POLTERGEIST 3 FILM COLLECTION [1982 / 1986 / 1998 / 2020] [UK Release] The ‘POLTERGEIST’ spooky film franchise can now be seen in this wonderful three disc package!
POLTERGEIST [1982] “They’re here,” playful at first... but not for long. Carol Anne Freeling is whisked into a spectral void, her parents call in an eccentric psychic for assistance. As her family confronts horrors galore, something else is here too: a new benchmark in Hollywood ghost stories. Producers Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall and director Tobe Hooper head the elite scream team of this classic chiller!
FILM FACT: POLTERGEIST: Awards and Nominations: 1983 Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Effects and Visual Effects for Bruce Nicholson, Bruce Nicholson, Michael Wood and Richard Edlund. Nominated: Best Effects and Sound Effects Editing for Richard L. Anderson and Stephen Hunter Flick. Nominated: Best Music for an Original Score for Jerry Goldsmith. 1983 BAFTA Awards: Win: BAFTA Film Award for Best Special Visual Effects for Richard Edlund. 1983 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA: Win: Saturn Award for Best Horror Film. Win: Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for Zelda Rubinstein. Win: Saturn Award for Best Make-Up for Dorothy J. Pearl. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Actress for JoBeth Williams. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Director for Tobe Hooper. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Music for Jerry Goldsmith. 1983 Young Artist Awards: Nominated: Best Young Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for Heather O'Rourke.
FILM FACT No.2: POLTERGEIST: Mostly filmed on Roxbury Street in Simi Valley, California. A clause in his contract with Universal Studios prevented Steven Spielberg from directing any other film while preparing ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,’ although according to Tobe Hooper, the very core concept of the film was his, which he pitched to Steven Spielberg after turning down the offer to direct ‘Night Skies.’ There is an alternate version of “Carol Anne's theme” which has lyrics. That version is unofficially titled “Bless this House” (which is a line from the chorus). It was not featured in the film, but was part of the original album release.
Cast: Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams, Beatrice Straight, Dominique Dunne, Oliver Robins, Heather O'Rourke, Michael McManus, Virginia Kiser, Martin Casella, Richard Lawson, Zelda Rubinstein, James Karen, Lou Perryman, Clair E. Leucart, Dirk Blocker, Allan Graf, Joseph Walsh, Helen Baron, Noel Conlon, Robert Broyles, Sonny Landham, Jeffrey Bannister, William Vail, Craig Simmons, Phil Stone (NBC Sports Football Announcer voice), Dana Gendian, Jaimi Gendian and Paula Paulson (uncredited)
Director: Tobe Hooper
Producers: Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg
Screenplay: Mark Victor (screenplay), Michael Grais (screenplay) and Steven Spielberg (screenplay/story)
Composer: Jerry Goldsmith
Cinematography: Matthew Frank Leonetti, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Visual Effects Supervisor: Richard Edlund, A.S.C.
Image Resolution: 1080p (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audio: English: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
English: 5.1 Dolby TrueHD
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
French: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
German: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Italian: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Spanish [Castilian]: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Spanish [Latin]: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, French, German SDH, German, Italian SDH, Italian, Spanish [Castilian], Spanish [Latin], Português [Brazilian], Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish
Running Time: 114 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Warner Home Video
* * * * *
POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE [1986] In this thrilling follow-up to the smash hit ‘Poltergeist,’ the Freeling family JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Heather O’Rourke and Oliver Robins settles into a new home following the annihilation of their former residence by terrifying visitors from the netherworld. But the spirits of the dead are still hell-bent on luring the family’s clairvoyant daughter Carol Anne Freeling to “the other side.” This chilling sequel, directed by Brian Gibson and also stars Will Sampson (‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’), Julian Beck and Zelda Rubinstein returns as Tangina.
FILM FACT No.1: POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE: Awards and Nominations: 1987 Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Effects and Visual Effects for Bill Neil, Garry Waller, John Bruno and Richard Edlund. 1987 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA: Nominated: Saturn Award: Best Horror Film. Nominated: Saturn Award: Best Special Effects for Richard Edlund. 1987 BMI Film & TV Awards: Win: BMI Film Music Award for Jerry Goldsmith. 1987 Razzie Awards: Nominated: Worst Supporting Actress for Zelda Rubinstein. 1987 Young Artist Awards: Nominated: Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress Starring in a Feature Film in a Comedy or Drama for Heather O'Rourke.
