"This is the movie "The Amityville Horror" dreamed of being. It begins with the same ingredients (a happy American family, living in a big, comfortable house). It provides similar warnings of doom (household objects move by themselves, the weather seems different around the house than anywhere else). And it ends with a similar apocalypse (spirits take total possession of the house, and terrorize the family). Even some of the special effects are quite similar, as when greasy goo begins to ooze around the edges of a doorjamb. But "Poltergeist" is an effective thriller, not so much because of the special effects, as because Hooper and Spielberg have tried to see the movie's strange events through the eyes of the family members, instead of just standing back and letting the special effects overwhelm the cast along with the audience."

-Roger Ebert

"Don’t let the name STEVEN SPIELBERG or the PG rating fool you, this film has caused countless sleepless nights and it’s done so for decades. What’s so scary about POLTERGEIST? Well first of all, it takes place somewhere many kids can easily identify with, suburbia. Any child who has recently gained mastery over their fears of cobweb strewn mansions or gothic castles are instantly sent back to square one." -

-Kindertrauma.com

 

"Probably the best ghost movie I have ever seen. The movie has everything going for it. Start with the characters. The Freeling family feels like a true one. The chemistry between all those who compose the unit is astounding. I swear to god I really believed Craig T. Nelson was married to JoBeth Williams…damn…I still do! The film establishes its character from the first frame and we really get to care about these people. The film’s interpretation of suburban life is on the money. From the football game gathering, the remote control wars (funny stuff) and the parents smoking a little bit of that sweet cheeba on the side."

-John Fallon, Arrow in the Head.com

http://www.joblo.com/arrow/reviews.php?id=588

 

"David Furtney has been doggedly researching the various controversies surrounding Poltergeist's 'authorship' for years. He's got the most fascinating one-movie site I've ever encountered!"-Bob Martin, original editor of "FANGORIA" magazine http://www.facebook.com/UncleBob.Martin

"One of the best places to find more information is at super-fan David Furtney’s webpage on Poltergeist."-Jim Howard, Jr.-DVDFile.com http://www.dvdfile.com/reviews/review/poltergeist-25th-anniversary-edition-11553

"I have now spent HOURS surfing your meticulous and impressive site on the POLTERGEIST movie(s). Very informative and inspiring, especially as this movie has been very formative on my development as a film score composer. Kudos to you for doing this work."

-Søren Hyldgaard
Screen Music - http://sorenhyldgaard.com
Copenhagen
DENMARK

"This article would not have been possible without the incredible archival material at Poltergeist: The Fan Site."- Devin Faraci, http://badassdigest.com/2012/01/08/schlock-corridor-poltergeist-1982-part-ii/

 

1-15-12

I've always been a big fan of James Kahn's novelization of the film. I read it when I was about 8 or 9 years old. But it was only yesterday that I found out that another writer had been hired before Mr. Kahn, and he wrote a whole different version of the book! It almost went to press. Read why it wasn't used here:

www.poltergeist.poltergeistIII.com/joe.html

 

12-12-11

Today on the ABC show "The Chew," host Clinton Kelly was surprised on air with the Christmas gift of....JoBeth Williams!

Watch the episode here:

http://abc.go.com/watch/the-chew/SH55125610/VD55157479/the-chew-1212

9-24-11

Check out this interview with the late Jerry Goldsmith:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wnp0cClT-Bo

3-5-11

"What happens when you mash up Stevie Wonder’s hit 1972 song “Superstition” with footage from the classic horror film Poltergeist? This video from Jeff Yorkes. [via /Film]"

http://vimeo.com/20519688

 

2-23-11

"Poltergeist" editor Michael Kahn confirms Spielberg's involvement with the directing of the film. 

Fast forward to 15:35 of this recent interview.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjdOG-w0Zz4

2-17-11

MGM announces that a new "Poltergeist" is still on track! (But is it a remake or a sequel??)

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118032494

Here's hoping that the studio has reconsidered the remake idea since all their financial woes, and has decided to truly go with a direct sequel to the original films. I think it would be really cool to see a "Carol Anne grown up" continuation......what do you think?

 

2-16-11

Here's a recent Blog Talk Radio interview with Oliver Robins. He discusses his latest film, "29,000 Wishes and 1 Regret," as well as working on "Poltergeist":

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/panacea-quest/2011/01/31/oliver-robins-from-child-star-of-poltergiest-to-po

The film's web site is:

www.29000wishes.com

Also, here's a cool TCM International trailer for a recent airing of "Poltergeist:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_vVoMN6Ajk

 

12-13-10

New 2 disc soundtrack CD now available!

From:

http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/cds/detail.cfm/cdID/452/

Goldsmith’s score flows effortlessly between hard-core, dissonant modernism and some of the most lyrical, humanistic music he ever wrote. It is both a marvel of musical construction and a visceral listening experience. Composed over an uncharacteristically long period of fifteen weeks, the music for Poltergeist evokes both child-like simplicity and sheer terror. The complete presentation of the score on Disc 1 includes several passages that were not used in the film.

 

Mike Matessino restored Goldsmith’s Poltergeist score from the three-track stereo film mixes for this release; Bruce Botnick, the film's original recording supervisor, did the digital mastering. The deluxe 28-page booklet features an informative and perceptive essay on the film and score—incorporating remarks by the composer—and a complete cue-by-cue analysis by Matessino.

 

As a bonus, disc 2 also includes the re-recorded suite of cues (including one previously unreleased) from Goldsmith’s The Prize (1963). Originally recorded for MGM LP, four of these tracks were included on FSM’s CD of the complete score (FSMCD Vol. 5, No. 16), but all five have now been remixed for superior sound quality from newly-discovered ½” three-track masters.

 

The CD booklet also includes a personal reminiscence from Bruce Botnick about the 1982 Poltergeist recording sessions, as well as the original LP notes by Steven Spielberg. In the legendary producer’s words, “Jerry’s music conjures many classical impressions of ferocious drive and at the same time, cathedral beauty. So…let the imagination wander. Pleasant dreams.”

 

Here's some cool YouTube Links I found:

Fan created music video dedicated to the film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaXA52wrsgc

"The Making of 'Poltergeist:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkrYmc2Wqgc

International Theatrical Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsDJRu9_Cgs

"Unofficial" music video for the song "Shining" by the band The Misfits:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7QJ9wtVj2k

Lyrics from the song include "Carol Anne....Carol Anne...the Beast is calling..."

"Poltergeist" Trailer....done with Legos!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZAG1uHbQac

E! True Hollywood Story: The Curse of Poltergeist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSKWUuqFv-w

*****************************

I hope you enjoy my web site dedicated to this classic 1982 film.