The portal where Carol Anne's dragged is in the closet, not the TV. The TV's frequency merely picks up her thoughts and those of the ghosts. It also acts as a conduit for the spirits to enter our reality via the power of the demon that's controlling them. It's also the demon causing things like the tree coming to life and the tornado appearing out of nowhere. The reason for the haunting is made quite clear in the movie. It's because the property developer built the estate on top of an old graveyard and only moved the headstones, not the bodies. It's the spirits of the dead in the graveyard who are haunting the house. The only thing that doesn't make any sense is how anyone can dig things like cellars or swimming pools without coming across the bodies. He must realise that people will soon start doing those things as soon as they move into the houses.
@@Emulous79 They should also listen more carefully to the little lady's speech describing what's happening. The demon (i.e. The Beast) is using the anger of the dead occupants of graveyard to make itself more powerful. It's this that enables it to "punch a hole" into our world and to kidnap Carol Anne into what can only be translated as "limbo", the dimension between ours and the afterlife. It's using Carol Anne's lifeforce to attract the ghosts and to prevent them from entering the spectral light into the afterlife.
I loved this film on its original release and found it extremely scary. It remains a favorite film and we still watch it at least once a year, usually during Scary Movie Month. I must, therefore, challenge you to a lifetime of bitter hatred. KIDDING! Great video, guys! I really do love this film, but I agree that when watched with a critical eye Poltergeist has an over-the-top, kitchen sink kind of feel. The visuals are all over the place (hovering enormous skull, crouching beast, closet tongue, floating angel thingy) and so many things about it don't make sense. If Tangina was so perceptive, why didn't she sense that the conflict wasn't resolved after they recovered the daughter? Very little in the film resembles actual, traditional poltergeist activity. I find the characters to be likeable, but a lot of the dialog and situations feel forced and reverse-engineered for laughs and scares. I don't care, though - I willingly suspend judgement and disbelief because I have such a sentimental attachment to the movie. I loved the Ghostbusters skit!
RIGHT! that's all exactly what we're talking about. Always thought it was funny it was called "Poltergeist" when Poltergeist activity by definition is minor disturbances. Thanks for listening to our side on this, and taking it with a sense of humor. And we totally can relate to a sentimental attachment to movies. We should do our own "guilty pleasure" movie list. Cheers man, thanks for sharing your thoughts, always appreciate your support.
I still love this movie, but this video was fucking hilarious. You guys are NOT holding back and that’s why Marc and I love ya. 😂 2:42 this part cracked me up the most. You make a good point: prior to the sequels, none of this shit is explained, and if the headstones weren’t moved, why wasn’t the whole neighborhood affected, only the Freelings’ house? In the first movie it’s never explained about the cult being trapped underground with Rev. Cane, or Carol Anne being born in the house which drew the spirits in, yaddah yaddah, that was all added later, so all this did seem kind of out of nowhere! Still one of my favorite movies, and I don’t agree with some things, but it doesn’t make your review any less entertaining and a delight. 😂 Haters gonna hate, but like the movie, this video is just made for fun to make fun, and people shouldn’t consider it a personal attack. To each his own! Keep up the good work, fellas.
Haha didn't know this was one of your favorite movies. Thanks for having a sense of humour about it and got some laughs out of our rant. We often make fun of our favorite movies on here too so it's all in good fun. Now hopefully next time you watch hr movie you'll just think of us ranting about it haha. Cheers. Stay cool
one thing I always hated about this movie was when the psychic woman at the end declares "This house is clean!". But it wasn't. Not by a long shot. She sucked at her job
I hate to be dismissive, but i think this movie is propped up purely by nostalgia. Kids were allowed to see it because Spielberg, and it was likely one of the first big-kid horror flicks they saw.
I saw it as a kid and loved it, watched it as an adult and still loved it. This just feels like an exochamber of contrarianism. Hell I even liked the shitty sequels
@@MrBooone Same! Even the Poltergeist parodies in "Scary Movie 2" are great, lol. Growing up in 80's America, we were blessed to be a part of that magic. I guess Canada missed out, these guys are hating on E.T., too, wtf...?! 😂
I have to agree with a comment below that, this is a movie you enjoy as a kid, but is cheesy as an adult. I won't argue, it's NOT a good haunting movie, but I will say the 'legend' of this movie worked perfectly for me. I was in the 2nd grade, when this movie hit theaters. This was playground legend. The marketing, the poster, the tagline...everything worked, beautifully. Now, I will admit, revisiting this movie as an adult I did have a 'wow, that was horrible" moment, BUT....buying the Blu-Ray, and really diving into the 80's of this film, it has become one of my comfort movies. Just a good place to chill, and revisit a great piece of 80's pop culture. And, like a comment below....Jo Beth Williams in her panties, ain't a bad thing to see either. 😂. My last comment, and one good creepy moment, is when Carol Anne answers the questions to the TV. Imagining what the ghost are asking her on the other side, is pretty damn chilling. I would love to see hear your thoughts on PART II. By far, a way more scary movie....although comes with its fair share of cheese. But the old man.....that's good stuff. Have a great weekend.
Yeah and because we never watched it as kids we always thought it was dumb... We were too busy watching stuff like evil dead 2 and tourist trap.. which is also dumb but in the best ways haha
I can't argue with anything you guys said, it's all true lol. My only thought on Poltergeist is that it was the introduction to tons of kids to "scary" movies, so it has huge nostalgia. it was like the one scary movie most families would let their kids watch in those days, so it was really special. But compared to some real horror masterpieces, it's pretty garbage.
