2011-04-15

Henry Kane

Poltergeist (film series)

The Poltergeist movies are a trilogy of American horror films distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during the 1980s. The films revolve around the members of the Freeling family, who are stalked and terrorized by a group of ancient ghosts that are attracted to the youngest daughter, Carol Anne. The original film was co-directed and co-written by Steven Spielberg. The Poltergeist films collected a total of approximately $132 million in the United States box office.

A spin-off television series, Poltergeist: The Legacy, ran from 1996 to 1999, though it has no connection to the original films other than the title.

Films

Overview

Poltergeist is the original film in the trilogy, directed by Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg and released on June 4, 1982. The story focuses on the Freeling family, which consists of Steven (Craig T. Nelson); Diane (JoBeth Williams); Dana (Dominique Dunne); Robbie (Oliver Robins); and Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke), who live in a California housing development called Cuesta Verde. Their home is eventually invaded by ghosts through their television set, whom are under control of a demon known as "the Beast." The ghosts abduct Carol Anne, attracted to her life force and believing she will help lead them into the "Light." Most of the film involves the family's efforts to rescue her, assisted by a group of parapsychologists and a spiritual medium named Tangina Barrons (Zelda Rubinstein). Carol Anne is eventually retrieved from the other side and, following a second attack by the Beast that reveals the ghosts had originated from an improperly relocated cemetery underneath the neighborhood, the family flees from Cuesta Verde.

The first sequel Poltergeist II: The Other Side, directed by Brian Gibson and released on May 23, 1986, is set a year following the events in Poltergeist and offers an alternate explanation of the ghosts' origin. The film also develops the identity and back-story of the Beast, who had lived during the 19th century as a religious zealot named Reverend Henry Kane (Julian Beck). Kane was the leader of an utopian cult, who had sealed themselves in an underground cavern in anticipation of the end of the world, located directly below what later became the Freelings' property. Kane was anxious to possess Carol Anne in order to continue manipulating his followers after death. The ghosts follow and attack the Freelings at their current household. Aided by a American Indian shaman named Taylor (Will Sampson), the Freelings manage to escape from Kane and his followers a second time.

The final film, Poltergeist III, was directed and co-written by Gary Sherman and released June 10, 1988. In order to protect Carol Anne, the Freelings have sent her to temporarily live with her skeptic relatives, Pat and Bruce Gardner (Nancy Allen and Tom Skerritt) and their daughter Donna (Lara Flynn Boyle), who reside in a Chicago skyscraper. However, Carol Anne's recollection of her experiences during her psychiatric sessions enable Kane and his followers to locate her and make contact through the building's ubiquitous mirrors. After the ghosts abduct Carol Anne, Donna, and her boyfriend Scott (Kipley Wentz), Pat and Bruce enlist the help of Tangina to retrieve them, who eventually sacrifices herself to save the family by escorting Kane into the Light.

Box office performance

Main cast

The Poltergeist curse

The "Poltergeist curse" is a rumor of a supposed curse attached to the Poltergeist trilogy and its crew, derived from the fact that four cast members died in the six years between the releases of the first and third films. The rumor is often fueled by the fact that real cadavers were used as props in various scenes of Poltergeist and Poltergeist II. The rumor and the surrounding deaths were explored in a 2002 episode of E! True Hollywood Story entitled "Curse of Poltergeist."

See also

References

  1. ^ Lee, Joseph (4 September 2008). "A Bloody Good Time 9.04.08: Poltergeist Franchise Breakdown". 411mania.com. http://www.411mania.com/movies/columns/84476/A-Bloody-Good-Time-9.04.08:-Poltergeist-Franchise-Breakdown.htm. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  2. Kelhoffrr, Josh (23 June 2010). "They’re Back: The Story of the Inevitable Sequel". Poltergeist Online. http://poltergeistonline.com/theyre-back-the-story-of-the-inevitable-sequel/.
  3. Kelhoffrr, Josh (23 June 2010). "Spirits in the City: The Third and Final Sequel". Poltergeist Online. http://poltergeistonline.com/spirits-in-the-city-the-third-and-final-sequel/.
  4. ^ "Box Office History for Poltergeist Movies". The-Numbers. Nash Information Services. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/series/Poltergeist.php. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  5. "Poltergeist (1982)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=poltergeist.htm. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  6. "Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=poltergeist2.htm. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  7. "Poltergeist III (1988)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=poltergeist3.htm. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  8. "Interview with the Voice of Kane". PoltergeistIII.com. http://www.poltergeistiii.com/corey.html. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  9. ^ Mikkelson, Barbara. "Poltergeist Deaths", Snopes.com, August 17, 2007
  10. "Poltergeist & The Poltergeist Curse". Paranormal Entertainment. 26 December 2010. http://intothebeyond.net/press/2010/12/26/poltergeist-the-poltergeist-curse/. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  11. "Dominique Dunne, Actress, Dies After Being Choked", The New York Times, November 5, 1982
  12. S. Freedman, "Julien Beck, 60, is Dead; Founded Living Theater," The New York Times, September 17, 1985
  13. B. Folkart, "Role in Cuckoo's Nest; Will Sampson, Gentle Indian Giant, Dies," Los Angeles Times, June 4, 1987
  14. "Heather O'Rourke, 12, Dies, San Diego Actress," The San Diego Union-Tribune, February 2, 1988
  15. B. Folkart, "Poltergeist Star Heather O'Rourke Dies at Age of 12," Los Angeles Times, February 3, 1988

External links






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