FILM FACT No.2: POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE: Dana, the eldest daughter from the first film and portrayed by Dominique Dunne, was originally intended to be away at college in the plot of the second film. However, the scene was not filmed for the final theatrical version, as Dominique Dunne was murdered by her ex- boyfriend shortly after the first film was released. Several scenes that appeared in press stills or promotional posters were cut from the finished film, including one in which Tangina Barrons confronts Reverend Henry Kane when he tries to enter the house, and another in which Steven Freeling and Carol Anne Freeling see a flying toaster during a breakfast scene. After actor Julian Beck's death, voice actor Corey Burton was brought in during post-production to loop some of his lines. Swiss surrealist artist H.R. Giger was commissioned by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to create several designs for the film, specifically the "Great Beast" manifestation of Reverend Henry Kane that appears in the astral plane during the film's finale. Because H.R. Giger did not want to leave Zurich for long periods of time, his colleague Cornelius De Fries was hired to represent H.R. Giger at the studio during production. H.R. Giger was ultimately disappointed with the end result, later attributing the failure to his lack of presence. "When the movies eventually came out I thought, “Oh shit.” But I couldn't change it," said H.R. Giger. "There was no more time. So I thought that's the wrong way to work. If you work on a film you have to be there all the time and be always looking at what they're doing otherwise they'll do what they want." Only two of Giger's designs appear in the final cut of the film, including "The Great Beast" version of Reverend Henry Kane.
Cast: JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Heather O'Rourke, Oliver Robins, Zelda Rubinstein, Will Sampson, Julian Beck, Geraldine Fitzgerald, John P. Whitecloud, Noble Craig, Susan Peretz, Helen Boll, Kelly Jean Peters, Jaclyn Bernstein, Robert Lesser, Jamie Abbott, Ann Louise Bardach, Syd Beard, David Beaman, Hayley Taylor-Block, Pamela Gordon, Chelsea Hertford, Whitby Hertford, Rocky Krakoff, Carrie Lorraine, Kathy Wagner, Bill Schroeder and Corey Burton (Reverend Henry Kane voice) (uncredited)
Director: Brian Gibson
Producers: Freddie Fields, Lynn Arost, Mark Victor and Michael Grais
Screenplay: Mark Victor and Michael Grais
Composer: Jerry Goldsmith
Visual Effects Supervisor: Richard Edlund
Cinematography: Andrew Laszlo, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Panavision)
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Português: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
French: 5.1 DTS-HD Audio
German: 5.1 DTS-HD Audio
Italian: 5.1 DTS-HD Audio
Spanish [Latin]: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Spanish [Castilian]: 5.1 DTS-HD Audio
Hungarian: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Turkish: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Português, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Spanish [Latin], Dutch, Norwegian, Spanish [Castilian], Swedish, Croatian, Greek, Chinese [Cantonese], Hungarian, Português [Brazilian], Slovenian, Chinese [Manderine] and Thai
Running Time: 90 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / 20th Century Fox
* * * * *
POLTERGEIST III [1998] They are back….again! And they’re looking for Carol Ann Freeling in this riveting finale to the POLTERGEIST trilogy franchise. Sent by her parents to live in a Chicago high-rise with Carol Anne Freeling’s Aunt Patricia Gardner [Nancy Allen] and Uncle Bruce Gardner [Tom Skeritt], Carol Anne Freeling discovers she must now face demons more frightening than ever before. Led by the Reverend Kane (now played by Nathan Davis), the spirits have moved from invading homes to taking over an entire skyscraper. They are lurking behind every mirror… waiting. Fortunately, Tangina [Zelda Rubinstein] returns to battle these malevolent forces.
FILM FACT No.1: POLTERGEIST III: Awards and Nominations: 1989 Razzie Awards: Nominated: Worst Supporting Actress for Zelda Rubinstein. 1990 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA: Nominated: Saturn Award: Best Supporting Actress for Zelda Rubinstein.
