Poltergeist (2015)

Thanks for sharing this. I would love it if this movie turns out to be good, but I have my doubts. Comparisons with the original are inevitable of course, and as someone who remembers seeing Poltergeist during its 1982 theatrical run, the comparison-bar will be set very high, because the original is an excellent film, and its memory is shrouded in the nostalgia of youth.


Will probably see this only if reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Let's keep fingers crossed ...

Here's the 1st full trailer:





Looks like pretty much the same plot as the original, with a few twists and special effects thrown in. The tone seems a bit darker and the spirits seem a fair bit more evil. Some of the acting seems fairly weak. I've got a gut feeling this one isn't going to do well with critics.


Mark

How many directors did they need for this version?

Nice little E.T. reference, but this doesn't seem to cover any new ground. And don't real estate people have to disclose unpleasant little details like that they sell a house nowadays?


And no sane person would give such a freaking horrifying clown doll to a child, even in 1982.

SilverWook said:

Nice little E.T. reference, but this doesn't seem to cover any new ground. And don't real estate people have to disclose unpleasant little details like that they sell a house nowadays?

Click to expand...

Yes, they do. (Not to mention the whole greedy "We just moved the cemetery a little" gag worked better in the 80's, assuming any bit of Spielbergian black humor was even kept from the original.)


But like the Omen, Elm Street and Total Recall remakes, it not only seems to be a remake made solely for the chutzpah of saying they remade a Glorious 80's title, it just seems to beat the same fan-iconic scenes into the ground at the expense of even pretending anything new...What, did JJ Abrams direct it?

(I mean, watching TV? Trust me, kids, you probably wouldn't know it today, but that used to mean a lot more in 1982.)

SilverWook said:

Nice little E.T. reference, but this doesn't seem to cover any new ground. And don't real estate people have to disclose unpleasant little details like that they sell a house nowadays?


And no sane person would give such a freaking horrifying clown doll to a child, even in 1982.

Click to expand...

I don't know. That OG clown was pretty freaking scary, LOL.

As a kid, It stuck out like a sore thumb to me amidst all the Star Wars toys and other early 80s' playthings, but I suppose it could be one of those hideous things a well meaning distant relative sends you for Christmas. Like little Ralphie's bunny suit.


Is a remake safe from the curse though?


http://entertainthis.usatoday.com/2015/02/05/poltergeist-director-is-dying-for-the-poltergeist-curse-really/

meh...I'll pass.

steve jaros said:

I don't know. That OG clown was pretty freaking scary, LOL.

Click to expand...

The clown dolls in the original film were made by sculptor/doll artist Annette Little. She made 5 of them for the production (I believe 1 or 2 of them had different expressions). She had a shop here in San Diego (in Seaport Village) called 'Here Come the Clowns' and someone from the studio contracted her to make the clowns.


For years after the film came out, visitors to her shop in Seaport Village were treated to one of the clown dolls on display (yes, one that was actually used in filming). I enjoyed a few visits to her shop over the years and that clown doll always put the hair on the back of my neck up on end. Spooky looking thing! I could not have one in the house without being freaked out by it. And, if you think I'm a wuss, keep in mind my wife felt 100 times more strongly about it! She didn't even want to look at the thing on display at the shop!


I believe a couple of the other clown dolls she made are on display in a couple of the Planet Hollywood locations.


Mark

Mark Booth said:

Here's the 1st full trailer:





Looks like pretty much the same plot as the original, with a few twists and special effects thrown in. The tone seems a bit darker and the spirits seem a fair bit more evil. Some of the acting seems fairly weak. I've got a gut feeling this one isn't going to do well with critics.


Mark

Click to expand...

The cast has Sam Rockwell and Jared Harris, so that bodes decently for the acting.


I also liked the director's "Monster House" - that animated movie was a good mix of action, horror and comedy, so he might be able to pull off an appropriate reworking of "Poltergeist"...

Colin Jacobson said:

I also liked the director's "Monster House" - that animated movie was a good mix of action, horror and comedy, so he might be able to pull off an appropriate reworking of "Poltergeist"...

Click to expand...

Wait, (checks IMDB), Robert Zemeckis didn't do Monster House?

Huh. Sure looked like it had some of the same loopy RZ licks as Polar Express and Christmas Carol. Still, what there actually was good about it looked like it had a better film in it.

Mark Booth said:

The clown dolls in the original film were made by sculptor/doll artist Annette Little. She made 5 of them for the production (I believe 1 or 2 of them had different expressions). She had a shop here in San Diego (in Seaport Village) called 'Here Come the Clowns' and someone from the studio contracted her to make the clowns.

For years after the film came out, visitors to her shop in Seaport Village were treated to one of the clown dolls on display (yes, one that was actually used in filming). I enjoyed a few visits to her shop over the years and that clown doll always put the hair on the back of my neck up on end. Spooky looking thing! I could not have one in the house without being freaked out by it. And, if you think I'm a wuss, keep in mind my wife felt 100 times more strongly about it! She didn't even want to look at the thing on display at the shop!

I believe a couple of the other clown dolls she made are on display in a couple of the Planet Hollywood locations.

Mark

Click to expand...

Great story Mark, thanks for sharing!

I read the book version of the first movie before seeing the movie and while liking the movie I was disappointed that they didn't actually go into the "wall" to get the kid during the movie.


That part was proabaly my favorite stuff in the book.


Maybe this time they go in the "wall".

Saw the movie today!

SamT said:

Saw the movie today!

Click to expand...

And what did you think?

Well there was a reason if I didn't write anything. Meh, I give it 6/10.


But one question. Don't you think that if you watch a horror movie at home, it's scarier? Don't you think that the experience of a horror movie in a theater with full of people diminishes it? I don't know if this movie was bad or if it was because I knew there was 60-70 other people in the theater that made it less scary.

SamT said:

Well there was a reason if I didn't write anything. Meh, I give it 6/10.


But one question. Don't you think that if you watch a horror movie at home, it's scarier? Don't you think that the experience of a horror movie in a theater with full of people diminishes it? I don't know if this movie was bad or if it was because I knew there was 60-70 other people in the theater that made it less scary.

Click to expand...

Not really, I think it's more fun at the movies. Even when the group isnt very good.

Also a 6/10 is the same as 3/5 so that sounds like a good score to me.

Saw this movie for the second time, 5 years after seen it in the theater. Saw it late at night and alone. Enjoyed it more this time. (7/10) Horror movies definitely work better for me when I see them late at night and alone.

I saw both the original and this over 2 nights. While the original is not just a horror movie, this is straightforward horror. It's not that bad. I jumped more seeing this than the original.

Amazon Looking to Revive Poltergeist Franchise​