"Hooper and Spielberg hold our interest by observing the everyday rituals of this family so closely that, since the family seems real, the weird events take on a certain credibility by association." - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) may have directed Poltergeist but this is not a Tobe Hooper film. At the time of this film's inception, writer/producer Steven Spielberg had a contract with Universal Studios to maintain, so he made an agreement to not direct any other films while working on E.T. the Extra Terrestrial. However, in an interview, he revealed that Hooper was not a "take-charge sort of guy" and thus, Spielberg had a lot of control over the set.
The Freelings live in the nice, quiet Californian suburb of Cuesta Verde. They are your typical middle class family of five, with a dog. After 5 year-old Carol Ann has a bizarre encounter with the family television set, strange things begin to happen around the house. Things quickly get out of control and the Freelings turn to a group of parapsychologists from UC Irvine to investigate their home.
Poltergeist is a classic, however, I feel like it's a little overrated. Sure the effects were great for its time and there are some scary moments, but at the end of the day I would rather be watching The Amityville Horror. After the halfway mark I slowly start losing interest in the characters as the horror formula becomes repetitive.
While I have my complaints about the movie, I still have positive things to say about it. I most certainly respect Spielberg for his vision and script; the man's creativity never ceases to amaze to me. Jerry Goldsmith provides an atmospheric score that enhances Poltergiest's most memorable moments. I definitely recommend the film to those who have not seen it. It may not be on my top list of horror films to watch, but it is absolutely worth seeing at least once.
-CS
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