Yes, maybe ONE thing we could have added to our rant is that it is (or can be) a good "gateway" horror movie, especially for kids who didn't have the luxury we did to pretty much watch any horror movie we wanted to. (except Blood for Dracula)
Tremors was on regular rotation in my family home growing up, but other than that, there were very few Horror movies we were allowed to watch at a young age. I remember my parents really pushing E.T. on me, like I was supposed to super love it, but I never really did. Same with Star Wars, I was always wondering why adults wanted me to like such crap so much. Maybe cause they'd have to watch it too and didn't want to watch little kid crap, even though I consider both E.T. and Star Wars (and Poltergeist, and Jaws) little kid crap.
Whenever I hate a movie that everyone else loves, I can't help but think of Elaine and the English Patient haha " how could you not love that movie?" "How bout...it sucked"
Poltergeist was scary as hell; especially for a PG movie. The clown doll under the bed shit still trumps every James Wan style movie jump scare made ever since.
FINALLY! I feel like I am taking crazy pills with how weak of a movie this is and how fiercely people love and defend it. The movie has no internal logic. Things just happen but they don't make sense. It's just time for the next gag in the movie to happen so it just happens, whether it connects to anything before it or not. But the worst crime this movie commits is being boring. Every time I watch it with friends I'm struggling to sit through the whole thing. At least I'm not alone.
Yeah, actually most movies used real skeletons because they were actually cheaper than fake ones. They explain that in the "Poltergeist" ep of the Shudder series Cursed Films. The Poltergeist ep isn't all that great but the ones on The Crow, The Twilight Zone Movie and The Wizard of Oz are all totally worth watching.
@@FrightfullyForgotten OMG that's horrifying! (I'll check em out, thanks!) Crazy tho, "Poltergeist" whole premise revolved around grave desecration.. Meanwhile, Spielberg's like "Throw another body in the pool!" 💀👀😂
she doesn't disappear into the TV lol she gets sucked through a gateway to another dimension and the TV picks up stray electrical signals from over there when it's tuned off channel, it's one of the more plausible ideas in the film lol, I remember as a kid turning the volume down on our TV and hearing signals from AM/SW stations all over the world different languages all mixed together, and a percentage of the white noise we see and hear on old TVs are from the cosmic Microwave Background Radiation, echoes of the big bang which is sort of mind blowing thinking about it, so yep if ghosts and parallel worlds were real maybe they'd pick that up as well. But I have a love hate relationship with Poltergeist some aspects are terrible as you say lol
Haha yeah we know she technically doesn't get sucked into the tv. Yeah those were the days... Fiddling around with radios trying to pick up strange signals.
Try The Entity - another flick from the same era as THIS one dealing with a poltergeist, which gets much less recognition but is really the BETTER poltergeist flick I think.
Hadn't watched this film since I was a kid. Bought it on 4k and watched it recently and it really still holds up. The fact that Hooper played the supernatural stuff so seriously, especially with the psychic team and the woman in charge really makes the film work for me. I get it, your Canadian sensibilities were offended when the movie didn't mention maple syrup or even have one hockey stick in the film. I wouldn't like a film either if it didn't have one Bald eagle or a giant American flag in the background somewhere...
Jerry Goldsmith's score is amazing in this film. I guess I've always been a sucker for an OTT orchestral score. It's just very cinematic. I live for the hot takes tho. Keep 'em coming.
Well if it's any consolation I think the actors had enough at the end as they just rolled the t.v. out of the motel room. I guess you have to endure some movies you dislike to make you really appreciate the real gems you stumble across. Like "Private Parts" (1972) or "Don't be Afraid of The Dark" (1973) 😉
When I was a kid, this played over and over on HBOs free preview weekends and i watched it every time. lots of good sentimental feelings with this movie but now that you mention it... Its one of the few 80s "classics" I never wanted to own. Great cast though!
@@SunBunz The Suit is a legit flight suit that I put the logos on. Proton pack is actually a replica made by Haslab! So as Justin says, it's technically a toy
Do like Poltergeist, but have always thought it was way too over the top and silly to be scary. The second one is a bit creepier thanks to Reverend Kane.
I like this movie fine, but the one scene that is completely out of place, to me, is the face-ripping scene. I don't mind gore, but it just doesn't mesh with the more "family-friendly" tone of rest of the the film. It's like putting a Homelander scene from The Boys in a Marvel film. "Daddy, why is Captain America ripping that man in half at the groin?"
Articulated perfectly. I have no childhood nostalgia factor with this one. Watched it around 20 and was entertained enough, but rewatching it 20+ years later I thought it was weak as shit.
I do enjoy Poltergeist, but it didn’t freak me out like Don’t Go To Sleep also from 1982 did, that you covered earlier. That film, also having Oliver Robbins playing the little brother, really cut deep for me, and a lot of other folks I know. And it was a made for TV Movie:)
Thank you so much guys! There is nothing scary or interesting about this movie. I know a lot of people that dislike this movie. One of the very few movies I only saw once. Thank you Adam and Justin for making Friday awesome!
You guys could easily do a Part 2 video. You could mention the cheesy dialog and horrible overacting. Or mention how you can't build houses on top of a grave yard if you want basements or plumbing included. And you can mention the shitty cable service that only allows you to watch what your neighbor is watching.
@@FrightfullyForgotten after doing a little research, I discovered the only reason people hate Nickleback is actually due to a silly meme that blew up, which is insane. And kind of sad. Nobody could really explain why. Their music is kind of average, but they don’t deserve as much hate as they get imo. Like they get death-threats and shit, which is horrible. They seem like nice guys.