FILM FACT No.2: POLTERGEIST III: Writer-director Gary Sherman drafted the original screenplay of ‘POLTERGEIST III’ with screenwriter Brian Taggert, whom he had worked with on ‘Wanted: Dead or Alive’ [1987]. Gary Sherman thought the idea of the city setting was just as scary as isolated suburbia. His feeling was that "there are people on the other side of the wall, and no one cares that you are in trouble." Additionally, Gary Sherman was influenced by Lewis Carroll's Alice novel “Through the Looking-Glass,” which served as a framework for the film's narrative, specifically the use of mirrors as a plot device. Development of the film was announced in November 1986. Tom Skerritt was cast in the film as Bruce Gardner, a Chicago apartment building manager, while Nancy Allen was cast as Pat Gardner, Bruce's wife and the aunt of Carol Anne who becomes her temporary guardian. Heather O'Rourke and Zelda Rubinstein reprised their roles from the previous two films (as Carol Anne Freeling and Tangina Barrons, respectively) the only cast members to do so. At the time of filming, Heather O'Rourke had been undergoing treatment for a diagnosis of Crohn's disease, which required cortisone injections; this left her with facial swelling, which was evident in the film. Corey Burton returned to provide the voice work for Reverend Henry Kane, although he was uncredited for this effort.
Cast: Tom Skerritt, Nancy Allen, Heather O'Rourke, Zelda Rubinstein, Lara Flynn Boyle, Kipley Wentz, Richard Fire, Nathan Davis, Roger May, Paul Graham, Meg Weldon, Stacy Gilchrist, Joey Garfield, Christian Murphy, Roy Hytower, Meg Thalken, Dean Tokuno, Catherine Gatz, Paty Lombard, E.J. Murray, Sherry Narens, Phil Locker, Maureen Steindler, Alan Wilder, Brent Shaphren, Mindy Bell, Conrad Allan, Maureen Mueller, John Rusk, Sam Sanders, Laurie V. Logan, Jerry Birn, Jane Alderman, Mary Hogan, Lynn Koppel, Laura Koppel, Mark Zweigler, Chris Montana, Wendy Wolfman, Harold Taulbee, Christy Davis, Corey Burton (Reverend Henry Kane voice) (uncredited), Robert Minkoff (uncredited), D. Danny Warhol (uncredited) and Mick Wynhoff (uncredited)
Director: Gary Sherman
Producers: Barry Bernardi and Gary Sherman
Screenplay: Brian Taggert (written), Gary Sherman (written) and Steve Feke (uncredited)
Composer: Joe Renzetti
Cinematography: Alex Nepomniaschy (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Português: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
French: 5.1 DTS-HD Audio
German: 5.1 DTS-HD Audio
Italian: 5.1 DTS-HD Audio
Spanish [Castilian]: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Spanish [Latin]: 5.1 DTS-HD Audio
Thai: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, French SDH, Português, Danish, French, Italian, Spanish [Castilian], Dutch, Norwegian, Spanish [Latin], Swedish, Croatian, Greek, Chinese [Cantonese], Slovenian, Chines [Mandarin] and Thai
Running Time: 97 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / 20th Century Fox
* * * * *
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘POLTERGEIST’ [1982] is one of those horror classics that are considered a must-see regardless of whether or not you are a horror fan. It's a thriller, a family drama, and an effectively suspenseful film. It centres on a family in California that has to face an ominous chain of events in their seemingly normal house, and the possibility of it being haunted. It's also one of those film franchises that are considered to be cursed due to a series of tragic events.
One of the best things about ‘POLTERGEIST’ is how well it creates its creepy spooky atmosphere. It introduces its viewers to a very pretty normal family who is very likable, relatable, and semi-responsible, with their own quirks and issues. And then it slowly builds up the supernatural elements and starting with odd occurrences here and there, and eventually escalating into otherworldly mayhem. The small abnormalities are just odd enough to notice and question, setting the viewers up for bigger things to come.
And since I started talking about the family itself, let me just say how important it is to see these characters act like real people. Modern horror is so often concerned with squeezing in as many jump-scares and gore into the films as possible that they forget none of it matters if the audience doesn't care about the characters. The family in ‘POLTERGEIST’ is definitely one the viewers can't help rooting for because they feel like real people and they fall asleep with the TV on, the kids have typical fights and fears, the parents want some time to themselves, quietly smoke pot after the kids are put to sleep, and are concerned with appearing normal. When it comes to the other characters, they too are memorable and unique and who could not forget the feisty and bossy Tangina [Zelda Rubinstein] who added greatly to the spooky ambience to the film.
But the most frightening parts of the film ‘POLTERGEIST’ arise from our empathy with the characters. Everyone in the family is sympathetic, likable and believable, which helps involve us emotionally in the movie. And the film doesn't abuse the fact that we've come to care about them: We're scared at the ordeal they face, but they all come through the experience 100%, and are saved by their love for one another.
