeath.com Super Friend Scott Williams sends this explanation of the cause of death:  1) Renal failure causes fluid retention and massive blood pressure increase leading to "Massive G.I. Bleed" (it blows it wide open), which leads to a "severe hypotension", (from the subsequent bleeding) which leads to "ischemic cardiomyopathy (the heart does not get enough oxeygenated blood), and that's it.  Done.
Findadeath friend Dana sends us this:  Just wanted to comment on the death of Heather O'Rourke. I have heard that she was posthumously diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. That would certainly explain all of her symptoms. I was diagnosed at age 27, but now that I know the symptoms, I can remember spells back to my preteen years and earlier. This would certainly explain her bowel obstructions. When you grow up with this disease, you become accustomed to the daily grind of it and don't notice a lot of things. To say that her parents should have noticed that she was ill is a bit unfair. If she did indeed have Crohn's Disease, normal would have been a relative term. I have been hospitalized with bowel obstructions that took weeks to develop. It didn't occur to me that something serious was wrong until days before I had to be hospitalized with warnings from my doctor that ruptured intestines were not far off.

After the funeral (WARNING DEAD PIC - Thank you Andy San Dimas) H
eather was interred on February 5th, at Westwood Memorial Park, just below where Peter Lawford was once interred. The plaque on her crypt reads Carol Anne, Poltergeist I, II, III. I’m surprised they didn’t put her Happy Days credit on it too.

This is Tara and I live in San Diego County and let me tell you, Lakeside, where Heather O'Rourke lived is a pretty rough neck part of town in East San Diego. East San Diego (El Cajon, Julian, Lakeside) are poor areas. Whenever anyone tells you that they are from that part of town, you can definitely assume they have no money. El Cajon has even been cited by the city council for allowing too many apartment complexes to be built there! Lakeside has lots of dirt roads and wooden houses with rusting appliances in the front yard.

There are no decent hospitals in East San Diego, everyone knows that. Alvarado is little more than a medical clinic. If you really want decent medical care, you have to go to San Diego, and that can mean the difference between life or death (as it did in this case). Anyway, I really think Heather O'Rourke died of neglect, because it's not like she was a child growing up in a third world country where there were no doctors. Her parents should've known something was wrong with her. It's ironic that she was a child actress making huge sums of money, yet none of it was being spent on her; to have suffered on and off from bowel obstructions her entire life, it really makes you wonder if she was ever taken in for yearly checkups.  
Findadeath.com friend Kennedy sends us this:  She did not die from neglect. Everyone one who is a "star" of a movie must undergo a physical for the purpose of obtaining an insurance policy in the event they kick off during filming so the studios can recoup their money if the film is unable to be finished. Heather was given an all clear at the time of P-3. Her mother subsequently sued all parties involved in her physical and being insured blah, blah, blah. It was settled out of court.
This in - May 2002:  Hi--I was just reading the article on Heather O'Rourke and I have to take exception of Tara's characterization of "East San Diego". First of all, the area is called "East County" and is not part of the city of San Diego.  It's like any other suburb, it has nice areas and not-so-nice areas, but living there does not necessarily mean you're "poor". 
A couple of years ago, they closed the hospital in El Cajon, but it was certainly still in existence in 1988. Plus, Grossmont hospital is a full-service hospital, and it should have been closer than Alvarado (which is not just a "medical clinic" but also a full hospital). I don't know where Tara lives, but she certainly doesn't know East County. BTW, I LOVE your site and I just finished reading your article on Gilda Radner. It's nice to know someone else felt like they knew her and loved her even though they never met her. I still miss her. 
Kathy Paulson
Thanks for the clarification Kathy.  I know Tara well, and I'm sure she meant nothing derogatory by her description.  Gilda lives on.  xx.
DECEMBER 2001 - Findadeath.com friend Jack Venturo sends us this picture of the home used in the original Poltergeist film.  Thanks, Jack!

Findadeath.com friend Denise Duvall donated the photographs for this story. Thank you so much, Denise.
Wanna see her mailbox?

