Poltergeist III [1988]

Customer Reviews:

All smoke and mirrors.......2008-01-11

The Director of this film seemed to think there are 3 key elements to making a scary film:

1) Crew members standing behind doors shining light onto mirros they wave around to make lights strobe the set
2) Lots of dry ice smoke
3) Cast shouting "Carol-Anne?!" four-hundred and thirty-seven times

Sadly, it is not the key to a good horror film. It has the producting values of a 1980s episode of Top of the Pops.

What is worse is the number of incredibly ugly actors with what appear to almost be intentionally bad joke 80s hairstyles and fake glasses. You will find yourself watching the female school visitor and saying to yourself, "You're not serious???!!" at her wig.

The film is however made more poignant by the fact that Heather O'Rourke passed away during filming sadly, which is why you do not see her face in the final scene as they used a body double. I was astonished however that the dedication to her did not come immediately at the end of the film before the credits, but rather at the end. She did not even receive a postumous top billing, but rather third.

All in all a very confused and disappointing 'TV movie' effort. I hope the Director and Stylists never worked again.

THE WEAKEST OF THE SERIES.......2007-10-31

Staying in Chicago with relatives Bruce, (Tom Skerritt) and Patricia Gardner, (Nancy Allen) and their daughter Donna, (Lara Flynn Boyle) Carol Anne Freeling, (Heather O'Rourke) is trying to start life over with a new family. Almost as soon as they get settled in with each other, strange phenomena begin affecting the family at different locations. They are misinterpreted by her school teachers as something wrong with her, and think she needs to be treated accordingly. Carol Anne was telling the truth, as Reverend Henry Kane, (Nathan Davis) tracks her down and uses his spirits to help him.

The Good News: A sequel to one of the greatest films ever made isn't a big challenge, and this one at least attempts some new ideas. The move into the urban area rather than the suburbs in part 1 or countryside in part 2 is more than welcome and allows for some traps that might be from an unknown source. That is the main source of scares in the film, when an unexpected action occurs from a familiar object. The most obvious is the appearance through the door. It's a striking scene that really leaps out of the screen, as does the gag in the garage. The series of hallway mirror gags are some of the most suspenseful ones in the entire series, and is quite imaginative and clever. The film really picks up once the spirits attack, as all sort of great scenes come up and the pace quickens. The last thirty minutes are undoubtedly the best of the film. This alone makes the film exciting and watchable.

The Bad News: Aside from those, there really wasn't a lot else going on. It just lags a lot in the beginning with needless and uncommonly grating exposition that is hard to get through. It's what really hurts the film, as it just makes the it a chore to sit through. The cheesiness of the film is also a hurting factor. With no real jump scares in it, it has to rely on it's moments to get the job done, but after that, there's really nothing to the film. It's a real shame, as this had a lot of potential, but with one cheesy, over-the-op scene after another just wears you out. The middle section is the most obvious example, as too much time is spent on the initial discovery of the haunted apartment. The teen antics on display are also a great distraction, feeling entirely out of place and in no real help to the film. It could've easily been taken out with no real damage done. There's several other small little scenes here and there that weren't all that great, but those can be dealt with on an individual basis.

The Final Verdict: This is a fun movie if that's what you're looking for, but it's cheesiness with no doubt ruin it for those looking for more of a serious time like the first one. It's worth a rental for fans to determine whether it's okay or not, but it's not without a little groaning moments along the way.

Poltergeist II/Poltergeist III [1988] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Average customer rating:

Poltergeist II/Poltergeist III [1988] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Starring: Tom Skerritt , Nancy Allen , Heather O'Rourke , Zelda Rubinstein , and Lara Flynn Boyle
Director: Gary Sherman , and Brian Gibson
Manufacturer: MGM
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Region 1 | Special Features | DVD | Video

Ghosts & Hauntings | Horror | Categories | DVD | Video

DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00009PY4G
Release Date: 2003-08-26

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