Poltergeist is an American horrorfilm franchise 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, led by a demon known as the Beast, 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.
Poltergeist is the original film in the trilogy, directed by Tobe Hooper, co-written by Steven Spielberg and released on June 4, 1982. The story focuses on the Freeling family, which consists of parents Steve (Craig T. Nelson) and Diane (JoBeth Williams); teenage daughter Dana (Dominique Dunne); eight-year-old Robbie (Oliver Robins); and five-year-old Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke), who live in Cuesta Verde, a California housing development which comes to be haunted by ghosts. The apparitions, under the control of a demon known as the "Beast", communicate through the family's television set and can only be heard by Carol Anne. Attracted to her life force and believing she will help lead them into the "Light", the specters abduct Carol Anne through her bedroom closet, which acts as a portal to their dimension. Much of the film involves the family's efforts to rescue their daughter, aided by a group of parapsychologists (Beatrice Straight, Martin Casella, Richard Lawson) and spiritual medium Tangina Barrons (Zelda Rubinstein). Carol Anne is eventually rescued from the other side and, following a second attack by the Beast that reveals the ghosts had originated from an improperly relocated cemetery beneath the neighborhood, the Freelings flee Cuesta Verde just before the house implodes and disappears into another dimension.[3]
The first sequel, Poltergeist II: The Other Side, directed by Brian Gibson and released on May 23, 1986, takes place one year after 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 lived during the 19th century as a religious zealot named Reverend Henry Kane (Julian Beck). Kane was the leader of a utopiancult, who in anticipation of the end of the world, sealed themselves in a cavern located directly below what later became the Freeling property. Kane is anxious to possess Carol Anne to continue manipulating his followers after death. The ghosts follow and attack the Freelings at their current household. Aided by an American Indianshaman 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, directed and co-written by Gary Sherman, was released on June 10, 1988. To protect Carol Anne, the Freelings have sent her to live temporarily in a Chicago skyscraper with skeptical relatives Pat and Bruce Gardner (Nancy Allen and Tom Skerritt) and their daughter Donna (Lara Flynn Boyle). However, during psychiatric sessions, Carol Anne's recollection of her experiences enables Kane and his followers to locate her and make contact through the building's ubiquitous mirrors.[3][5] The ghosts abduct Carol Anne and then Donna, prompting Pat, Bruce, and Donna's boyfriend Scott (Kipley Wentz) to enlist the help of Tangina, who eventually escorts Kane into the spectral Light, thereby sacrificing herself to save the family.
A reboot of the original film, Poltergeist was directed by Gil Kenan and released on May 22, 2015. It centers on a family struggling to make ends meet who relocate to a suburban home. As in the original, the youngest daughter is kidnapped by spirits that inhabit 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.
FutureEdit
On April 10, 2019, it was announced that the Russo brothers would helm a new remake of the franchise.[6]
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.[7]
Cast and crewEdit
CastEdit
The following table shows the cast members who played the primary characters in the film series.
The "Poltergeist curse" is a rumored curse attached to the Poltergeist trilogy and its crew, derived from the deaths of two young cast members in the six years between the releases of the first and third films.[3][20] The rumor and the surrounding deaths were explored in a 2002 episode of E! True Hollywood Story titled "Curse of Poltergeist".[21]
Dominique Dunne, who played eldest daughter Dana in the first film, died on November 4, 1982, at age 22 after being strangled by her ex-boyfriend John Thomas Sweeney.[22] He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to six years in prison, but was paroled after serving three and a half years.[20] She also appeared in the 1982 movie Shadow Riders.
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.[23][24][25]
DocumentaryEdit
The Curse of Poltergeist, a documentary film based on the mystery of the franchise, was set to begin shooting in November 2015, with Adam Ripp as director; financing and production was to be provided by his company Vega Baby, alongside Indonesia-based MD Pictures. The documentary intended to focus on the life and experiences of actor Oliver Robins, who played Robbie Freeling in the first and second installments of the franchise, as a way to explore the tragedies that have befallen those involved with the films.[26] The movie has yet to be produced.
^"MGM, Fox 2000 To Co-Finance & Distribute ‘Poltergeist’; Production To Start This Fall". Deadline Hollywood. June 20, 2013.