The Poltergeist Curse: Here's the Real Story Behind the Movie Myth

It's the spookiest month of the year, and you know what that means! It's time to figure out whether you believe in curses or simply unfortunate coincidences. A reboot of the classic 1982 horror film Poltergeist came out this year, but let's be honest: nothing could compare to the original. While no horrific accidents occurred on the set of this year's film (that we know of, anyway), the release reminded us of the rumors of a curse on the original film trilogy's cast. The movie revolves around a suburban family who move into a new home and begin to notice strange things surrounding their young daughter. Take a look below to find out about the mysterious events that have made people speculate that Poltergeist may be the most cursed franchise in Hollywood.

Source: Getty / MGM

The Whole Ordeal Began With Human Skeletons

One of the most famous scenes features JoBeth Williams's character, Diane, falling into the family's pool, and it's filled with skeletons. You might not know that those skeletons are actually real — the actors sure didn't. "In my innocence and naiveté, I assumed that these were not real skeletons," Williams said in an interview for TV Land (below). "I assumed that they were prop skeletons made out of plastic or rubber . . . I found out, as did the crew, that they were using real skeletons, because it's far too expensive to make fake skeletons out of rubber."

Months After the Release of the First Film, a Star Was Murdered

Poltergeist was released in June 1982, and in November of that year, 22-year-old Dominique Dunne, who played Dana (the family's older daughter), was murdered. Dunne was brutally strangled in her own driveway by her abusive ex-boyfriend and was removed from life support five days later.

An Exorcism Was Performed on the Set of the Sequel

Concerned about the use of real skeletons on the set of the first film, Native American actor and Poltergeist II: The Other Side star Will Sampson performed an exorcism on the set of the second film in 1984. According to Williams, he went to the set late at night by himself to do it. The next day, the cast supposedly felt relieved.

Source: Getty / MGM

Two More Cast Members Died Within a Couple Years of the Sequel

Julian Beck, who starred as Kane in Poltergeist II: The Other Side, died of stomach cancer at age 60. He was diagnosed before he accepted the role, and he passed away in September 1985, months before the film even came out in theaters. In June 1987, Will Sampson, the actor who performed the exorcism, died of malnutrition and postoperative kidney failure at age 53. While their deaths may not seem so unusual, some fans still believe they're connected to the curse.

Poltergeist's Young Star Died at 12

The untimely passing of Poltergeist's iconic young star is perhaps the most convincing case for a curse. Heather O'Rourke (aka Carol Anne, who said the famous line, "They're heeere") was incredibly young when she died of cardiac arrest and septic shock caused by a misdiagnosed intestinal issue. She died in February 1988 at 12, several months before the release of Poltergeist III, the final chapter in the original series.

Source: Getty / MGM

One Cast Member Barely Escaped Death

Richard Lawson was aboard USAir Flight 405 when it crashed into Flushing Bay in March 1992. A total of 27 people (out of the 51 on board) were killed. Lawson survived, but the event is yet another reason people claim the movie is cursed.

In 2009, a Cast Member Was Brutally Murdered

Lou Perryman played the small role of Pugsley in the original film. He was 67 years old when a recently released ex-convict killed him in his own home with an ax.
What do you think — is it a curse, or simply a series of terrible events? If you want more creepy true stories behind movies and TV, check out the following:

Poltergeist III(1988)

OVERVIEW

Brief Synopsis

Carol Anne has been sent by her parents to live with her aunt and uncle in a brand-new Chicago high-rise. Unfortunately, the supernatural forces that have plagued her before follow Carol Anne to her new residence.

Cast & Crew

Gary Sherman Director
Tom Skerritt Bruce Gardner
Lara Flynn Boyle Donna Gardner
Nancy Allen Patricia Gardner
Heather O'Rourke Carol Anne Freeling
Zelda Rubinstein Tangina Barrons
Kip Wentz Scott
Richard Fire Dr Seaton
Natan Davis Reverend Kane
SEE ALL CAST AND CREW

Additional Details

MPAA Ratings:  PG-13 Premiere Info: 
Release Date:  1988 Production Date: 
Color/B&W: 
Distributions Co:  MGM Distribution Company
Sound: 
Production Co:  Video Images .....Production Company, Howard Anderson Company .....Production Company, .....Production Company, Technicolor .....Production Company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) .....Studio, MGM Distribution Company .....Domestic Theatrical Distributor, United International Pictures .....Foreign Theatrical Distributor, MGM Home Entertainment .....Domestic Video Distributor
Duration(mins): 
Country:  United States (USA)
Duration(feet): 
   