On the affordability of the house: Back then a middle-income family were able to afford that. Also, the father works for the development company that built them so I am sure he might have gotten it either for free or heavily discounted. I'll take The Entity over Poltergeist any day but I still dig it.
haha yeah, we know affordability of houses has changed drastically over the years, and that the dad was probably given a sweet deal on it. We're just taking the piss out of it and how the middle class has changed since the 80s. And yes the Entity is way better, though it too gets a little silly near the end.
First of all, they did not "move" into the house. They were already were living in it. Second, Caro Anne does not get "sucked into a TV". She gets pulled into a spiritual realm through a closet in her room. Her voice is heard through a tv that is tuned into a channel not receiving a broadcast. If you guys paid any attention, you will know these things. It is ok for you not liking a movie since not everyone will like a particular movie. But if you are going to argue about the particular merits about the movie as to why you don't like it, please get your facts straight.
Referencing "Amityville Horror" as a "good" haunting movie is not a good example because "Poltergeist" is everything "Amityville" should've been. "Poltergeist" at least had things happening, while "Amityville Horror" was boring.
People misunderstand horror movies like The Amityville Horror and Poltergeist. Neither are really haunted house movies. They're pithy critiques of the mythical "American Dream"; the horror lies, not in the afterlife, but the truth about the nuclear family and the 30 year mortgage on a home that might end up being worth less than your equity.
I respect the opinions of you chaps, but i don't think i have ever disagreed with yous more than ever. First off, the film is meant to balance how the activity of ghosts can be equally wonderous & exciting as it is terrifying. I can't understand for one second how it's wild imagination and high fun factor equals it being a 'terrible haunting movie'? It was never meant to be the Amityville Horror, but it was not completely juvenile either, and that was part of the charm. Criticising the film for having a haunted tree? You might as well criticise the Evil Dead for having a demonic tree. Why did a demon decide to possess a tree? That isn't entirely a logical scene, but you wouldn't have the iconic scene. What about the Gate when the tornado came out? Was that completely logical? I understand where you guys are coming from but as a piece of imaginative entertainment, Poltergeist is one of my favourite examples of a era that had some fun imagination in the theatres. Same with Close Encounters and to a lesser extend E.T. If you want me to be contrarian in regards to Spielberg, i actually think Schindler's List is a terrible film filled with absolute nonsense. The reasons why are in pretty intense territory, but I'll argue that was crap. But in any respect, I love Poltergeist and i honestly wish that something with half the heart and imagination done on Film with practical effects was out in the theatres.
You keep saying things aren't scary because they aren't realistic enough. This is a ghost story. What about it COULD be realistic? Also, did you do any research on this film? Did you look at it through the lens of the time it was made? This review doesn't bother me because it's a negative take, it bothers me because you guys are either terribly shortsighted or purposefully misinterpreting the context to be contrarian.
You guys either went out of your way to not understand simple things or you need to lay off the booze. Your arguments were as senseless and random as you accuse this movie of being. All you two did was point out why I like Poltergeist and hate most haunting movies. There is no rule stating what a haunting movie NEEDS to be and there should be way more variety but 99% of them are same formula. Long, slow, boring and full of exposition with nothing interesting being said. Occasionally, you'll get a "Did you hear that?" or "Did you see that?" moment and then the movie ends with the same cheap "Is there a ghost or is the main character just crazy?" copout. Also, I hate the "It's not scary" argument. You're adults, stop acting like any movies are still capable of scaring you.
Wow , u northern boys criticizing a spielberg produced , tobe hooper directed big studio film 😮😅😅😊 . So much real life tragedies surrounding cast members , u could not begin to write this S . U boys know all the stories .
@@garyny4073 yeah. Heard all the tragic tales. We have nothing against Spielberg besides maybe his ego haha and love Tobe Hooper just seems pretty obvious they didn't make a good team or function as a well oiled machine.
@@FrightfullyForgotten legend has it spielberg was running from one end of the studio to the other between ET and Polt - battling Tobe, fighting and shooting specific scenes he didn't trust him with # film life , on set 😩😁
Hi folks I certainly get where you’re coming from, but I have to confess I liked the movie for what it is and the efforts from the film makers for some great effects especially for 1982. I can’t slate this film too much as compared to the remake which was horrendous ! I know where I would put my money. Finally this original film had a pretty good score by rotten tomatoes 🍅
It wasn't Reagan. American's could afford really nice homes up until about ten years ago. Like, in the 1950's onward a man could support a stay-at-home wife and children, and have two cars on a regular office job.
U boys living dangerously 😅😊S ' ng on spielberg , never heard , seen anybody publicly doing that , i guess u can forget about your directing deal at his studio now 😊😊. I personally have always been meloncoly over this flick , its ok however youre suppose to love it according to the mainstream 😮. Met spielberg in sept 2011 5 mins from my home in westchester co. NY where he was being honored at the 10 th anniv. Jacob Burns Film center . I asked if i could give him my head shot and resume , he said " i cant accept that but u can send it to " then he mentioned the casting head of all his projects and said it will be put on a PDF . So no on camera , behind camera work for me or u bad boys 😅😊😊👍📹📹
@@garyny4073 haha we can't be the only person talking a bit of smack on him... We never had any plans to work in Hollywood anyway haha. Always like hearing your stories my man
@@FrightfullyForgotten I have many stories , struggling , working in the bizness for decades as a photo double , stand in , driving double , extra , PA on big TV, film sets , and an AD, Cam op , Grip , Gaffer etc on indies . I've seen and experienced S u couldnt even begin write . 👍📹# NY / LA bizness
Spielberg's vibe and feel is all wrong, I've never liked it. I know this is supposed to be a Tobe Hooper flick, but that is widely contested, and it just totally feels like a Spielberg flick. With that super creepy dwarven jewish lady *smh Also, I hate family based Horror, or even family based SciFi. I don't care about your kid, I don't care that your kids are in peril, or the sad things a parent has do to save them.. If there's no chance of bewbs, I just do not care!