^Hipes, Patrick (August 4, 2015). "Rosemarie DeWitt Chimes In For 'La La Land'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
^ abcdLee, Joseph (September 4, 2008). "A Bloody Good Time 9.04.08: Poltergeist Franchise Breakdown". 411mania.com. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
^Kelhoffrr, Josh (June 23, 2010). "They're Back: The Story of the Inevitable Sequel". Poltergeist Online.
^Kelhoffrr, Josh (June 23, 2010). "Spirits in the City: The Third and Final Sequel". Poltergeist Online.
^"'Poltergeist' Getting Remade *Again* with 'Captain America' and 'Avengers' Directors?! - Bloody Disgusting". April 10, 2019.
^Mackie, Drew (May 20, 2015). . People. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
^"Interview with the Voice of Kane". PoltergeistIII.com. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
^ abc"Box Office History for Poltergeist Movies". The-Numbers. Nash Information Services. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
^"UIP's $25M-Plus Club". Variety. September 11, 1995. p. 92.
^"Poltergeist (2015)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
^ abMikkelson, Barbara. "Poltergeist Deaths", Snopes.com, August 17, 2007
^"Documentary to Explore 'Poltergeist' Movie Curse". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
^"Dominique Dunne, Actress, Dies After Being Choked", The New York Times, November 5, 1982
^Baker, Bob (May 26, 1988). "Suit Blames Doctors in Death of Young Actress". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California, US. 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.
^Folkart, Burt A. (February 2, 1988). . Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California, US. p. 3. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
poltergeist, franchise, poltergeist, american, horror, film, franchise, distributed, metro, goldwyn, mayer, during, 1980s, original, trilogy, revolves, around, members, freeling, family, stalked, terrorized, group, ghosts, demon, known, beast, that, attracted,. Poltergeist is an American horror film franchise 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 led by a demon known as the Beast 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 PoltergeistOfficial franchise logoCreated bySteven SpielbergOriginal workPoltergeistOwnerMetro Goldwyn Mayer excluding the original 1982 film which is currently owned by Warner Bros via Turner Entertainment Years1982 2015Films and televisionFilm s Poltergeist 1982 Poltergeist II The Other Side 1986 Poltergeist III 1988 Poltergeist 2015 Television seriesPoltergeist The Legacy 1996 99 Fox 2000 Pictures and Metro Goldwyn Mayer released a revisionist reboot of the series 1 on May 22 2015 2 Contents 1 Films 1 1 Poltergeist 1982 1 2 Poltergeist II The Other Side 1986 1 3 Poltergeist III 1988 1 4 Poltergeist 2015 1 5 Future 2 Television 2 1 Poltergeist The Legacy 1996 1999 3 Cast and crew 3 1 Cast 3 2 Crew 4 Reception 4 1 Box office performance 4 2 Critical and public response 4 3 Poltergeist curse 5 Documentary 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksFilms EditPoltergeist 1982 Edit Main article Poltergeist 1982 film Poltergeist is the original film in the trilogy directed by Tobe Hooper co written by Steven Spielberg and released on June 4 1982 The story focuses on the Freeling family which consists of parents Steve Craig T Nelson and Diane JoBeth Williams teenage daughter Dana Dominique Dunne eight year old Robbie Oliver Robins and five year old Carol Anne Heather O Rourke who live in Cuesta Verde a California housing development which comes to be haunted by ghosts The apparitions under the control of a demon known as the Beast communicate through the family s television set and can only be heard by Carol Anne Attracted to her life force and believing she will help lead them into the Light the specters abduct Carol Anne through her bedroom closet which acts as a portal to their dimension Much of the film involves the family s efforts to rescue their daughter aided by a group of parapsychologists Beatrice Straight Martin Casella Richard Lawson and spiritual medium Tangina Barrons Zelda Rubinstein Carol Anne is eventually rescued from the other side and following a second attack by the Beast that reveals the ghosts had originated from an improperly relocated cemetery beneath the neighborhood the Freelings flee Cuesta Verde just before the house implodes and disappears into another dimension 3 Poltergeist II The Other Side 1986 Edit Main article Poltergeist II The Other Side The first sequel