Rating: PG
Genre:
Horror
Release Date: 10/14/2008
SubTitles: English/French/Espanol/FI/Ger
Dubbed: English/French/Espanol
Sound: DD5.1/DD2
Run Time: 114 Minutes
Flags: Graphic Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language, Gore
Distributor/Studio: Warner Home Video
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, All Movie Guide