Hahaha yeah doesn't feel like it's Tobe's film at all... It feels Spielberg 100% from all the Star Wars product placement to the look, characters everything.
Unfortunately, this is just a case of a director selling out. Hooper had an idea for a haunted house film that examined a modern setting and brought haunted house horror back to a wide audience, but when he got the deal with Spielberg, Spielberg interpreted this as more giant monsters and silly light shows. Still, some of Hooper's barbed themes remain, like the idea of the earth literally erupting with our repressed past (something he brings back in Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2) and the family's own complacence with their class and consumerism (thus all the Star Wars toys and useless pop culture ephemera, similar to the random cultural detritus seen in the children's bedrooms in Salem's Lot and The Funhouse) being their downfall (they don't leave the house IMMEDIATELY once they save the little girl! wtf!).
A film isn't terrible because of lack of logic. Look at all the Italian horrors. With that said, this film is probably overrated like most Spielberg films because of sheeple. If you took all the razzle-dazzle visual effects away there wouldn't be much left. I don't agree that the music is not memorable. That haunting lullaby was catchy to me. Then again, I was a kid when I first saw the film.
I wouldn't say that a lot of Spielberg's output from the 70s to the early 80s with Temple of Doom is overrated, but most of his stuff from the Color Purple onwards is pretty bad to be honest. But Poltergeist? That is one of the single best examples of a fun horror movie there is. It balances wonder and terror in a way that most movies don't. I don't know what this comment section is expecting from the film outside of jumping on the video's bandwagon.
The movie was not meant to be a hardcore horror movie. It was meant to be a fun horror movie that balanced terror and wonder. I think you fellas are missing the point.
@@CuriousEnthusiast956 Not really. Any time Spielberg (Director or Producer) or Lucas (Same) don't have a good script they both throw lights and noise on the screen trying to trick the audience into thinking your watching something good, when your not.
@@JohnMartin-ys1kn Interesting fact: Spielberg churned this script out in a week with Hooper after Hooper rejected the first draft by the two other screenwriters. They had to start production in two months, so they just holed up in a room and wrote this in a week, then essentially shot their first draft. The results are clear.
That said, the shooting script included ten times more Spielberg classic one-liners and a lot more RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK ripping off, Hooper struck out most of the comedy relief and added in the female ghost inspired by one of his nostalgic favorites, THE UNINVITED.
100% agree! As a 80's Horror Hound Poltergeist bored and underwhelmed me as a kid! I decided to give it another shot as an adult 30+ years later and I felt exactly the same! Thought I'd finally get it, but no! Fuck Poltergeist! #TeamRevKane
The portal where Carol Anne's dragged is in the closet, not the TV. The TV's frequency merely picks up her thoughts and those of the ghosts. It also acts as a conduit for the spirits to enter our reality via the power of the demon that's controlling them. It's also the demon causing things like the tree coming to life and the tornado appearing out of nowhere.
The reason for the haunting is made quite clear in the movie. It's because the property developer built the estate on top of an old graveyard and only moved the headstones, not the bodies. It's the spirits of the dead in the graveyard who are haunting the house. The only thing that doesn't make any sense is how anyone can dig things like cellars or swimming pools without coming across the bodies. He must realise that people will soon start doing those things as soon as they move into the houses.
That's right. These guys need to watch their drinking. It confuses the mind and memory. I should know.
@@Emulous79 They should also listen more carefully to the little lady's speech describing what's happening. The demon (i.e. The Beast) is using the anger of the dead occupants of graveyard to make itself more powerful. It's this that enables it to "punch a hole" into our world and to kidnap Carol Anne into what can only be translated as "limbo", the dimension between ours and the afterlife. It's using Carol Anne's lifeforce to attract the ghosts and to prevent them from entering the spectral light into the afterlife.
Man, and I thought that your Longlegs take was disconnected from reality
Nah the review on long legs was spot on.
@@evilcartman32 if you have the attention span of a literal child, yeah
Hard agree on this one. It sits fine in the category of 80s family blockbusters, but never liked it as a horror movie.
Our point exactly! Cheers Jeremy!
I loved this film on its original release and found it extremely scary. It remains a favorite film and we still watch it at least once a year, usually during Scary Movie Month. I must, therefore, challenge you to a lifetime of bitter hatred.
KIDDING! Great video, guys! I really do love this film, but I agree that when watched with a critical eye Poltergeist has an over-the-top, kitchen sink kind of feel. The visuals are all over the place (hovering enormous skull, crouching beast, closet tongue, floating angel thingy) and so many things about it don't make sense. If Tangina was so perceptive, why didn't she sense that the conflict wasn't resolved after they recovered the daughter? Very little in the film resembles actual, traditional poltergeist activity. I find the characters to be likeable, but a lot of the dialog and situations feel forced and reverse-engineered for laughs and scares. I don't care, though - I willingly suspend judgement and disbelief because I have such a sentimental attachment to the movie.
I loved the Ghostbusters skit!
RIGHT! that's all exactly what we're talking about. Always thought it was funny it was called "Poltergeist" when Poltergeist activity by definition is minor disturbances. Thanks for listening to our side on this, and taking it with a sense of humor. And we totally can relate to a sentimental attachment to movies. We should do our own "guilty pleasure" movie list. Cheers man, thanks for sharing your thoughts, always appreciate your support.
Poltergeist has good effects (not all), especially the scene face peeling scene.
