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Poltergeist

Poltergeist

Horror · 1982

The Freelings' suburban home becomes the center of paranormal activity that opens a portal to the 'other side'. With help, they must cross over to get their daughter back.

Movie details

Poltergeist

“"They're here."”

1982 Horror 1h 54m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

The Freelings' suburban home becomes the center of paranormal activity that opens a portal to the 'other side'. With help, they must cross over to get their daughter back.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Poltergeist?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Tobe Hooper

Written by

Steven Spielberg · Michael Grais · Mark Victor

JoBeth Williams

JoBeth Williams

Diane Freeling

Craig T. Nelson

Craig T. Nelson

Steve Freeling

Beatrice Straight

Beatrice Straight

Dr. Lesh

Dominique Dunne

Dominique Dunne

Dana Freeling

Heather O'Rourke

Heather O'Rourke

Carol Anne Freeling

Oliver Robins

Oliver Robins

Robbie Freeling

Zelda Rubinstein

Zelda Rubinstein

Tangina Barrons

Court is in session

Put Poltergeist on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Arthouse Gremlin

“Its refusal to behave is the point.”

The strange choices create the kind of friction that follows you out of the theatre and into the argument.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Oddness is not depth.”

A film can break every rule and still leave nothing behind but the memory of how hard it tried to be singular.