Poltergeist II The Other Side directed by Brian Gibson and released on May 23 1986 takes place one year after 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 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 sealed themselves in a cavern located directly below what later became the Freeling property Kane is anxious to possess Carol Anne 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 Poltergeist III 1988 Edit Main article Poltergeist III The final film in the original trilogy Poltergeist III directed and co written by Gary Sherman was released on June 10 1988 To protect Carol Anne the Freelings have sent her to live temporarily in a Chicago skyscraper with skeptical relatives Pat and Bruce Gardner Nancy Allen and Tom Skerritt and their daughter Donna Lara Flynn Boyle However during psychiatric sessions Carol Anne s recollection of her experiences enables Kane and his followers to locate her and make contact through the building s ubiquitous mirrors 3 5 The ghosts abduct Carol Anne and then Donna prompting Pat Bruce and Donna s boyfriend Scott Kipley Wentz to enlist the help of Tangina who eventually escorts Kane into the spectral Light thereby sacrificing herself to save the family Poltergeist 2015 Edit Main article Poltergeist 2015 film A reboot of the original film Poltergeist was directed by Gil Kenan and released on May 22 2015 It centers on a family struggling to make ends meet who relocate to a suburban home As in the original the youngest daughter is kidnapped by spirits that inhabit 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 Future Edit On April 10 2019 it was announced that the Russo brothers would helm a new remake of the franchise 6 Television EditPoltergeist The Legacy 1996 1999 Edit Main article Poltergeist The Legacy 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 7 Cast and crew EditCast Edit The following table shows the cast members who played the primary characters in the film series Character Original series Reboot Television SeriesPoltergeist Poltergeist II The Other Side Poltergeist III Poltergeist Poltergeist The Legacy1982 1986 1988 2015 1996 1999Carol Anne Freeling Heather O RourkeSteven Steve Freeling Craig T Nelson MentionedDiane Freeling nee Wilson JoBeth Williams JoBeth WilliamsJaclyn Bernstein YDana Freeling Dominique DunneRobert Robbie Freeling Oliver RobinsDr Martha Lesh Beatrice StraightRyan Mitchell Richard LawsonDr Marty Casey Martin CasellaTangina Barrons Zelda RubinsteinReverend Henry Kane The Beast Julian BeckNoble Craig Vomit Creature Nathan DavisCorey Burton Voiced Jessica Grandma Jess Wilson Geraldine FitzgeraldKelly Jean Peters YTaylor Will SampsonBruce Gardner Tom SkerrittTrish Wilson Patricia Pat Wilson Gardner Nancy AllenDonna Gardner Lara Flynn BoyleScott Kipley WentzDr Seaton Richard FireMadison Maddy Bowen Kennedi ClementsEric Bowen Sam RockwellAmy Bowen Rosemarie DeWittGriffin Griff Bowen Kyle CatlettKendra Bowen Saxon SharbinoCarrigan Burke Jared HarrisDr Brooke Powell Jane AdamsBoyd Nicholas BraunDr Derek Rayne Derek de LintNick Boyle Martin CumminsAlexandra Alex Moreau Robbi MorganFather Philip Callaghan Patrick FitzgeraldDr Rachel Corrigan Helen ShaverKatherine Kat Corrigan Alexandra PurvisWilliam Sloan Daniel J TravantiKristin Adams Kristin LehmanNote 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 8 Crew Edit Occupation FilmPoltergeist Poltergeist II The Other Side Poltergeist III Poltergeist1982 1986 1988 2015Director Tobe Hooper Brian Gibson Gary Sherman Gil KenanWriter s Michael GraisSteven SpielbergMark Victor Michael GraisMark Victor Gary ShermanBrian Taggert David Lindsay AbaireProducer s Frank MarshallSteven Spielberg Michael GraisMark Victor Barry Bernardi Roy LeeSam RaimiRobert TapertComposer Jerry Goldsmith Joe Renzetti Marc StreitenfeldCinematographer Matthew F Leonetti Andrew Laszlo Alex Nepomniaschy Javier AguirresarobeEditor Michael Kahn Thom NobleBud S SmithM Scott Smith Ross Albert Jeff BetancourtBob MurawskiDistributor by MGM UA Entertainment Co MGM Entertainment Co MGM UA Communications Co Fox 2000 PicturesMetro Goldwyn MayerProduction company Metro Goldwyn MayerSLM Production GroupMist EntertainmentAmblin Productions Metro Goldwyn Mayer Ghost House PicturesTSG EntertainmentVertigo EntertainmentRelease date June 4 1982 May 23 1986 June 10 1988 May 22 2015Runtime 114 minutes 91 minutes 98 minutes 93 minutesReception EditBox office performance Edit Film Release date US Budget Box office revenue ReferenceUnited States Foreign WorldwidePoltergeist 1982 June 4 1982 1982 06 