Overall, ‘POLTERGEIST’ is the most sensation-dependent film of Steven Spielberg’s career, and, in its demolition of the Spielberg mystique, may be the most subversive film of all Tobe Hooper’s work. It’s one of the strongest films in either director’s canon, and yet it’s eerily impersonal. Collaboration can be a scary thing. Consider that thought against the suburban spectacle of two neighbours waging remote control war from either side of a nondescript wooden fence. I also cannot deny that it is a totally unique and very memorable film. ‘POLTERGEIST’ just has that wonderful “movie magic” that must be seen, and I still love this film after all this time, and to me it is still my all-time favourite classic spooky film.
POLTERGEIST MUSIC TRACK LIST
THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER (1814) (uncredited) (Music based on "The Anacreontic Song" by John Stafford Smith) (Arranged by Arturo Toscanini) [Played as TV sign-off music several times]
NIGHT OF THE BEAST (uncredited) (Strings Arranged by Chris Boardman) (Written by Jerry Goldsmith) (Music by Jerry Goldsmith) [Performed by Jerry Goldsmith]
NIGHT VISITOR / NO COMPLAINTS (Written by Jerry Goldsmith) (Music by Jerry Goldsmith) [Performed by Jerry Goldsmith]
REBIRTH (uncredited) (Strings Arranged by Chris Boardman) (Written by Jerry Goldsmith) (Music by Jerry Goldsmith) [Performed by Jerry Goldsmith]
TWISTED ABDUCTION (uncredited) (Strings and Percussion Arranged by Chris Boardman) (Written by Jerry Goldsmith) (Music by Jerry Goldsmith) [Performed by Jerry Goldsmith]
ESCAPE FROM SUBURBIA (uncredited) (Written by Jerry Goldsmith) (Music by Jerry Goldsmith) [Performed by Jerry Goldsmith]
THE CALLING / THE NEIGHBORHOOD (uncredited) (Choir Arranged and Conducted by Paul Salamunovich) (Written by Jerry Goldsmith) (Music by Jerry Goldsmith) [Performed by Jerry Goldsmith] [The music plays over during the opening credits]
CAROL ANNE’S THEME (Choir Arranged and Conducted by Paul Salamunovich) (Orchestra by The London Symphony Orchestra) (Choir by The Children's Educational Choir and Elin Carlson) (Written by Jerry Goldsmith) (Music by Jerry Goldsmith) [Performed by Jerry Goldsmith] [The music plays over during the ending credits]
THE LIGHT / THE TREE (Outtakes) (uncredited) (Written by Jerry Goldsmith) (Music by Jerry Goldsmith) [Performed by Jerry Goldsmith]
I KNOW WHAT SCARES YOU (uncredited) (Written by Jerry Goldsmith) (Music by Jerry Goldsmith) [Performed by Jerry Goldsmith]
CONTACTING THE OTHER SIDE (uncredited) (Strings Arranged by Chris Boardman) (Written by Jerry Goldsmith) (Music by Jerry Goldsmith) [Performed by Jerry Goldsmith]
THE CLOWN / THEY’RE HERE /BROKEN GLASS / THE HOLE / TV PEOPLE (uncredited) (Strings Arranged by Chris Boardman and Mark Berrow) (Written by Jerry Goldsmith) (Music by Jerry Goldsmith) [Performed by Jerry Goldsmith]
* * * * *
‘POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE’ [1986] is the sequel to the original film ‘Poltergeist,’ and it features the return of the original Freeling’s family and once again they experience the nasty spirit trying to harm their daughter, Carol Anne Freeling. It received mixed reviews from the majority of critics and did not gross as much at the box office as its predecessor, but was still financially successful. It ended up making over $40 million against a $19 million (estimated) production budget. In addition, it was nominated for the Academy Award for Visual Effects. It was followed in 1988 by the film ‘Poltergeist III.’
The original ‘POLTERGEIST’ film casts a shadow over its sequels and remake are doomed to sit under; in terms of objective quality, place in urban legend thanks to its alleged “curse” and predicated on the death of child star Heather O’Rourke, and behind-the-scenes gossip that director Tobe Hooper and producer Steven Spielberg didn’t see eye-to-eye. Many people still believe that Steven Spielberg directed the bulk of ‘Poltergeist’ film.
