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
Caveat Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:50
Synopsis Caveat is about a man named Isaac who suffers from amnesia after a tragic accident. Isaac is hired by a man who claims to be his good friend before the accident Moe Barrett, to go to a secluded house and watch a…
Re-Animator Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:31
This week we review Stuart Gordon’s 1985 schlock classic: Re-animator. Does it go too far for modern audiences? Listen to find out. Synopsis Loosely based off of H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “Herbert West – Reanimator” t…
Red Christmas Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:01
Synopsis Red Christmas follows a blended family headed by matriarch Diane (Dee Wallace) as they prepare to celebrate Christmas together. When an unexpected cloaked figure pops up on their doorstep and insists on reading…
Silent Hill Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:34
Do you want to feel like you are watching someone play a video game when you watch a movie? Well Silent Hill is the right movie for you. Synopsis Rose Da Silva brings her adopted daughter, Sharon, to the eerie ghost town…
Stir of Echoes Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:08
Synopsis Stir of Echoes is about a lovely couple named Tom and Maggie. Tom, played by Kevin Bacon in maybe his greatest role ever is put in a hypnotic trance by Maggie’s sister at a dinner party. After having him put a n…
30 Days of Night Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:17
Synopsis 30 Days of Night is a movie about Eben and Stella, a married couple in Alaska going through separation and a possible future divorce. Eben, the sheriff, is preparing his small town for the 30 days of night, wher…
Heretic Review with Jordyn Wilson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:02:06
Watch as Bryce and Max jump at the opportunity to talk about their missions as Sydney and Jordyn look on with glazed eyes. Synopsis Two naive Mormon missionaries, sister Barnes and sisterPaxton knock on the door of Mr. R…
Possum (2018) Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:16
Synopsis Possum is about a disgraced puppeteer named Philip who is fired from his job after an unknown workplace incident and returns to his childhood home to destroy his puppet and face his past. While Philip wanders ar…
The Blackcoat’s Daughter Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:16
Synopsis Oz Perkins’s debut feature film follows two girls, Kat and Rose, who attend a Catholic boarding school in upstate New York. When both of their parents fail to pick them up for February break, Rose is put in char…
Smile 2 Review & Interview with Brande Roderick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:10:12
Synopsis The smile virus/demon from Smile is back and is tormenting a young pop star named Skye Riley. Skye is a recovering addict attempting to relaunch her career with a world tour. While visiting her former dealer to…