Poltergeist (1982) Review

Poltergeist (1982) Review

Author: Horror Movie Talk: Horror Movie Review May 12, 2021 Duration: 1:38:44

One of the best and most influential family-based haunted house movies. Poltergeist still holds up in terms of story and special effects.

Poltergeist illustration by horror movie talk podcast
@dgoebel00 on Instagram provided this amazing artwork. Follow him and check out his website.

Poltergeist Trailer

https://youtu.be/9eZgEKjYJqA

Poltergeist can be found places

Synopsis

From the director that brought you cannibalistic families in Texas, Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist is the story of the Freeling family being tormented by an unseen force in their totally not built over a cemetery house. Just kidding, it’s obviously Spielberg’s film. The Freelings are an aggressively all american family comprised of the father Steve (Craig T. Nelson), mother Dianne (JoBeth Williams), almost non-existent teenage girl Dana (Dominique Dunne), young boy Robbie (Oliver Robins), and the littlest, and most angelic little girl, Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke). Carol Anne starts talking to the TV, and not the wholesome Blues Clues kind of talking, more of the talking to whispers in the static kind of talking. 

Weird occurrences start happening, at first to the delight, and then to the horror of that family when it ramps up and the house steals Carol Anne into the netherworld. 

A Haggard Steven Freeling recruits paranormal investigators and the worlds tiniest psychic to get Carol Anne back and Exorcise the demons from their house.

Poltergeist movie poster
Poltergeist Poster

Review of Poltergeist

I am unapologetic in my love for this movie. It really is a template for family-based haunted house horror. It really has something for everyone. It’s accessible enough to general audiences that don’t want to see gore, or be constantly scared out of their gourd, but it has enough scares and good special effects to satisfy most horror fanatics.

On the scale of Ghostbusters to Exorcist, Poltergeist definitely leans more towards Ghostbusters, but it matches the quality of both in my opinion. This is another example of Spielberg being a master storyteller. There is very little fluff in this finely paced film, but there are a constant stream of little vignettes that add character, humor, or realism to the story.

Watch Poltergeist

Watch on Amazon

Score

10/10


Get 30 day free trial, with the code HMT at Shudder.com

Get 13% Off your order at NightChannels.com when you use code HMT at checkout.


There's a particular kind of conversation that happens after the credits roll on a scary movie, when you're dissecting the jump scares and debating the monster's motives. Horror Movie Talk captures that exact feeling, serving up weekly discussions that are as much about the genuine love of the genre as they are about critique. Hosted by a team whose passion is palpable, this podcast delves into everything from the latest chilling release haunting theaters to those hidden gems-or notorious flops-you can find on streaming services. The analysis is sharp and deeply opinionated, but the chemistry between the hosts often leads the conversation into unexpectedly funny territory. It’s this blend of thoughtful review and spontaneous humor that defines the show. You'll hear passionate debates about cinematic technique, nods to classic influences, and honest reactions to whether a film truly delivers the scares. Tuning in each Wednesday feels like pulling up a chair with friends who’ve just seen the same movie, armed with strong opinions and a willingness to laugh at the absurdities that make horror so enduring. For anyone who lives for that post-viewing breakdown, this is a consistently engaging listen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 464

Horror Movie Talk
Podcast Episodes
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:47
In honor of pride month, we watched Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, and it brings a whole new meaning to scream queen. Freddy’s back for revenge, and he doesn’t give a fuck if you’re dreaming or not. @dgoebe…
Army of the Dead Patreon Sneak Peak Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:52
What a great time we had bashing this train wreck of a Zack Snyder movie. We go on and on with this one, head on over to our patreon and consider supporting us to gain access to the full review!
House of Wax (2005) Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:08
We watched House of Wax starring Elisha Cuthbert, Paris Hilton, and Robert Ri’chard (from Cousin Skeeter) and were treated to a fairly decent bit of gore porn. This was a patreon pick, so if you ever get the idea to reco…
Cabin in the Woods Patreon Sneak Peak [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:06
We had a TON of fun reviewing one of the most meta horror movies ever made, Cabin in the Woods, by director Drew Goddard! This was a total blast. If you would like to hear the full review, it will only be available on ou…
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:07:52
The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It, or as I call it “TCTDMMDI” is the 8th movie in the Conjuring Cinematic Universe, or as I call it “The CCU”, and the second direct sequel to the original The Conjuring, and the 5th f…
A Quiet Place Part 2 Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:50:19
We went and saw A Quiet Place Part 2 and it was quiet and then VERY loud, and then quiet again. Always loud after quiet. @dgoebel00 on Instagram provided this amazing artwork. Follow him and check out his website. https:…
Train to Busan Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:16
We watched Train to Busan, and it was a bullet train to fun! @dgoebel00 on Instagram provided this amazing artwork. Follow him and check out his website. Train to Busan Trailer https://youtu.be/pyWuHv2-Abk Train to Busan…
Spiral (2021) Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:41
We watched Spiral in theaters, and if you aren’t familiar, this is the latest chapter in the book of Saw movies and this is exactly what you think it might be after having learned that it’s a Saw movie. @dgoebel00 on Ins…
The Bad Seed (1956) Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:40:35
We watched The Bad Seed (1956) and it was a lot slower than I remembered it being but knowing it was a stage play first, it kind of makes sense. @dgoebel00 on Instagram provided this amazing artwork. Follow him and check…
Horror Movie Talk Trailer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18
This is simply an introduction to the Horror Movie Talk podcast.