This sequel offers an alternate explanation, with much greater detail, for the reason, why Carol Anne Freeling was targeted in the first film. As it turns out, the Freeling’s family house in the first film was also built over a massive underground cavern that was the final resting place of a religious cult that died there in the early 19th century. The cult was led by Reverend Henry Kane [Julian Beck], a power-hungry zealot anxious to control the souls of his followers and the graveyard inhabitants in both life and death.
One year after the events of ‘POLTERGEIST,’ where the Freeling family, that includes father Steve Freeling [Craig T. Nelson], mother Diane Freeling [JoBeth Williams], and their young children Carol Anne Freeling and Robbie Freeling [Oliver Robins] escaped the angry spirits that invaded their Cuesta Verde home, they’re now living miles away in Phoenix, Arizona, with Diane Freeling’s clairvoyant Gramma Jess [Geraldine Fitzgerald]. Despite being twitchy around malfunctioning vacuum cleaners, and refusing to ever own a TV again, life’s starting to get back to normal and the Freeling’s family are beginning to put their paranormal experience behind them, but not for long.
Unfortunately, an excavation of the vacant lot where their old house once stood reveals an underground cavern full of skeletons, which draws the attention of psychic medium Tangina Barrons [Zelda Rubinstein] and her Native American friend Taylor [Will Sampson], who realises one of the corpses is that of insane Old West preacher Reverend Henry Kane, whose spirit’s determined to seize Carol Anne Freeling, but will he succeed?
No one else seems to notice the unusual clouds that appear above their house all the time, especially not the mum who seems to like it outside. But then when she’s out in the garden Diane Freeling doesn’t have time to consider the odd cloud formations, instead finds herself attacked by a number of rejects from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video. But don’t worry everything is OK, Diane Freeling is not being attacked, she’s only dreaming. Carol Anne Freeling’s deceased nanny starts to keep in touch with them, and is probably trying to tell them to get out of her house.
‘POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE’ is now well over 35 years old, but there’s a reason it’s been largely forgotten, even fans of this genre film. Despite having twice the budget of its predecessor, and another amazing film score by the wonderful Jerry Goldsmith, and English director Brian Gibson trying to unwisely continued the Freeling’s family saga to its conclusion.
They even could not have integrate Zelda Rubinstein very well into proceedings, essentially “replacing” her with a mystical Indian for long stretches, is about all you need to know. ‘POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE’ may have doubled M-G-M’s money upon theatrical release in 1986, but compared to the original films takings of $121m from a $10m budget, and it was seen as a disappointment and tried to give hope that they will be able resurrect the box office fortunes for M-G-M and the franchise to greater heights with the final trilogy of the 1988 film ‘Poltergeist III.’
‘POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE’ had a really impossible task, but it makes a commendable effort to tell a compelling story. It does a good job in most departments but lacks heavily in others. Well worth watching just to see the most terrifying portrayal of a preacher in this genre horror film.
POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE MUSIC TRACK LIST
IF I FELL (uncredited) (Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney) (uncredited) [sung by Craig T. Nelson to JoBeth Williams] (uncredited)
GOD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE (uncredited) [sung by Julian Beck throughout the film]
* * * * *
‘POLTERGEIST III’ [1998] is the final franchise and here Zelda Rubinstein chants fervently “Innocence is what you’re given as a gift,” as she glides down a glassy corridors as spook nemesis Tangina Barrons. “Everything else you have to fight for.”
Here, an entirely new set of film makers sends a member of the bedevilled, bothered and the spooked Freeling family, and little Carol Anne Freeling (the late Heather O’Rourke), through another horrendous battle with the great beyond: with squashy, grabby evil things reaching through mirrors, walls and puddles to yank her off to some Lovecraftian underworld.
Transplanted to Chicago and a towering, many-mirrored 100-story high-rise, Carol Anne Freeling again finds herself besieged by the sepulchral varmints. But by now, the secondary battle that happens between actors and special effects. The effects, which revolve around the conceit of a demonic mirror-world, are ingenious and cleverly executed.
The premise could have been brilliant. The ghosts chasing Carol Anne Freeling from film to film have now taken up residence in the omnipresent mirrors in the high-rise. There, they pop out when no one is watching and, occasionally, yank people, through the glass. Director/co-writer Gary Sherman deserves every credit for dreaming up and helping realize these unsettling crazy-house tricks.
But Gary Sherman also deserves credit for coping with not so good dialogue and for encouraging his cast into what seems a spirited competition to win awards for archness and wild overstatements.
