Review:
This review is part of writhaus’ coverage of the 1982 Film Fest at the Areo Theater in Santa Monica, Calif.
1982 was a banner year for genre cinema, seeing the releases of Blade Runner, Star Trek II, and the Steven Speilberg-produced Poltergeist. Released the same weekend as E.T., Poltergeist has earned its niche as a horror masterpiece.
Featuring the direction of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre‘s Tobe Hooper and starring Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams, and Heather O’Rourke, Poltergeist tells the story of the Freelings, a typical family living the American dream in the Los Angeles suburbs. One night, they awaken to what they think is an earthquake and daughter Carol Anne saying creepily, “They’re here…” What follows is still one of the scariest films of the past 30 years.
The entire production is amazing. The acting is spot on. You feel for the Freelings as they go through their haunting. The editing is perfect with nary a wasted scene, everything pushing you toward the dramatic climax. The pacing is ideal, with just the right amount of tension-relieving humor before the next scare arrives. John Williams’ score tingles, creeps, and frightens, perfectly managing the film’s atmosphere.
The print screened as part of American Cinemateque’s 1982 Film Fest was pristine. I can’t imagine it looking better in 1982. Even the effects, which by all accounts should be incredibly dated, stand up to modern scrutiny (with a tip of the hat to Ben Edlund, then of ILM). If the print used to create this fall’s DVD special editions is this good, we are all in for a treat come Halloween!