Oh Yeah, we did mention that... FX are top notch
Fun Fact: The hands in that scene doing the gory face-peeling were actually Spielberg's
True. These days they would probably do that with cgi.
I still love this movie, but this video was fucking hilarious. You guys are NOT holding back and that’s why Marc and I love ya. 😂
2:42 this part cracked me up the most.
You make a good point: prior to the sequels, none of this shit is explained, and if the headstones weren’t moved, why wasn’t the whole neighborhood affected, only the Freelings’ house? In the first movie it’s never explained about the cult being trapped underground with Rev. Cane, or Carol Anne being born in the house which drew the spirits in, yaddah yaddah, that was all added later, so all this did seem kind of out of nowhere!
Still one of my favorite movies, and I don’t agree with some things, but it doesn’t make your review any less entertaining and a delight. 😂
Haters gonna hate, but like the movie, this video is just made for fun to make fun, and people shouldn’t consider it a personal attack. To each his own! Keep up the good work, fellas.
Haha didn't know this was one of your favorite movies. Thanks for having a sense of humour about it and got some laughs out of our rant. We often make fun of our favorite movies on here too so it's all in good fun. Now hopefully next time you watch hr movie you'll just think of us ranting about it haha. Cheers. Stay cool
one thing I always hated about this movie was when the psychic woman at the end declares "This house is clean!". But it wasn't. Not by a long shot. She sucked at her job
Yeah, I think that was the point.
yeah, that bitch was useless. Clean my ass!!!
I hate to be dismissive, but i think this movie is propped up purely by nostalgia. Kids were allowed to see it because Spielberg, and it was likely one of the first big-kid horror flicks they saw.
I saw it as a kid and loved it, watched it as an adult and still loved it. This just feels like an exochamber of contrarianism. Hell I even liked the shitty sequels
@@MrBooone Same! Even the Poltergeist parodies in "Scary Movie 2" are great, lol. Growing up in 80's America, we were blessed to be a part of that magic. I guess Canada missed out, these guys are hating on E.T., too, wtf...?! 😂
I have to agree with a comment below that, this is a movie you enjoy as a kid, but is cheesy as an adult. I won't argue, it's NOT a good haunting movie, but I will say the 'legend' of this movie worked perfectly for me. I was in the 2nd grade, when this movie hit theaters. This was playground legend. The marketing, the poster, the tagline...everything worked, beautifully. Now, I will admit, revisiting this movie as an adult I did have a 'wow, that was horrible" moment, BUT....buying the Blu-Ray, and really diving into the 80's of this film, it has become one of my comfort movies. Just a good place to chill, and revisit a great piece of 80's pop culture. And, like a comment below....Jo Beth Williams in her panties, ain't a bad thing to see either. 😂. My last comment, and one good creepy moment, is when Carol Anne answers the questions to the TV. Imagining what the ghost are asking her on the other side, is pretty damn chilling. I would love to see hear your thoughts on PART II. By far, a way more scary movie....although comes with its fair share of cheese. But the old man.....that's good stuff. Have a great weekend.
I think this movie qualifies as one of those movies you liked as a kid, but when you watch it as an adult, you realize how dumb everything was.
Yeah and because we never watched it as kids we always thought it was dumb... We were too busy watching stuff like evil dead 2 and tourist trap.. which is also dumb but in the best ways haha
What's dumb about it? It's a great fun horror film that balances wonder and terror.
I can't argue with anything you guys said, it's all true lol. My only thought on Poltergeist is that it was the introduction to tons of kids to "scary" movies, so it has huge nostalgia. it was like the one scary movie most families would let their kids watch in those days, so it was really special. But compared to some real horror masterpieces, it's pretty garbage.
Yes, maybe ONE thing we could have added to our rant is that it is (or can be) a good "gateway" horror movie, especially for kids who didn't have the luxury we did to pretty much watch any horror movie we wanted to. (except Blood for Dracula)
Tremors was on regular rotation in my family home growing up, but other than that, there were very few Horror movies we were allowed to watch at a young age. I remember my parents really pushing E.T. on me, like I was supposed to super love it, but I never really did. Same with Star Wars, I was always wondering why adults wanted me to like such crap so much. Maybe cause they'd have to watch it too and didn't want to watch little kid crap, even though I consider both E.T. and Star Wars (and Poltergeist, and Jaws) little kid crap.
These guys seem to be upset that the ghosts aren't acting like "real" ghosts.
Whenever I hate a movie that everyone else loves, I can't help but think of Elaine and the English Patient haha
" how could you not love that movie?"
"How bout...it sucked"
Haha a good Seinfeld reference is always welcome on this channel.
It was a movie I loved as a kid and I still watch it from time to time.
entity>poltergeist
@@buncombeshinola2257 big Time
Poltergeist was scary as hell; especially for a PG movie. The clown doll under the bed shit still trumps every James Wan style movie jump scare made ever since.
The most scary thing about it now, is how WB sadly have given it this new milky look with its grading judging by the clips used here. :/
The real life deaths surrounding the movie make the movie set itself seemed more cursed and haunted than the fictional house.
FINALLY! I feel like I am taking crazy pills with how weak of a movie this is and how fiercely people love and defend it. The movie has no internal logic. Things just happen but they don't make sense. It's just time for the next gag in the movie to happen so it just happens, whether it connects to anything before it or not. But the worst crime this movie commits is being boring. Every time I watch it with friends I'm struggling to sit through the whole thing. At least I'm not alone.
Nope no crazy pills you found some brethren here that got your back on this one.
@@FrightfullyForgotten my man.
They used real skeletons in the swimming pool scene!
