Poltergeist
Parents say
Based on 56 reviews
Kids say
Based on 227 reviews
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Poltergeist
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that the classic '80s horror movie Poltergeist 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 who inhabits a tree. A girl is kidnapped and taken into a netherworld where she's out of reach from her family. Ancient burial grounds and skeletons are mentioned and seen. Mild swearing includes "s--t" and "son of a bitch," and adults are shown smoking marijuana and drinking beer.
Community Reviews
Very good for Halloween
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This movie is very good! (and a little bit scary)
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What's the Story?
Written and produced by Steven Spielberg, POLTERGEIST is an '80s horror classic and one of the great "haunted house" movies, as a family's "perfect" suburban home becomes the target of a ghostly invasion. Steven and Diane Freeling (Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams) and their three kids 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 Anne (Heather O'Rourke) is receiving messages from voices that speak to her through empty channels on their TV set. But Diane soon begins to see more physical evidence of a ghostly presence, one that moves things around the kitchen and scares the children during the day. The unseen beings grow more malevolent, inhabiting a tree that breaks a window and attacks the Freelings' son, Robbie (Oliver Robins). When the spirits take Carol Anne away, the Freelings call in a team of experts, including a psychic who holds the key to the other world.
Is It Any Good?
This 1980s story of a family assaulted by ghosts remains compelling and thrilling. Poltergeist's strong cast makes up for once top-of-the-line special effects that now look a bit dated.
The film works because the characters are so well written that we can't help but root for them and wish for their safety. And the writers don't abuse the fact that we've come to care about them: We're scared at the ordeals they face, but they all come through, saved by their love for one another.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes Poltergeist so scary. Are the effects -- the ghosts and other things that you see -- frightening? Are there any emotional moments that are equally scary?
Did you identify with any of the characters?
Did this movie remind you of moments in your childhood when you thought you weren't alone in your room at night?
Why do you think people sometimes like watching movies that frighten them?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 4, 1982
- On DVD or streaming: January 25, 2000
- Cast: Cindy Williams, Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams
- Director: Andrew Adamson
- Studio: Warner Bros.
- Genre: Horror
- Topics: Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 114 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Last updated: April 12, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
The Shining
Kubrick's suspenseful horror classic is violent and dark.
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The Others
Good but creepy; may be too intense for some.
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The Sixth Sense
Great, but sometimes scarier than R-rated horror.
For kids who love scares
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