Opened: June 4, 1982

Directed by: Tobe Hooper

Starring: JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Dominique Dunne, Oliver Robins, Heather O’Rourke, Zelda Rubinstein, Beatrice Straight, Richard Lawson, Martin Casella, James Karen, Michael McManus & Virginia Kiser

With a story and part of the script written by Steven Spielberg, Poltergeist manages to be both a lasting supernatural horror film and a well-written family drama.

In a California suburb, the home life of the Freeling family is seemingly normal. One night during a thunderstorm, Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke) comes into contact with spirits and later disappears. The family brings in the help of supernatural experts to have Carol Anne return unharmed.

The special effects in the film hold up well and there are still many moments that are quite chilling even by today’s horror standards. And just when you think the horror is done, there’s more to come.

What’s nice about the film though is you feel a genuine connection to the family and their grief about losing their daughter/sister.

Final say: No jokes here. ★★★★☆