Duration(reels): 
   

Poltergeist: The Legacy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Poltergeist: The Legacy
Poltergeist the Legacy logo1.jpg
Logo from season two through season four.
Created by Richard Barton Lewis
Starring Derek de Lint
Helen Shaver
Martin Cummins
Robbi Chong
Alexandra Purvis
Music by John Van Tongeren, Aaron Martin, Steven M. Stern
Country of origin United States
Canada
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 88
Production
Running time 42 minutes per episode
Release
Original network Showtime / Sci Fi Channel
Original release April 21, 1996 – November 12, 1999
Poltergeist: The Legacy is a Canadian horror television series which ran from 1996 to 1999. The series tells the story of the members of a secret society known as the Legacy and their efforts to protect humankind from occult dangers. Despite bearing the Poltergeist name, there is no real connection between the show and the Poltergeist trilogy aside from the title.
Poltergeist: The Legacy debuted on Showtime, and all first-run episodes of the first three seasons premiered on that network, though they were later syndicated. After the third season, Showtime cancelled the show, and the rights were purchased by Sci Fi Channel which continued the series for another season. This same pattern was followed by Stargate SG-1, which also debuted on Showtime, was also sold into syndication, and was rescued from cancellation by Sci Fi.
The fourth season of Poltergeist: The Legacy featured an episode starring WWE wrestler The Undertaker as a being from Hell who collected souls, a deliberate[original research?] crossover with RAW, which was also airing on the USA Network at the time and earning the network some of the highest ratings on cable TV. It was hoped that this cameo would help boost awareness of the new show, and thus generate a larger audience (just as USA had attempted to do by having Shawn Michaels appear on Pacific Blue).
In 2009 Poltergeist: The Legacy aired on NBC Universal's horror and suspense-themed cable channel Chiller.

Contents

Plot

Founded in England (where the Ruling House resides in London) in the 6th century, the Legacy was established to collect dangerous and ancient knowledge and artifacts, solve paranormal problems, and protect humanity from supernatural evils. Over time, the membership expanded around the world. As the Legacy grew, it established branches in other cities and countries. Known as Legacy "Houses," these are staffed by small teams of specialist members.
Each House is ruled by a "Precept" who wears a signet ring engraved with a distinctive L (one of the original cast members[who?] notes that the whole team had rings and only when a founding team was dissolved or a member lost, the rings were taken off and worn only by the Precept thenceforth). Other Houses are mentioned and occasionally seen in the series, but most of the action centers on the San Francisco House.
Dr. Derek Rayne is the Precept of the San Francisco House, set in a castellated mansion on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay. The San Francisco House operates under the guise of the Luna Foundation, a philanthropic institution that collects artifacts and antiquities.

