Poltergeist (PG, 1982)

common sense media says

One of the all-time great haunted house movies.


parents & educators say
  • 29% say violence is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie touches on many things that are frightening to kids (and some adults), including scary shadows in the dark, monsters in the closet, and separation from family. A character rips the flesh from his face (though eventually we see he's hallucinating). A young boy is attacked by a ghost-inhabited tree. A girl is taken from her parents and held in a netherworld where she's menaced by a character it's intimated is evil. The parents are seen smoking marijuana, and are apparently regular users.

Positive messages: Despite frightening ghostly activity, the dedication the parents show to saving their children still stands out as positive.
Positive role models: The children are brave and the parents committed to saving their family.
Violence: A character rips the flesh from his face (though eventually we see that he's hallucinating). A young boy is attacked by a ghost-inhabited tree. Near-constant sense of fear and peril.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Mild swearing.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: The parents are seen smoking marijuana and are apparently regular users.

More on Poltergeist

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about what makes this movie so scary. Are the effects, the ghosts and other things that you see, that are so frightening? Or is the situations?
  • Did you identify with the little girl who was taken away? What about the little boy attacked by a tree?
  • Did this movie make you think of the times when you were little that you thought there were monsters in the closet or under the bed?
  • Why do people like watching movies that frighten them?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Written and produced by Steven Spielberg, POLTERGEIST 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. They don't notice at first that 5-year-old daughter Carol Ann is receiving messages from voices that speak to her through empty channels on the television set. But Diane soon begins to see more physical evidence of a ghostly presence, one that moves things around the kitchen. The unseen beings grow more malevolent, inhabiting a tree that attacks son Robbie. And when they take Carol Ann away, the Freelings call in a team of experts, including a diminutive psychic who holds the key to the other world.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The story of a family assaulted by ghosts is still compelling. Well-written characters played by a strong cast make up for once top-of-the-line special effects that now look a bit cheesy. Kids raised on movies of the '90s, with their seemingly limitless digital effects, probably won't be too terrified by the ghosties on display here, which look dated by comparison.

But the most frightening parts of the movie 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 OK, saved by their love for one another.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Andrew Adamson
Cast: Cindy Williams, Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams
Genre: Horror
Run time: 114 minutes
Theatrical release: June 4, 1982
DVD release: January 25, 2000
MPAA Rating: PG

This review was written by M. Faust
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12
Based on 28 parent & educator reviews:
  • 29% say violence is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

angel6757
teen, 14 years old
 
ok movie but brillent acting by Heather
This movie was ok but not really all that scary im not sure y common sense gave this 5 stars. But Heather o' Rorke definetly deserved 5 stars for her brilient acting. Heather is the girl on the cover she was born in 1975 and died in 1988 when she was 12 due to her intestintes exploding and being very sick. The movie was ok overall especailly for the time it was made in. And again great acting heather! We all miss u!

rebekahLol
teen, 13 years old
 
Ok
People say this is "scary" but in my opinion, not at all. sure maybe for younger kids, but to tell u the truth, it really isnt. most special affects r cheesy, but i hav 2 say its an inbetween ok & pretty good movie.

Plague
parent
 
Poltergeist
A glorious horror. Mildly frightening.

Jaysnake
teen, 16 years old
 
I wouldn't watch it again
Okay I thought this movie was going to be good but when I saw it I was really dissapointed. The graphics were silly and there was nothing scary about this movie. The only part that was memorable was when the man tears the flesh off of his face.

TheSuperman765
teen, 16 years old
 
second to best horror movie ever, frst is insidious and paranormal activity
this movie touches on many things that are frightening to kids (and some adults), including scary shadows in the dark, monsters in the closet, and separation from family. A character rips the flesh from his face (though eventually we see he's hallucinating). A young boy is attacked by a ghost-inhabited tree. A girl is taken from her parents and held in a netherworld where she's menaced by a character it's intimated is evil. The parents are seen smoking marijuana, and are apparently regular users.

 
gross and boring
This movie is just dull. It lacks any good scares at all and is too predictable.