Yeah, actually most movies used real skeletons because they were actually cheaper than fake ones. They explain that in the "Poltergeist" ep of the Shudder series Cursed Films. The Poltergeist ep isn't all that great but the ones on The Crow, The Twilight Zone Movie and The Wizard of Oz are all totally worth watching.
@@FrightfullyForgotten OMG that's horrifying! (I'll check em out, thanks!) Crazy tho, "Poltergeist" whole premise revolved around grave desecration.. Meanwhile, Spielberg's like "Throw another body in the pool!" 💀👀😂
she doesn't disappear into the TV lol she gets sucked through a gateway to another dimension and the TV picks up stray electrical signals from over there when it's tuned off channel, it's one of the more plausible ideas in the film lol, I remember as a kid turning the volume down on our TV and hearing signals from AM/SW stations all over the world different languages all mixed together, and a percentage of the white noise we see and hear on old TVs are from the cosmic Microwave Background Radiation, echoes of the big bang which is sort of mind blowing thinking about it, so yep if ghosts and parallel worlds were real maybe they'd pick that up as well. But I have a love hate relationship with Poltergeist some aspects are terrible as you say lol
Haha yeah we know she technically doesn't get sucked into the tv. Yeah those were the days... Fiddling around with radios trying to pick up strange signals.
Try The Entity - another flick from the same era as THIS one dealing with a poltergeist, which gets much less recognition but is really the BETTER poltergeist flick I think.
Yeah we love the Entity, we covered that many years ago.
Thanks. I've always hated this film
The Entity is one of the best haunting movies
@@lookingatcrap yes it is. We love that movie
I used to love this movie. Now it eats balls. Thx Justin & Adam!
haha, not all things age well with time. What kinda balls do they suck? Testicles? Golf Balls? Robins Eggs? ')
Hadn't watched this film since I was a kid. Bought it on 4k and watched it recently and it really still holds up. The fact that Hooper played the supernatural stuff so seriously, especially with the psychic team and the woman in charge really makes the film work for me.
I get it, your Canadian sensibilities were offended when the movie didn't mention maple syrup or even have one hockey stick in the film. I wouldn't like a film either if it didn't have one Bald eagle or a giant American flag in the background somewhere...
Poltergeist is an awesome film. ❤
Jerry Goldsmith's score is amazing in this film. I guess I've always been a sucker for an OTT orchestral score. It's just very cinematic. I live for the hot takes tho. Keep 'em coming.
Well if it's any consolation I think the actors had enough at the end as they just rolled the t.v. out of the motel room. I guess you have to endure some movies you dislike to make you really appreciate the real gems you stumble across. Like "Private Parts" (1972) or "Don't be Afraid of The Dark" (1973) 😉
the short lady was the scariest part of the movie
Apparently she had allot of groupies on set!
See ya guys
When I was a kid, this played over and over on HBOs free preview weekends and i watched it every time. lots of good sentimental feelings with this movie but now that you mention it... Its one of the few 80s "classics" I never wanted to own. Great cast though!
For the sequels, I always wondered why an imploding house didn't make the news?
haha yes very true
Loved seeing the Ghostbusters suit in action! 👻
Gotta put that stuff to use!
@@FrightfullyForgottenthat costume is AMAZING, btw! Where did you all that?!
@@SunBunz The Suit is a legit flight suit that I put the logos on. Proton pack is actually a replica made by Haslab! So as Justin says, it's technically a toy
Poltergeist hasn't held up 42 tears on, I like the film, but I agree, it's overrated!!! Great video!😃
I meant to say 42 years on
42 tears is right! haha we knew what you meant, cheers.
My favorite Poltergeist movie is part 3 lol. Never been a fan of the first two flicks oddly enough. Keep up the entertaining videos and good work 😎
@@80sHorrorCentral part 3 is our favorite too
Do like Poltergeist, but have always thought it was way too over the top and silly to be scary. The second one is a bit creepier thanks to Reverend Kane.
We actually prefer both the sequels. Over the first.
Damn enchiladas 😅...next time shirt😂
Even at 13 I knew that movie was shit. However...Jobeth Williams in panties was almost worth the price of admission.
I agree, it is a "joyride". Put it in front of a 12-15 years, and they'll enjoy. It's at least not preachy, so I can't hate it.
You had to be there.
I like this movie fine, but the one scene that is completely out of place, to me, is the face-ripping scene. I don't mind gore, but it just doesn't mesh with the more "family-friendly" tone of rest of the the film. It's like putting a Homelander scene from The Boys in a Marvel film. "Daddy, why is Captain America ripping that man in half at the groin?"
Articulated perfectly. I have no childhood nostalgia factor with this one. Watched it around 20 and was entertained enough, but rewatching it 20+ years later I thought it was weak as shit.
Believe it or not it's one of the ones I've been waiting to re watch since the first time in the 80's 😅😅😅
Haha did you get it in any of your movie hauls? Give it a rewatch and let us know how it holds up for you
I think i have on dvd for sue i might do that soon😊@FrightfullyForgotten
@@FrightfullyForgotten..and I might have it in vhs
I do enjoy Poltergeist, but it didn’t freak me out like Don’t Go To Sleep also from 1982 did, that you covered earlier. That film, also having Oliver Robbins playing the little brother, really cut deep for me, and a lot of other folks I know. And it was a made for TV Movie:)
Thank you so much guys! There is nothing scary or interesting about this movie. I know a lot of people that dislike this movie. One of the very few movies I only saw once. Thank you Adam and Justin for making Friday awesome!
Our pleasure! Thanks sharing your thoughts have a great weekend
You guys could easily do a Part 2 video. You could mention the cheesy dialog and horrible overacting. Or mention how you can't build houses on top of a grave yard if you want basements or plumbing included. And you can mention the shitty cable service that only allows you to watch what your neighbor is watching.
