Every year there always seems to be some unnecessary remake that Hollywood feels must be done. This time it’s the newest version of Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg’s 1982 film, Poltergeist. This edition is directed by Gil Kenan (Monster House, City of Ember), and written by David Lindsay-Abaire. What could have been a very standard remake with no creativity, here, is given some love and respect to one of the best suspense films of the 80s. This new Poltergeist isn’t better than the original, but is a fun watch for fans.
The plot is basically the same: A family whose suburban home is invaded by angry spirits. When the terrifying apparitions escalate their attacks inside the house and take the family’s youngest daughter, the family must come together to rescue her. Same formula, and, unlike other remakes, the plot wasn’t broken so they don’t try and fix it. That could be said for the overall concept of remakes in general, but if someone is going to make the attempt, let it be done with respect to the original, as it is done here. It’s quite obvious that the filmmakers had deep admiration of the 1982 film, because they really kept a lot of the good stuff, and made several references honoring the past franchise.
Here, we follow Eric and Amy Bowen and their kids, Kendra, Griffin, and Maddy. The family is a little down on their luck due to Eric being laid off, so they must downsize and move into a cheaper neighborhood. From the moment they step inside the house, odd things start happening. Not much waiting for the movie to get going. By minute 10, the crazy starts. In this version a lot of attention is focused on Griffin, the middle child of the family. Played remarkably well by Kyle Catlett, he sees and feels things are weird right away, but, like in most movies, nobody listens to him. He really is the lead character in the movie. He feels responsible for Maddy and doesn’t want to let her down as her big brother. He’s, by far, the most interesting character in the movie, so it’s no wonder we spend much more time with him. A great actor that interacts well with the cast in all his scenes.
Throughout the course of the film we learn that the lower income housing the Bowen’s moved to had once been a graveyard. As the parents are getting plot information at a dinner party, the kids at home are finding out just how messed up the house really is. This is where the homage to the original film really comes into play: The tree outside the window, the clown, the bodies in the dirt, and of course, the closet. Once Eric and Amy return home to find Maddy has been taken, they must find outside help because they know calling the police would be useless.
Enter Dr. Brooke Powell, played by Jane Adams. She believes the Bowens and will stop at nothing to help them get their daughter back. She calls in a colleague of hers, Carrigan Burke, played by the always awesome, Jared Harris. Burke is a TV Ghost Hunter, but will help out families when really big problems occur. Once he is brought into the house to explain what a poltergeist is, the movie ramps up. The paranormal investigators have a few scares here and there as Burke gets ready to make contact with the pissed off spirits who want Maddy to lead them into the light. At this point everything really stays the same as the original film. Some small new things here and there, but the majority of this ending has the same outcome.
What works well in the flick is the cast. Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt are simply a pleasure to watch in the movie. They have great chemistry and really do justice to the original. Who else is quite amazing is newcomer, Kennedi Clements as Maddy, our new Carol-Ann. As a child actor, she seems quite accomplished for what the filmmakers have her doing in the film. And, she does it so well it would seem she has been acting for years.
The special effects are, of course, updated and they look good. The unfortunate thing about updating special effects is that they may look better, but let’s never forget the amazing practical effects that came before we relied on CG. Some of the best effects are just getting some of the toys to move on their own, which is practical and CG, a nice mix of both. The creepiest part in the film would be the clown, and the filmmakers manage to use old-school scare techniques, but use them in a new way, for that added jump.
The movie isn’t that scary at all. The poster of the clown is about the most frightening thing the movie has to offer. If you remember, the original makes use of subtle scares. You’re looking at the left hand, but you have no idea what the right hand might be doing, until it grabs you. The new one keeps to that idea. Most of the scares are jump scares, or things you didn’t notice until it’s too late. No gore or massive amounts of blood. It is nice to let one’s imagination go to horrific places rather than showing you. Lesser filmmakers would have made this remake a blood bath, but here, we get all, quiet, subtle scares. Sometimes those are the best. They’re the ones you think of at night when you can’t sleep.
The only flaw in the movie is that there are no major stakes at play. The remake is very paint by numbers; once they get Maddy back, the spirits come again to get her right away. Where, in the original, we get a few beats of relaxation, forcing us into a false sense of security. That’s due mostly to the fact that this movie is only 90 minutes long. Not much time to breathe. The filmmakers get you right into the drama from the moment the movie starts. If that’s good or bad, is really up to you, but sometimes it’s nice to relax and get to know the characters. But, because it’s a remake, we already know what’s going to happen. So, lets get to the good stuff!
Overall the movie is fun, and a nice homage to one of the best movies of the 80s. Is it better? Not at all. Did it need to be made? No. But, if you’re going to sit through a remake, let it be one like this, where much respect and love is given to make it newer and updated, rather than forcing the audience to watch the same thing, but with different actors. This film has some good moments, wonderful acting, and gives you some nice scares. The best thing is it never once takes away from your enjoyment of the original. If anything, it helps you appreciate it more.