Story: The Freelings have just moved into a beautiful new home in a small, quiet town that just seems too good to be true. It soon becomes obvious that it IS too good to be true when a bunch of poltergeist’s start causing all sorts of ruckus! Hmmm, perhaps that Mr. Teigue (Return of The Living Dead’s James Karen) should’ve mentioned the old cemetery that the house was built on top of!

The Film Itself: Ah, Tobe Hooper’s last truly great film! Look… Tobe made one of my all time favorite movies, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, so he can get away with putting out whatever he wants now. But… it has been dishearting that I haven’t really enjoyed anything he’s done in the past decade. (Except for maybe the first half of ‘The Toolbox Murders’.) So, when I think about it, this was probably the last really great film he put out. And then there are those pesky rumors that Spielberg actually directed it. (Or at least the majority of it.) That’s still the big debate, as a lot of Poltergeist feels like a Spielberg movie, while a lot of it also feels like a Hooper flick. Alas, maybe we’ll get a special edition that’ll set the story straight one day. Nothing changes the fact that this is one of the best, most memorable “ghost” movies of all time. Who can forget the television static that sucks in poor little Carol Anne? Or her chilling catch-phrase “They’re heeeeerrreee!” Or good ol’ Craig T. Nelson (Coach!) as the father. Or the fact that they spend way too much time yelling at each other to get in the car at the end, rather then actually getting in the car and driving off. Ah, I love this movie. And I can’t help but think of the famous Eddie Murphy stand-up bit about it. “My daughter is Inside the television set. I changed the channel, shit didn’t work!” Poltergeist was followed up by 2 decent sequels. We could always use more fun ghost movie sequels. (But not ones to Asian horror film remakes, please. Thanks!)

Special Features: Sadly, there’s nothing on this version of the DVD besides the theatrical trailer, which is actually pretty cool. Its vintage 80’s and cut totally like a horror movie that Spielberg would make. (Which… maybe he did?) The movie looks and sounds good on DVD and it’s fairly inexpensive to own these days, but I’m still hoping for an eventual special edition. Or at least a Poltergeist box set! (Yes, even with Part 3!) –Robg.