See! Look at all the stuff we missed! haha
I never liked it even when I was a kid. It’s like the U2 or Coldplay of horror films. Utter shite.
haha nice comparison!
U2 or Coldplay?! 😂😂😂😂
I’m surprised you didn’t say “Nickelback.”
@@SunBunz People hate Nickelback here in Canada haha people actually like em down there in the US? no clue how they pack arenas
@@FrightfullyForgotten after doing a little research, I discovered the only reason people hate Nickleback is actually due to a silly meme that blew up, which is insane. And kind of sad. Nobody could really explain why. Their music is kind of average, but they don’t deserve as much hate as they get imo. Like they get death-threats and shit, which is horrible. They seem like nice guys.
Grew up in the 80s. Loved it then and love it now but I like the second more. That old preacher creeper me out.
"God is in.... his holy temple!"
@mdoobie17 yes!!
You guys are drinking bud light
On the affordability of the house: Back then a middle-income family were able to afford that. Also, the father works for the development company that built them so I am sure he might have gotten it either for free or heavily discounted.
I'll take The Entity over Poltergeist any day but I still dig it.
haha yeah, we know affordability of houses has changed drastically over the years, and that the dad was probably given a sweet deal on it. We're just taking the piss out of it and how the middle class has changed since the 80s. And yes the Entity is way better, though it too gets a little silly near the end.
@@FrightfullyForgotten Maybe they are Al Bundy's neighbors?
There are some absolutely wild interviews with the woman that The Entity is based off of.
Dead wrong. It's a classic for good reason. Still liked to see you shit all over it tho.
haha, thanks!
First of all, they did not "move" into the house. They were already were living in it. Second, Caro Anne does not get "sucked into a TV". She gets pulled into a spiritual realm through a closet in her room. Her voice is heard through a tv that is tuned into a channel not receiving a broadcast. If you guys paid any attention, you will know these things. It is ok for you not liking a movie since not everyone will like a particular movie. But if you are going to argue about the particular merits about the movie as to why you don't like it, please get your facts straight.
Referencing "Amityville Horror" as a "good" haunting movie is not a good example because "Poltergeist" is everything "Amityville" should've been. "Poltergeist" at least had things happening, while "Amityville Horror" was boring.
But most good haunted movies are kinda boring haha. At least the ones we like, we're into the slow burn ones.
People misunderstand horror movies like The Amityville Horror and Poltergeist. Neither are really haunted house movies. They're pithy critiques of the mythical "American Dream"; the horror lies, not in the afterlife, but the truth about the nuclear family and the 30 year mortgage on a home that might end up being worth less than your equity.
I respect the opinions of you chaps, but i don't think i have ever disagreed with yous more than ever. First off, the film is meant to balance how the activity of ghosts can be equally wonderous & exciting as it is terrifying. I can't understand for one second how it's wild imagination and high fun factor equals it being a 'terrible haunting movie'?
It was never meant to be the Amityville Horror, but it was not completely juvenile either, and that was part of the charm. Criticising the film for having a haunted tree? You might as well criticise the Evil Dead for having a demonic tree. Why did a demon decide to possess a tree? That isn't entirely a logical scene, but you wouldn't have the iconic scene. What about the Gate when the tornado came out? Was that completely logical? I understand where you guys are coming from but as a piece of imaginative entertainment, Poltergeist is one of my favourite examples of a era that had some fun imagination in the theatres.
Same with Close Encounters and to a lesser extend E.T. If you want me to be contrarian in regards to Spielberg, i actually think Schindler's List is a terrible film filled with absolute nonsense. The reasons why are in pretty intense territory, but I'll argue that was crap. But in any respect, I love Poltergeist and i honestly wish that something with half the heart and imagination done on Film with practical effects was out in the theatres.
Did you guys actually watch this movie? You guys are boring.
Bill and Ted do reviews now? Awesome
You keep saying things aren't scary because they aren't realistic enough. This is a ghost story. What about it COULD be realistic? Also, did you do any research on this film? Did you look at it through the lens of the time it was made? This review doesn't bother me because it's a negative take, it bothers me because you guys are either terribly shortsighted or purposefully misinterpreting the context to be contrarian.
You guys either went out of your way to not understand simple things or you need to lay off the booze. Your arguments were as senseless and random as you accuse this movie of being. All you two did was point out why I like Poltergeist and hate most haunting movies. There is no rule stating what a haunting movie NEEDS to be and there should be way more variety but 99% of them are same formula. Long, slow, boring and full of exposition with nothing interesting being said. Occasionally, you'll get a "Did you hear that?" or "Did you see that?" moment and then the movie ends with the same cheap "Is there a ghost or is the main character just crazy?" copout. Also, I hate the "It's not scary" argument. You're adults, stop acting like any movies are still capable of scaring you.
Wow , u northern boys criticizing a spielberg produced , tobe hooper directed big studio film 😮😅😅😊 . So much real life tragedies surrounding cast members , u could not begin to write this S . U boys know all the stories .
@@garyny4073 yeah. Heard all the tragic tales. We have nothing against Spielberg besides maybe his ego haha and love Tobe Hooper just seems pretty obvious they didn't make a good team or function as a well oiled machine.
@@FrightfullyForgotten legend has it spielberg was running from one end of the studio to the other between ET and Polt - battling Tobe, fighting and shooting specific scenes he didn't trust him with # film life , on set 😩😁
Hi folks I certainly get where you’re coming from, but I have to confess I liked the movie for what it is and the efforts from the film makers for some great effects especially for 1982.
I can’t slate this film too much as compared to the remake which was horrendous !
