Poltergeist
Rent & Buy
The Freelings' suburban home becomes the center of paranormal activity that opens a portal to the 'other side'. With help, they must cross over to get their daughter back.
What critics thought
Poltergeist landed as a genuine horror landmark for most critics, who found its suburban-family grounding gave the supernatural set-pieces real emotional weight. The central debate, though, was whether the spectacular effects were built on a story sturdy enough to carry them — admirers saw a tightly constructed fairy tale, while detractors felt the script collapsed under the weight of its own spectacle.
“an effective thriller, not so much because of the special effects, as because Hooper and Spielberg have tried to see the movie's strange events through the eyes of the family members, instead of just standing back and letting the special effects overwhelm the cast along with the audience.”
Roger Ebert·RogerEbert.com
“a marvelously spooky ghost story”
Vincent Canby·The New York Times
“Poltergeist is very good at getting the details of suburban life right—in other words, it sets its stage beautifully—but when it comes time for the terror to begin, the whole thing is very, very silly.”
Gene Siskel·Chicago Tribune
“In terms of simple, flat-out, roof-rattling fright, Poltergeist gives full value. In terms of story, however, simple is indeed the word, and dumb might be a better one. And when so many effects are lavished on a story this frail, you have a lopsided film.”
Sheila Benson·Los Angeles Times
“looks and feels decidedly patchy, as if it had been assembled by different hands frequently working at cross purposes.”
Gary Arnold·The Washington Post
Accolades
Genres
Horror
Cast & Crew
Tobe HooperDirector
JoBeth WilliamsDiane Freeling
Craig T. NelsonSteve Freeling
Beatrice StraightDr. Lesh
Dominique DunneDana Freeling
Heather O'RourkeCarol Anne Freeling
Oliver RobinsRobbie Freeling
Zelda RubinsteinTangina Barrons
Richard LawsonRyan
Martin CasellaDr. Marty Casey
Virginia KiserMrs. Tuthill
James KarenMr. Teague
Jerry GoldsmithComposer
Steven SpielbergWriter
Michael GraisWriter
Mark VictorWriter
Matthew F. LeonettiCinematographyPoltergeist
The Freelings' suburban home becomes the center of paranormal activity that opens a portal to the 'other side'. With help, they must cross over to get their daughter back.
What critics thought
Poltergeist landed as a genuine horror landmark for most critics, who found its suburban-family grounding gave the supernatural set-pieces real emotional weight. The central debate, though, was whether the spectacular effects were built on a story sturdy enough to carry them — admirers saw a tightly constructed fairy tale, while detractors felt the script collapsed under the weight of its own spectacle.
“an effective thriller, not so much because of the special effects, as because Hooper and Spielberg have tried to see the movie's strange events through the eyes of the family members, instead of just standing back and letting the special effects overwhelm the cast along with the audience.”
Roger Ebert·RogerEbert.com
“a marvelously spooky ghost story”
Vincent Canby·The New York Times
“Poltergeist is very good at getting the details of suburban life right—in other words, it sets its stage beautifully—but when it comes time for the terror to begin, the whole thing is very, very silly.”
Gene Siskel·Chicago Tribune
“In terms of simple, flat-out, roof-rattling fright, Poltergeist gives full value. In terms of story, however, simple is indeed the word, and dumb might be a better one. And when so many effects are lavished on a story this frail, you have a lopsided film.”
Sheila Benson·Los Angeles Times
“looks and feels decidedly patchy, as if it had been assembled by different hands frequently working at cross purposes.”
Gary Arnold·The Washington Post
Accolades
Genres
Horror
Cast & Crew
Tobe HooperDirectorJoBeth WilliamsDiane FreelingCraig T. NelsonSteve FreelingBeatrice StraightDr. LeshDominique DunneDana FreelingHeather O'RourkeCarol Anne FreelingOliver RobinsRobbie FreelingZelda RubinsteinTangina BarronsRichard LawsonRyanMartin CasellaDr. Marty CaseyVirginia KiserMrs. TuthillJames KarenMr. TeagueJerry GoldsmithComposerSteven SpielbergWriterMichael GraisWriterMark VictorWriterMatthew F. LeonettiCinematographyRent & Buy