The horror classic (which spawned a couple not-so-classic sequels) directed by Mr. Tobe "TCM" Hooper and produced by Mr. Steven "11 of the Top 10 Movies of All Time" Spielberg, and starring Mr. Craig "the 'T' stands for 'Tough to get a paying job'" Nelson as Steve the father. It all opens with young Carol Anne as she has a conversation with the static on her TV and her family gathers around to gawk. Mom and Dad think that Carol Anne's just sleepwalking or something, until one night she does it and ghosts come out of the set, the house quakes, and Carol Anne says the now famous "they're heeeeeeeeeeeeere". Soon enough, silverware is bending, glasses are breaking, and chairs start stacking themselves on tables as Steve and Diane try to figure out just what the fuck is going on!... and Carol Anne's STILL staring at the static. To add to the madness, now a tree swipes Robbie (the brother) from his bed as a tornado rages nearby and Carol Anne gets sucked into a void in the closet!... meanwhile, a toy robot laughs... these ghosts play rough! Now with Carol Anne stuck in their TV, the 'rents bring in a team of ghost hunters (hunters, not busters) who don't think the place is haunted, it's just getting a little visit from some lazy-ass squatter of a POLTERGEIST which could leave at anytime. It starts off as playful stuff like moving furniture, blinking lights, etc., but then escalates to bizarre hallucinations and ghostly figures descending the stairs. Robbie gets sent to Grandma's house (good way to drop an annoying character for a little while, while keeping the censors off your ass) and John finds out that his house is built on an ex-Indian burial ground (they moved the headstones, NOT the bodies!)... yep, the spooks are pissed-off Injuns. For back up, the investigators bring in a weird little old hag named Tangina... honestly I'd prefer Bill Murray with a proton gun, but then again, his prices are a little high for personal appearances. Tangina finds out for us that the ghosties who nabbed Carol Anne took her as a remembrance of their happiness they had in life. Grabbing a toe line, Diane jumps into the closet and the two come out (ew, a mother/daughter homosexuality thing) covered in slime and Steve comes face-to-protoplasm with a big screaming skull! The family moves out in a panic, but stay in the house one last night while their stuff is shipped out and like Universal Law says: "Shit happens"! Robbie (who returned from Granny's) gets dragged under his bed by a big evil clown doll, Diane is dragged along the walls and ceiling NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET style before swimming with corpi! They run out of the house, barely escaping a throbbing tunnel when Steve shows up to take 'em away as the house implodes. They spend the rest of the night at the Holiday Inn... after throwing out the TV. Not too bad, I'd have to say it's one of the better "haunted house" flicks. It's fun to see Hooper work his twisted magic on the typical American family! People bitch because this flick's too cutesy, but I think Tobe maybe wanted it that way! Heightens the cerebral aspects. Anywayz, remember kids, cemeteries may be a good source for cheap housing, but remember to remove the bodies first... they're full of protein!

Sequels: POLTERGEIST II, POLTERGEIST III

If You Liked This Flick, Check Out: HOUSE or AMITYVILLE DOLLHOUSE