I know where I would put my money.
Finally this original film had a pretty good score by rotten tomatoes 🍅
Even though we don't like this film, it is a Classic, that goes without saying, and any remake of a classic is blasphemy!
@@FrightfullyForgotten thanks for the reply folks !
I shall certainly look out for more of your content.
Regards Paul 👍
@@paulgirling9927 Cheers Paul, have a good weekend
It's more of a kids' movie.
Under President Reagan normal people could afford nice homes.
It wasn't Reagan. American's could afford really nice homes up until about ten years ago. Like, in the 1950's onward a man could support a stay-at-home wife and children, and have two cars on a regular office job.
U boys living dangerously 😅😊S ' ng on spielberg , never heard , seen anybody publicly doing that , i guess u can forget about your directing deal at his studio now 😊😊. I personally have always been meloncoly over this flick , its ok however youre suppose to love it according to the mainstream 😮. Met spielberg in sept 2011 5 mins from my home in westchester co. NY where he was being honored at the 10 th anniv. Jacob Burns Film center . I asked if i could give him my head shot and resume , he said " i cant accept that but u can send it to " then he mentioned the casting head of all his projects and said it will be put on a PDF . So no on camera , behind camera work for me or u bad boys 😅😊😊👍📹📹
@@garyny4073 haha we can't be the only person talking a bit of smack on him... We never had any plans to work in Hollywood anyway haha. Always like hearing your stories my man
@@FrightfullyForgotten I have many stories , struggling , working in the bizness for decades as a photo double , stand in , driving double , extra , PA on big TV, film sets , and an AD, Cam op , Grip , Gaffer etc on indies . I've seen and experienced S u couldnt even begin write . 👍📹# NY / LA bizness
@@garyny4073 we are humbled that some in the biz takes time to watch our little show
Now you guys are on thin ice 😅
You guys make me laugh
That's kinda the whole point hahaha cheers man thanks for watching
I love this film.
Spielberg's vibe and feel is all wrong, I've never liked it. I know this is supposed to be a Tobe Hooper flick, but that is widely contested, and it just totally feels like a Spielberg flick. With that super creepy dwarven jewish lady *smh
Also, I hate family based Horror, or even family based SciFi. I don't care about your kid, I don't care that your kids are in peril, or the sad things a parent has do to save them.. If there's no chance of bewbs, I just do not care!
Hahaha yeah doesn't feel like it's Tobe's film at all... It feels Spielberg 100% from all the Star Wars product placement to the look, characters everything.
Unfortunately, this is just a case of a director selling out. Hooper had an idea for a haunted house film that examined a modern setting and brought haunted house horror back to a wide audience, but when he got the deal with Spielberg, Spielberg interpreted this as more giant monsters and silly light shows. Still, some of Hooper's barbed themes remain, like the idea of the earth literally erupting with our repressed past (something he brings back in Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2) and the family's own complacence with their class and consumerism (thus all the Star Wars toys and useless pop culture ephemera, similar to the random cultural detritus seen in the children's bedrooms in Salem's Lot and The Funhouse) being their downfall (they don't leave the house IMMEDIATELY once they save the little girl! wtf!).
Bro is out here hating to hate.
Bros, it's plural...
A film isn't terrible because of lack of logic. Look at all the Italian horrors. With that said, this film is probably overrated like most Spielberg films because of sheeple. If you took all the razzle-dazzle visual effects away there wouldn't be much left. I don't agree that the music is not memorable. That haunting lullaby was catchy to me. Then again, I was a kid when I first saw the film.
I wouldn't say that a lot of Spielberg's output from the 70s to the early 80s with Temple of Doom is overrated, but most of his stuff from the Color Purple onwards is pretty bad to be honest. But Poltergeist? That is one of the single best examples of a fun horror movie there is. It balances wonder and terror in a way that most movies don't. I don't know what this comment section is expecting from the film outside of jumping on the video's bandwagon.
@@CuriousEnthusiast956 Getting on or off the wagon isn't compulsary 😜
Gremlins is infinitely scarier a Spielberg product. xD
Don't know if we would say scarier, but defiantly a much better more well rounded movie by far.
No love for this one, not scary in the least. Annoying acted and makes no sense. Thanks guys your one hundred percent right.
Thanks for joining us here on the Darkside
The movie was not meant to be a hardcore horror movie. It was meant to be a fun horror movie that balanced terror and wonder. I think you fellas are missing the point.
@@CuriousEnthusiast956 Not really. Any time Spielberg (Director or Producer) or Lucas (Same) don't have a good script they both throw lights and noise on the screen trying to trick the audience into thinking your watching something good, when your not.
@@JohnMartin-ys1kn Interesting fact: Spielberg churned this script out in a week with Hooper after Hooper rejected the first draft by the two other screenwriters. They had to start production in two months, so they just holed up in a room and wrote this in a week, then essentially shot their first draft. The results are clear.
That said, the shooting script included ten times more Spielberg classic one-liners and a lot more RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK ripping off, Hooper struck out most of the comedy relief and added in the female ghost inspired by one of his nostalgic favorites, THE UNINVITED.
100% agree! As a 80's Horror Hound Poltergeist bored and underwhelmed me as a kid! I decided to give it another shot as an adult 30+ years later and I felt exactly the same! Thought I'd finally get it, but no! Fuck Poltergeist! #TeamRevKane
This wasn't one we watched really as a kid so we don't have that nostalgia connection with it, we were watching much darker horror movies.
this film is top 5 ever you guys suck haha just kidding
They certainly don't suck, but they have the most contrarian boomer takes imaginable
The only terrible thing here is your channel, review boy, now be a good Samaritan and delete it ASAP.