Poltergeist (2015)
The Evil Dead director Sam Raimi presents a modern take on the 1982 suburban frightfest Poltergeist, with Gil Kenan (Monster House) directing. Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt star as the Bowens, a couple whose youngest daughter is abducted by terrifying apparitions.
- Director:
- Gil Kenan ('Monster House', 'City of Ember')
- Cast:
- Sam RockwellRosemarie DeWittJared HarrisJane AdamsNicholas BraunSaxon SharbinoKyle CatlettKennedi Clements
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Dominic Corry
flicksA remake of the Steven Spielberg-produced domestic horror classic from 1982 could quite reasonably have suffered from a case of the 'John Carters'. Which is to say, it's based on source material that has been so influential, any new adaptation would undoubtedly be cursed by a sense of over familiarity.
What poltergeist?
This movie started out with the right stuff, a family moving into a new home, the youngest daughter having conversations with someone or something no one else can see and hand prints appearing on the other side of the TV screen. There were a few moments of terror for the audience.... BUT then it just gets silly and because of this the terror immediately...
Poltergeist
I've never seen the original 1982 Poltergeist, but this is just plain terrible. The Bowen family (Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Saxon Sharbino, Kyle Catlett and Kennedi Clements) move into a suburban home that turns out to be haunted by evil spirits. Why does almost every new horror movie released have to be so dumb and boring? First of all, it's not...
Variety
pressAn act of homage that hews reverently to its source material while missing the essential spirit and vitality that once powered it.
Total Film
pressVery tame, but saved from the remake scrapheap by Sam Rockwell's surprisingly touching performance and a final reel that - briefly - takes the material somewhere new.
Time Out
pressThis has more in common with slick, audience-goosing modern spookers like 'Insidious' than with Hooper & Spielberg's imaginative original.
The Telegraph
pressIt’s a scare machine, and in this respect Kenan’s is the more efficient telling...
The Guardian
pressIt’s a shame Kenan can’t muster his own bit of gothic shorthand for post-credit crunch America, but the film still has a fluid, 3D-orientated immediacy.
Hollywood Reporter
pressNot only delivers on the promise of Hooper's Poltergeist, but significantly raises the stakes for similar PG-13 fare.
Empire Magazine
pressA disappointingly tame and unimaginative effort, which throws away much of what was best-loved about the original and fails to find worthy replacements.
Flicks, Dominic Corry
flicksA remake of the Steven Spielberg-produced domestic horror classic from 1982 could quite reasonably have suffered from a case of the 'John Carters'. Which is to say, it's based on source material that has been so influential, any new adaptation would undoubtedly be cursed by a sense of over familiarity.
Variety
pressAn act of homage that hews reverently to its source material while missing the essential spirit and vitality that once powered it.
Total Film
pressVery tame, but saved from the remake scrapheap by Sam Rockwell's surprisingly touching performance and a final reel that - briefly - takes the material somewhere new.
Time Out
pressThis has more in common with slick, audience-goosing modern spookers like 'Insidious' than with Hooper & Spielberg's imaginative original.
The Telegraph
pressIt’s a scare machine, and in this respect Kenan’s is the more efficient telling...
The Guardian
pressIt’s a shame Kenan can’t muster his own bit of gothic shorthand for post-credit crunch America, but the film still has a fluid, 3D-orientated immediacy.
Hollywood Reporter
pressNot only delivers on the promise of Hooper's Poltergeist, but significantly raises the stakes for similar PG-13 fare.
Empire Magazine
pressA disappointingly tame and unimaginative effort, which throws away much of what was best-loved about the original and fails to find worthy replacements.
What poltergeist?
This movie started out with the right stuff, a family moving into a new home, the youngest daughter having conversations with someone or something no one else can see and hand prints appearing on the other side of the TV screen. There were a few moments of terror for the audience.... BUT then it just gets silly and because of this the terror immediately...
Poltergeist
I've never seen the original 1982 Poltergeist, but this is just plain terrible. The Bowen family (Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Saxon Sharbino, Kyle Catlett and Kennedi Clements) move into a suburban home that turns out to be haunted by evil spirits. Why does almost every new horror movie released have to be so dumb and boring? First of all, it's not...
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