Characters

  • Dr. Derek Rayne (played by Derek de Lint) – The Precept of the San Francisco House. Derek is a brilliant scholar with a mysterious background and connections to many powerful people. He is Dutch, and holds doctorates in anthropology and theology. Derek follows in the footsteps of his father Winston, who was also a Legacy member. Winston was corrupted and killed by supernatural forces when Derek was a teenager; eventually, that same evil attempts to do the same to Derek himself. Derek also has the "Sight," a form of precognition that allows him to 'see' things happen before they become real; at times, this allows him to change what he sees. He had a son named Lucas who died in infancy along with Derek's former lover. Derek appeared to be killed off in the final episode of the series.
  • Nick Boyle (played by Martin Cummins) – A former Navy SEAL who resigned after his commander caused the deaths of the other men in his unit. His father was a member of the Legacy before him, and though he is still revered by the Precepts, Nick is still haunted by his father's abuse. Nick had a brash and impulsive nature which often caused him to clash with the methodical Derek, although Derek once referred to Nick's lack of respect for the powers of evil as his greatest strength. He is an expert in weapons and tactics as well as being a skilled investigator, and he becomes Precept at the end of the series.
  • Alexandra "Alex" Moreau (played by Robbi Chong) – An African-American woman with psychometric abilities. Alex serves the Legacy as a researcher and investigator. She comes from an old Creole family in New Orleans, and her sister also has ESP, though no one in her family has it as strongly as Alex does. Derek was her mentor in college, and it is hinted that they may also have been lovers at that time.
  • Father Philip Callaghan (played by Patrick Fitzgerald) – A Roman Catholic priest and linguist from Ireland. Philip is a compassionate man who believes that virtue and faith are the best weapons against evil, but he also struggles with sexual temptation and lapses in faith. His brother was killed in an IRA car-bombing, which destabilized his beliefs. He appeared only in the first two seasons of the series in a recurring role, but returned for a 2-part episode in the final season.
  • Dr. Rachel Corrigan (played by Helen Shaver) – A psychiatrist who is helped by the Legacy in the pilot episode. Impressed by her skills and strength of character, Derek invited Rachel to join his team. Rachel is a widow with an 8-year-old daughter named Kat, after her husband Patrick and son Connor are killed in a car accident. She is a skeptic to a fault, refusing to believe even when confronted with the many supernatural occurrences dealt with by the Legacy. Rachel also struggles with alcoholism.
  • Katherine "Kat" Corrigan (played by Alexandra Purvis) – Rachel's daughter, 8 years old at the beginning of the series. Though not a member of the Legacy, Kat often visits the mansion and is drawn into many of their adventures. She also has latent psychic powers, and it is hinted in several episodes that she will become a powerful force for either good or evil when she grows to adulthood.
  • Kristin Adams (played by Kristin Lehman) – A Harvard anthropologist on leave from the Legacy House in Boston. Kristin joins the cast in the third season, but was never a formal member of the San Francisco House. She was killed in the fourth season episode "Sacrifice."
  • William Sloan (played by Daniel J. Travanti) – The head of the Ruling House in London. Very little is revealed about him, except that he has a troubled history with Derek. Sloan was introduced in the second season, and his character recurred a few times before giving himself over to a demon in the episode "Trapped."
  • Julia Walker (played by Jordan Bayne) – An investigator who is killed in the pilot episode. Julia was Alex's best friend and Nick's girlfriend, and her death affects the characters up until the end of the series.

Production

The series was created by Richard Barton Lewis and produced by PMP Legacy Productions, Showtime Network Inc., and Trilogy Entertainment Group. Special effects were created by Canadian companies C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures, Gajdecki Visual Effects, Lindala Make-Up Effects Inc., Rainmaker Digital Pictures, and the American Pixel Envy and Velocity Visuals.
The series was filmed in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, and lasted four seasons of 22 episodes each running from 1996 to 1999.

Episodes

Season Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired

1 22 21 April 1996 20 September 1996

2 22 9 May 1997 17 August 1997

3 22 23 January 1998 21 August 1998

4 22 19 March 1999 12 November 1999

DVD release

On February 7, 2006, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (under license from MGM) released the first season of Poltergeist: The Legacy on DVD in Region 1. Season two can be found on Amazon.com as DVD-R under license of MGM; it will be burned on request when ordered. It is unknown when the remaining 2 seasons will be released, as rights are now held by 20th Century Fox.
DVD set Episodes Release date

The Complete 1st Season 22 February 7, 2006

The Complete 2nd Season 22 March 3, 2010
On the 16th October 2013 Australia released Poltergeist The Legacy Complete Collection on 20 discs.

See also

Friday, September 9, 2016

Poltergeist (film series) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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]

Contents

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"
Julian Beck Noble Craig (Vomit Creature)1
Nathan Davis Corey Burton (Voiced)2
Note(s) 1. Henry Kane in his "Vomit Creature" incarnation is portrayed by Noble Craig.
2. Though Henry Kane was portrayed by Nathan Davis, he was voiced by Corey Burton.
[7]

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)
  • A dark grey cell indicates the information is not available for the film.

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 four 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]
  • 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 due to complications from 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.

  • 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.

  • "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, piwiwiwt2015). "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. Check date values in: |date= (help)

  • Mhhhhhikkelson, 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.

    1. 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.

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