MoviesAreForMe
teen, 14 years old
 
Probably Should Have Been Rated PG-13 If It Was Made Today.
I saw this movie with my dad when I was 11. Yes, it was scary, but 80s kind of scary, when you know its fake. The only part that actually made me jump, was the clown at the end. The only part that freaked me out was when that man started peeling his face off. Some parts I even laughed at because they were so 80s. The parents would often swear and smoke marijuana, but a lot of people did at that time. The mother often takes a swig of an alcoholic drink when she is frightened. Don't let kids see this just because it was rated PG in the 80s, it probably should have been rated PG-13 if it was made around now. I love scary movies, so when I was 11, I wasn't really that scared. So most 11-year-olds probably would be terrified.

pg13rnc17
teen, 14 years old
 
good
awsome movie

doper
parent of 13 year old
 

Chrissy 505
teen, 15 years old
 
Why 13?
im 11 and i watched it heck you could be 9 and not get scared the effects were like those of ghost busters still a great movie watch it late at night though that's when it is funnest to watch

Abbyrae11256
kid, 13 years old
 
Love it or Hate it
Well the movie is good but see if you do not like scary movies then do not watch it. I love horror films so I loved it. My only concern is the smoking and drinking.

 
A Classic Mild 80s Horror Film
I'll confess that this movie scared me to death as a kid (I'm 30 years old if that helps). This movie didn't even phase my 6 and 9 year old. Having said that, some kids are more sensitive to scary images than others. The technology used to make this film is low by comparison of what we see today, so your kids will likely find this movie a little bit cheesy. There is ONE scene in the bedroom in which the parents are smoking dope and then quickly straighten up to attend to one of the kids who is scared of a thunderstorm. But unless your kids are wise to that, they won't even know what it is or really even notice it. As far as language goes, it's an 80s PG movie in which the language standards were different than what they are today. You'll hear s--- and a--- and a few others (no f-bombs are dropped). The parents demonstrate good parenting skills in not leaving anybody behind, sticking together as a family when faced with adversity, and their undying devotion to get their youngest daughter back. Is the movie violent? No. Are there some scenes that will scare some young children? Yes. Watch it first and then you decide.

myab
parent
 
More PG-13 Than PG, Scary For Most Young Teens, But Still Good Messages
I'd say this movie is more PG-13 than PG. There is true scary violence (done by unseen forces, not person to person), including scenes where braces wrap around a child's face, a tree tries to eat a child, and everyone involved is put in some sort of emanate physical danger. While the special effects were done in the 80's, and some scenes aren't as realistic as they would be today, they are still cringe and sometimes scream inducing. However, the good messages conveyed throughout the movie are solid holding points. The parents don't leave any of their children behind, and in fact go to great lengths to protect and rescue them. The children rely on their parents, and the family works as a cohesive unit to survive the situation they are in. Ultimately, I'd say most mature 13 yr olds can handle this movie, with parental guidance. Any younger is much too iffy.

 
Scary!
What are you thinking common sense?! This movie is for mature teens!

Poefan
adult
 
Great horror film!
An awesome ghost movie that is very intense and contains one particularly gruesome scene.Do not be fooled by the PG rating, it's not for kids. Also, there is a scene of drug use. Unlike today's horror films, this movie does not rely on cheap scares to keep the audience interested, it is a genuinely scary movie. However, this movie is awesome and everyone should watch this great movie.

KIdX13
teen, 16 years old
 
Spectacular haunted house movie is not for the faint of heart
First thing.... I LOVE STEVEN SPIELBERG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a fantastic movie about a simple haunted house, i won't try to explain the plot because it's too complicated, but it dose have some issues: 1. little actual violince, scary ghosts and skeletons, a man rips his own face of but if you could handle the face melting scene at the end of raiders of the lost ark, you should be ok. 2. mild language incluing Bas--rd, D--n, one use of "the finger". 3. the mom briefly smokes marjuina. So this is an awsome haunted house movie for teens 13 and up......if you think your brave enough.....MWAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

movie_time_x3
kid, 13 years old
 
teens
its for kids but i think its best put out for teens

Jadenp
teen, 15 years old
 
Suggested MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense horror sequences throughout, some violence, disturbing images, language, and drug use.

 
Wonderful movie... but not scary
This is one of my favorite movies ever; even though the special-effects are horrible. Which makes me ask myself why the heck does this movie scare you? After I thought about it for a bit I realized that it scared me mostly because of the doll the boy is scared of that comes to life (it's not scary but it just disturbs me), and what happens to that family because my family thinks our house is a little bit haunted. But anyway great movie!!!!! See it see it see it!

hhd77
teen, 16 years old
 
Perfect For All Ages
Watch!!

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