This is a film where villains cackle fiendishly, and everyone else pales with horror, shrieks with fear or pontificates with idiot scepticism. More amazing than the cast’s repertoire of gasps, yelps and gulps, however, is their resilience. People are just subjected to brain-rattling attacks with gelatinous dry-ice mirror onslaughts, lost girls clawing their way out of putrefying corpses and invariably recover within 10 seconds and chatter away with the self-possession of the modern pathetic TV-generation.
Another presence sorely missed is that of the brilliant composer Jerry Goldsmith and his ‘Poltergeist’ film score is one of the best in horror genre history, and Carol Anne Freeling’s Theme is a hauntingly beautiful piece of music. That’s all gone in the final film franchise, and replaced by a very bad 1980s soundtrack that sounds like something out of an episode of ‘Tales From the Darkside.’
POLTERGEIST III MUSIC TRACK LIST
JUNGLE MUSIC (uncredited) (Written by Simon Stokes and Billy Cioffi) [Vocal by Simon Stokes]
NIGHT RIDER (uncredited) (Written by Michael Forte and Bruce Weeden) [Vocal by James Carter]
* * * * *
Blu-ray Image Quality – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents the POLTERGEIST 3 FILM COLLECTION with all three films are in the wonderful 1080p image and the first films is in the impressive 2.40:1 aspect ratio, the second film is in the equally impressive 2.35:1 aspect ratio and the third film is in the standard 1.85:1 aspect ratio. These new upgrades of the three films are light-years beyond the original DVD releases and overall the image presentation with all three films looks very clean. Colours are superior to any previous version, and mainly the red and blue colours are noticeably superior, but other colours do stand out as well. Also night time scenes look just as good and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has also done a very fine job keeping blacks consistent while boosting contrast without overdoing it. Sharpness is also up to par, with only a tad bit of softness at times. So all in all Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has really brought these spooky films bang up to date with great image presentation and a worthy cause for these wonderful classic spooky horror films.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer brings us the POLTERGEIST 3 FILM COLLECTION with all three films are present with an exceptional choice of audio experience, with ‘POLTERGEIST you have a choice of 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio or 5.1 Dolby TrueHD and I found these two audio mixes very quiet, but you had a third choice of 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo which I found much better and much clearer for sound effects and dialogue. With the film ‘POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE’ you have a really excellent 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience and with the film ‘POLTERGEIST III’ you also get another excellent 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience. Apart from the first film, the other two films audio mix really good and have certainly got good active surround usage, nice, deep bass and a very pleasing feel especially in the dialogue department also sounds good, and is generally well-balanced in the mix. Discrete sound effects appear largely in the effects sequences, and during these moments are sustained and fairly well directed around the rears. Ambiance suffers, however, with little going on during quieter scenes. Jerry Goldsmith's wonderful film score in ‘POLTERGEIST’ and ‘POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE’ is a highlight of both of those films. So overall, all three films sound even better than when they were originally released for the home viewing audiences on the inferior DVD releases, so well done Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
* * * * *
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: BEHIND THE STORY: They Are Here: The Real World of Poltergeists [2007] [1080p] [2.40:1 / 1.78:1] [31:06] This two-part documentary is about as insightful and plausible as one of those “Histories Mysteries” special documentaries, and here we get to view PART ONE – SCIENCE OF THE SPIRITS and PART TWO – COMMUNING WITH THE DEAD and takes you on a journey with parapsychologists as they seek to prove the existence of ghosts. It is about the usual insightful and plausible baloney. A stream of real-life spook experts, ghost story writers and scientist types are interviewed. They try to convince us and usually with little real proof of the existence of the kind of paranormal activity seen in the film ‘POLTERGEIST.’ Mildly entertaining and believe me, I do want to believe, but it is still hard not to see that these two part documentaries as complete filler. Contributors include: Reese Christian [Psychic Medium], Paul Draper [Cultural Anthropologist], Richard Lawson [“Ryan”], Dr. Barry Taff [Paranormal Investigator], Richard Senate [Ghost Hunter], Alexandra Holzer [Author / Ghost Expert], Colin Wilson [Author of POLTERGEIST! A Study In Destructive Haunting], Hans Holzer [Author of Ghost Hunter], Patrick Burns [Paranormal Investigator], Gloria Young [Founder of Ghost Tracker Organization], Barry Conrad [Paranormal Investigator], Debbie Senate [Psychic / Ghost Hunter], Karen Zimmerman [Ghost Hunter], Jacqueline Mason [Home Owner], Roberta Tavassoli [Psychic], Frank Marshall [Producer], Misty Lee [Magician], Vickie McDonald [Hypnotist], Jeff Wheatcraft [Photographer], Laurie Johnson [Psychic Medium] and Michael Reardon [World’s Leading Solo Climber].
