Poltergeist: Review

Poltergeist is back, telling the story with an updated setting, and technology (both in the film, and that used to create it), and from a slightly different perspective. Not to mention, this time, it’s in 3D.

Most of us know the story already. A family moves into a new suburban home, the youngest daughter, Madison (played by Kennedi Clements),  appears to develop some imaginary friends. Then strange things begin to happen in the house, and then Madison disappears, apparently taken captive by ghosts.

Madison’s parents, Eric Bowen (Sam Rockwell) and Amy (Rosemarie DeWitt) enlist the help of some experts in an attempt to retrieve her, and so the battle begins, with each member of the family needing to overcome their own internal problems, in order to tackle this new threat.

Younger brother Griffin is a very nervous kid, he gets scared easily, some of which comes from being lost in a mall for a time some years prior. He does step up when needed though, and faces his fears head-on.

Older sister Kendra feels alienated from the family, as most teen girls do. Her character however, is also somewhat alienated from the audience, as she feels slightly too stereotypical of a teen, meaning she spends most of her time on the phone, and complains a lot.

The film is not without it’s moments of brevity though, and in some ways doesn’t take itself too seriously, which may be one of its saving graces. A good few laughs sprinkled between the more tense moments.

Poltergeist is a ride. It’s not too scary, and not too tense. There are no very big plot twists, and with this being a retelling of a story so many know, they filmmakers have not strayed too far from the original.

The new effects do leave less to the imagination, and show more on-screen. Watch this in 3D and you’ll feel even close, and more a part of the story. All this bring Poltergeist into the 21st century, and introduces it to a whole new generation of horror movie fans.

All in all, the film is a good bit of scary escape.

Poltergeist opens in South African cinemas on 29 May 2015

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb

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