They're back...Yes, horror fans the poltergeists are back to torment the Freeling family once again. After a few years of bad financial luck and living with Gramma Jess (Geraldine Fitzgerald) the Freelings endure more sad news. Gramma Jess passes away opening a doorway for the poltergeists to come back through.
"God is in his holy temple..." Who can forget that haunting song sung by a skeleton-like apparition of Reverend Kane* (Julian Beck). He has come back in
Poltergeist II to reclaim his "angel" to lead him and his followers to the light.
Unwilling to part with Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke) a second time, the Freelings enlist the help of Tangina (Zelda Rubenstein) and Taylor (Will Sampson) to fight the evil forces of Kane and his followers. Adding much insight to the first
Poltergeist, most of the sequel was really well done. We learn the basis of the horrible haunting that took place at the Freelings' original home in Cuesta Verde. I always wondered why no one else in the community suffered the same fate as the Freelings seeing as all of the houses were built on the same "hallowed ground".
As interesting as the explanation was, the finale was just as equally uninspired. I am not sure if it was improper editing or just the fizzling out of the storyline, but the ending just didn't work for me. This is not to say that the entire movie didn't work, the special effects were great. I loved both the attack of the braces scene and the tequila worm gone bad scene. Jerry Goldsmith also comes back for another haunting soundtrack. And the acting was pretty good too, everyone who came back for this film really played their parts well. (Unfortunately we were missing Dominique Dunn as she was murdered by her boyfriend shortly after the filming of Poltergeist) The addition of Taylor and Kane really worked as well. However, I think something was lost in all the editing of this film.
Definitely watch
Poltergeist II: The Other Side and
Poltergeist III. Make a night of it, watch all three! They are entertaining, scary films. But as with most film franchises, the first is the best and they go just a little downhill from there. Luckily with Poltergeist, they don't spiral down quite so quickly as most, so all three films are at the very least enjoyable.
{*...and the Poltergeist curse continued as Kane, played by Julian Beck succumbed to stomach cancer shortly after filming Poltergeist II: The Other Side.}
Buy the Poltergeist II DVD from Amazon.com.
Poltergeist II Movie Cast and Credits
Directed by
Brian Gibson
Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Grais
Mark Victor
Cast (in credits order)
JoBeth Williams .... Diane Freeling
Craig T. Nelson .... Steve Freeling
Heather O'Rourke .... Carol Anne Freeling
Oliver Robins .... Robbie Freeling
Zelda Rubinstein .... Tangina Barrons
Will Sampson .... Taylor
Julian Beck .... Kane
Geraldine Fitzgerald .... Jessica 'Gramma Jess' Wilson
John P. Whitecloud .... Old Indian
Noble Craig .... Vomit Creature
Susan Peretz .... Daughter
Helen Boll .... Mother
Kelly Jean Peters .... Young Jess
Jaclyn Bernstein .... Young Diane
Robert Lesser .... Kane's People
Jamie Abbott .... Kane's People
Ann Louise Bardach .... Kane's People
Syd Beard .... Kane's People
David Beaman .... Kane's People
Hayley Taylor-Block .... Kane's People
Pamela Gordon .... Kane's People
Chelsea Hertford .... Kane's People
Whit Hertford .... Kane's People (as Whitby Hertford)
Rocky Krakoff .... Kane's People
Carrie Lorraine .... Kane's People
Kathy Wagner .... Kane's People
Bill Schroeder .... Kane's PeopleMove Poltergeist II Movie Reviews and Information
Poltergeist II Movie Review from Timeout FilmThe Internet Movie Database Movie Page for Poltergeist II
