Poltergeist is an entertaining movie with good acting, a pleasant family and touches of humour but the horror scenes didn't deliver much impact.The storyline of a real estate agent, his homemaker wife, and three kids in a new suburban development built over a cemetery is the perfect setting for a horror movie. Unfortunately, the movie just didn't register on the fright meter. Beatrice Straight, the woman scorned in the movie Network, was the main paranormal. Excellent theatrical voice and expressive eyes.The whole movie had an undercurrent of humour and human warmth typical of writer Stephen Spielberg's early movies. I find it hard to watch a movie today with Craig Nelson without cracking a smile. Together with Jo Beth Williams, they reminded me of 1950's TV parents, the Nelsons or the Cleavers.There is a certain nostalgia about the movie as I look back at middle class parents in the era just before mobile phones, the internet and other shifts in the social landscape. That is what stayed with me after viewing this movie. An interesting period movie but not quite up to expectations.

Aaah the quirks and backlash from much younger people bashing good entertainment without any real perception of what real horror is. I love seeing how so many people are quick to rate a movie with the line, "Go see The Ring instead"..LMAO. You've gotta be kidding me. That's how you know they're young and call that horror. You see, true horror hits close to home and that's exactly what this film does. Brilliant and plausible story (It could happen to anyone owning a home) and to this very day...people are still rattled about the untimely deaths that occurred during the making of this film. Yes. Real people died. Coincidence? Nobody knows. Were there real poltergeists that actually contributed to their deaths? Why don't we let our one sided minds be the judge of that. This film was terrifying back then and it's certainly held up over the years to be a one of a kind, pulse pounding, dark and original ghost story. Keep in mind folks, that movies like these were the inspiration for THE NEXT generation to RIP OFF! The newer generation has run out of gas, so naturally in good old Hollywood fashion...they steal material from older, classic movies such as Poltergeist. I have respect for the people that love what Spielberg has done here. For the others who think The Ring, Blair Witch Project, Annabelle, The Boy, The Grudge, and Insidious are true horror...I weep for your generation. This movie is original to the core, visually stunning, realistically acted (hard to find nowadays) and a masterpiece of horror to cherish for generations to come. Notice how I didn't put any spoilers in here like the other ones did either. Kids. As for the PG rating goes, yeah this in a R rated film nowadays. Too many parents complaining that it's too scary for kids, so they decided to come down hard on horror films. Even though we all know pre-teens and younger children have access to every R rated film and lord knows what else these days since every kid in America has a cellphone. Duh. You won't be disappointed with this film. Hands down terrifying, especially if you live in California.

Stephen Spielberg claims that while he produced Poltergeist, he did not direct it. If that's true, then official director did an amazing job of channeling Spielberg's 80s style. He captures Spielberg's ability to portray children as both natural and distinctly alien and mysterious. He captured his swooping camera shots and his slick use of special effects.Whether Hooper did all that, decided he didn't like it and never did it again, or whether Spielberg was the puppet master, the result is a terrific, fast-paced thriller full of terrific moments, suspense and humor.It was also a movie I was shocked to learn my girlfriend had never seen. When I asked her what I thought she had a whole analysis of the movie as a commentary on suburban culture. It made sense, so I guess it's deeper than I realized.The only scene I don't like is the one I feel certain is all Tobe Hooper's; that face melting thing. It's gross and feels out of place. Well, out of place in a Spielberg movie, anyway.

Saw this in the mid 80s on a VHS. Found it to be really scary. Revisited it recently aft watching the remake. The remake was bad. This movies effects were really good for that time. It has diminished over the years but the movie still stands out as one of the best pg13 horror. Moving household items, flickering lights, sudden rain n thunder, ghost investigators coming to live at the house, people passing thru another dimension/ghost world were all the stuff which inspired future horror films. The creepy smiling clown n the big monster tree really added to the scary stuff. Kids will definitely enjoy this as it lacks the tension n violence. Don't let the names of Hooper n Spielberg fool u. Its not brutal or violent neither it is tame or mild. It does hav some creepy n scary stuff.