04 10 7 million 76 606 280 45 099 739 121 706 019 9 Poltergeist II The Other Side May 23 1986 1986 05 23 19 million 40 996 665 33 929 000 74 925 665 9 10 Poltergeist III June 10 1988 1988 06 10 9 5 million 14 114 488 14 114 488 9 Poltergeist 2015 May 22 2015 2015 05 22 35 million 47 425 125 48 210 406 95 635 531 11 Total 74 2 million 178 545 003 306 381 703List indicator s A dark grey cell indicates the information is not available for the film Critical and public response Edit Film Rotten Tomatoes MetacriticPoltergeist 1982 86 59 reviews 12 79 7 reviews 13 Poltergeist II The Other Side 37 19 reviews 14 49 10 reviews 15 Poltergeist III 17 18 reviews 16 40 10 reviews 17 Poltergeist 2015 31 128 reviews 18 47 27 reviews 19 Poltergeist curse Edit The Poltergeist curse is a rumored curse attached to the Poltergeist trilogy and its crew derived from the deaths of two young cast members in the six years between the releases of the first and third films 3 20 The rumor and the surrounding deaths were explored in a 2002 episode of E True Hollywood Story titled Curse of Poltergeist 21 Dominique Dunne who played eldest daughter Dana in the first film died on November 4 1982 at age 22 after being strangled by her ex boyfriend John Thomas Sweeney 22 He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to six years in prison but was paroled after serving three and a half years 20 She also appeared in the 1982 movie Shadow Riders 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 23 24 25 Documentary EditThe Curse of Poltergeist a documentary film based on the mystery of the franchise was set to begin shooting in November 2015 with Adam Ripp as director financing and production was to be provided by his company Vega Baby alongside Indonesia based MD Pictures The documentary intended to focus on the life and experiences of actor Oliver Robins who played Robbie Freeling in the first and second installments of the franchise as a way to explore the tragedies that have befallen those involved with the films 26 The movie has yet to be produced See also EditList of ghost filmsReferences Edit MGM Fox 2000 To Co Finance amp Distribute Poltergeist Production To Start This Fall Deadline Hollywood June 20 2013 Hipes Patrick August 4 2015 Rosemarie DeWitt Chimes In For La La Land Deadline Hollywood Penske Business Media LLC Retrieved October 23 2015 a b c d Lee Joseph September 4 2008 A Bloody Good Time 9 04 08 Poltergeist Franchise Breakdown 411mania com Retrieved February 26 2011 Kelhoffrr Josh June 23 2010 They re Back The Story of the Inevitable Sequel Poltergeist Online Kelhoffrr Josh June 23 2010 Spirits in the City The Third and Final Sequel Poltergeist Online Poltergeist Getting Remade Again with Captain America and Avengers Directors Bloody Disgusting April 10 2019 Mackie Drew May 20 2015 20 Things You Might Not Know About the Original Poltergeist Trilogy People Archived from the original on May 21 2015 Retrieved May 21 2015 Interview with the Voice of Kane PoltergeistIII com Retrieved February 27 2011 a b c Box Office History for Poltergeist Movies The Numbers Nash Information Services Retrieved February 26 2011 UIP s 25M Plus Club Variety September 11 1995 p 92 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 II The Other Side Metacritic Retrieved June 18 2022 Poltergeist III 1988 Rotten Tomatoes Flixster Retrieved May 22 2015 Poltergeist III Metacritic Retrieved June 18 2022 Poltergeist 2015 Rotten Tomatoes Flixster May 22 2015 Retrieved May 22 2015 Poltergeist Reviews Metacritic CBS Interactive Retrieved May 26 2015 a b Mikkelson Barbara Poltergeist Deaths Snopes com August 17 2007 Documentary to Explore Poltergeist Movie Curse The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved August 14 2017 Dominique Dunne Actress Dies After Being Choked The New York Times November 5 1982 Baker Bob May 26 1988 Suit Blames Doctors in Death of Young Actress Los Angeles Times Los Angeles California US 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 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 November 5 2012 Retrieved May 17 2011 Mia Galuppo October 7 2015 Documentary to Explore Poltergeist Movie Curse The Hollywood Reporter Prometheus Global Media Retrieved October 8 2015 External links EditPoltergeist 1982 at IMDb Poltergeist II The Other Side at IMDb Poltergeist III at IMDb Poltergeist 2015 at IMDb Poltergeist The Legacy at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Poltergeist franchise amp oldid 1171796168, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