Theatrical Trailer [1986] [1080i] [1.78:1] [1:24] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE.’
Theatrical Trailer [1998] [1080i] [1.78:1] [1:05] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘POLTERGEIST III.’
Finally, POLTERGEIST 3 FILM COLLECTION is what I call the ultimate true scary horror film franchise. With the film ‘POLTERGEIST’ written and produced by Steven Spielberg, is one of the all-time great haunted house stories, as a family's “perfect” suburban home becomes the target of a ghostly invasion. Steven and Diane Freeling and their three children are happy in their new home in a California housing development built by the company Steven works for. Their 5 year-old daughter Carol Ann Freeling is receiving messages from voices that speak to her through empty channels on the television set. The unseen beings grow more malevolent, inhabiting a tree that attacks the son Robbie Freeling. And when they take Carol Ann Freeling away and the Freeling family call in a team of experts, including a diminutive psychic who holds the key to the other world. Best horror movie ever created! This horror film is insanely good! It's fun, scary and super entertaining...never a dull moment. The effects were done extremely well for the 1980's and the whole atmosphere of the film is really dark and eerie, which really sets the mood for a good time! As to the follow up film ‘POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE’ was one of the most underrated sequels ever made and here with the film we get an explanation what's behind the poltergeist curse and explaining it's power was terrifying to reveal. This sequel is almost just as good as it's predecessor. The family that escaped from their haunted suburban neighbourhood are now being chased again by the unquiet, restless spirits along with a demonic minister who are still after the youngest daughter of the family. The cast makes up for any flaws that come up in the horror film and everyone is still likeable and the 1980’s special effects keep it moving along and is also helped along the way with the psychic Tangina Barrons [Zelda Rubinstein] and an Indian Shaman [Will Sampson] who are determined to keep these underworld creatures from taking Carol Anne Freeling away. But of course with ‘POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE’ has an impossible task to live up to the previous two Poltergeist horror films but it makes a commendable effort to tell a compelling story. It does a good job in most departments but lacks heavily in others. It is well worth watching just to see the most terrifying portrayal of a preacher in a horror film. But one sad conclusion is that Heather O’Rourke was a very talented child actor and it is such a sad story that she would die so young. Now we come to the third and final chapter with the film ‘POLTERGEIST III’ It is very confusing, but it is one of those films that you need to know what the ending was really about? Okay, I'll just go over the things good and bad and ugly with the film. First, the good aspects of the film: None. No, actually I can think of a couple. Some of the F/X effects were well-thought out and some of the mirror scenes are quite creative. Also, the acting of 12-year old Heather O'Rourke failed to disappoint as she seemed to become better as she got older. Now, the bad aspect of the horror film: Let's just do a list, shall we? Overall, I can see why the film ‘POLTERGEIST III’ got negative reviews as it had a lot to live up to against the two previous Poltergeist films, even though they had a good cast, such as Heather O'Rourke, Lara Flynn Boyle, Nancy Allen and Tom Skerritt, again it has GREAT special effects, and has some very scary moments to boot. Another reason in my opinion why ‘POLTERGEIST III’ was the weaker film, we are not informed why Carol Ann Freeling is staying with her Aunt and Uncle? We are also not informed with the fact that how did The Priest aka The Devil Incarnate knows that Carol Ann Freeling was staying in that building? Also did the Studio think we were naïve or totally stupid not to notice that they had a different actor playing The Priest? Also the composer Joe Renzetti for ‘POLTERGEIST III’ is not a patch on the brilliant Jerry Goldsmith who did the music for the first two Poltergeist films. ‘POLTERGEIST III’ is certainly better than some of the 1980's nasty pointless "slasher" films, where too many sequels ruined the originals, and I honestly think that it rates up there as being a much more underrated horror film of its time, but it was a good idea the make the film ‘POLTERGEIST III’ the last one for the franchise and if they had done a fourth Poltergeist film, how would they explain the replacement for the actress Heather O'Rourke? So overall I am very honoured to have these three Poltergeist Blu-ray discs in my collection. Very Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
