Poltergeist II: The Other Side
Brian Gibson
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Plot Summary
This effects-heavy installment is the inevitable sequel to one of the more effectively spooky and financially successful horror films of the '80s. The Freeling family is trying to grapple with the devastation wrought by the ghosts and ghouls that destroyed their lives. Steve (Craig T. Nelson), Diane (JoBeth Williams), and their kids, Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke) and Robbie (Oliver Robins), have been reduced to living in the home of Diane's mother, Jess (Geraldine Fitzgerald) because the insurance company refuses to believe what happened to their house. The Freelings are unfortunately unable to escape patches of unholy ground living in a house that is just as haunted as the last. The evil spirit of the mad cult leader Kane (Julian Beck) has returned in an effort to kidnap Carol Anne. After realizing what's happening, the Freelings call upon the psychic medium Tangina Barrons (Zelda Rubinstein) for help, and are aided by a benevolent Native American spiritualist, Taylor (Will Sampson).
Credits
Director
Screenwriters
- Mark Victor
- Michael Grais
Producers
- Michael Grais
- Mark Victor
- Freddie Fields
- Barry Bernardi
Movie Reviews from Rotten Tomatoes
TOMATOMETER
39%- Reviews Counted: 18
- Fresh: 7
- Rotten: 11
- Average Rating: 4.7/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Rotten: Seems like a string of special effects held together by a far-fetched story line with an unsatisfying sticky-sweet ending.
Rotten: This sequel, sans Spielberg but obedient to his spirit, simply fails to regenerate the original's gut-grinding fears...
Rotten: If you've seen the first one there's a lingering sense of deja vu about it all.
Customer Reviews
Nice
The first Poltergeist movie will always be classic. This film was a good sequel, and it didn't rely on excessive amounts of gore and blood to be scary like some of the horror movies in present day. A movie doesn't have to have blood throughout to be scary. This movie has scenes of shock, some disturbing images, and it definitely has scenes where unexpected things happen to really give you a sense of being scared. I love this movie and recommend watching it, because I believe it is a good sequel to the classic Poltergeist and it relies on unexpected and surreal images to scares its viewers (which every good scary film should have.) I love this sequel, because it uses obscure and creepy scenes to scare its viewers rather than a lazy not well thought out overuse of blood. P.S. do not listen to the loser RichardLeis not only does he not know what he's talking about, but he makes a movie seem so bad that apparently (20 years of his life he avoided it.) Movies are only made for your entertainment sir, and if you don't like specific ones then don't be that smart guy he thinks he knows everything about how a film is bad. How about you understand the concept of being grateful films are put out in the first place for people's entertainment rather than hating certain films and making it seem that your disgusted with just a movie. 20 years of my life I avoided this film, please... grow up.
love this movie
poltergist is a great movie i feel so bad for the little girl who died the one who plays carol anne:( anyway it was a really good movie!!
A Great Example of a Terrible Sequel
A great example of a terrible sequel to a perfect film: (1) flashback scenes from the first movie, (2) poorly repeated motifs from the first movie, (3) an unnecessary additional layer (this time below the pool from the first movie), (4) gratuitous special effects, (5) failed attempts at the first movie's humor, (6) no attempt at subtly (families glow with love...really?), (7) deus ex machina, etc. Questions: Where did the oldest daughter go (yeah, I know the story...why not recast?) What happened to Tangerina in the last shot? Why do characters insist on leaving each other alone in separate rooms? Why is the camera work so boring? Braces...really!? Just awful. I now understand why I avoided this movie for over 20 years. I wish I had avoided it forever...time for some Tequila.
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- $4.99
- Genre: Horror
- Released: 1986
- © 1986 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All rights reserved.
