NEW Poltergeist delivers more laughs than scares

News that the original 1982 Poltergeist, directed, co-written and produced by Steven Spielberg, would be remade was met with disdain by fans especially since 90s kids like myself had a nostalgic link to the original.  The original was that quirky horror movie that was on every other Saturday morning on local television that delivered genuine scares while managing to remain child-friendly. 

Most fans felt that a remake was entirely unnecessary especially since the 1982 version is still fondly remembered and broadcast regularly on cable television.  What is more puzzling about the choice of a remake is the fact that the 1982 movie has a notorious reputation for being a 'cursed film'.  A quick search will turn up hundreds of articles about the sudden and horrific deaths of some of the actors and even crew members of the original including the tragic death of its young heroine, Heather O'Rourke.  Even the actress who played her older sister in the original was horribly murdered by her boyfriend in her own home.  One has to wonder how the stars of the re-make felt about the tragic deaths of their predecessors.  Despite the ominous reputation of the original, the studio went full speed ahead with a remake that does not improve on the original but may provide some fun for moviegoers who are new to the Poltergeist franchise.  Here are 5 Reasons the new film delivers more comedy than fright:

5.  Uninspired repeat of the original storyline

One aspect of the film which I particularly disliked was the fact that it quite deliberately repeats the plot of the original without any new depth or twists.  In fact if you have seen the original there is really no point in catching the remake.  All the key plot scenarios remain the same including the fact that the family moves into a new neighborhood which was built on a former graveyard.  There is this particularly unnecessary scene where the parents are at a dinner and their friends expound on the rumors of the homes being haunted because while the gravestones were removed, the bodies remained.  The film utilizes a lot of time to simply regurgitate every major plot device from the 1982 version.  If you are a fan of the original looking for any plot expansion into the Poltergeist mythos, you will be severely disappointed.

4. New characters are funny but add nothing new 

While most of characters are repeated, including the entire family (albeit with altered names), the filmmakers have replaced the paranormal investigators from the original with a nerdy Supernatural Investigator and a Reality TV star who investigates haunted homes.  While there are a few hilarious moments due to the new characters' quirky and dysfunctional romance, ultimately they seem dull compared to the intense performances in the original.  Their presence adds nothing new to the recycled plot.

 

3. Visual Effects are tolerable

While in 1982 visual effects still had a long way to go, the original Poltergeist had visuals some fans may deem endearing including the claw-like hand which terrifyingly emerges from the television. The 2015 version of course offers improved effects including a snake-like Willow tree that attempts to petrify the young son as well as a barrage of  the undead that appears at the climax.  While the visuals are better than the original, the lifeless acting, routine story-line and overall dull feel of the film outweigh the big budget visuals.

 

2. Horror fans may be bored

Long-time fans of horror films will immediately see through the film's attempt to simply update classic scare tactics.  Apart from repeating most of what we already saw in 1982, the filmmakers do attempt to infuse small new elements from the reality television 'found footage' genre.  The paranormal investigators use a camera strapped to a drone in an attempt to rescue the kidnapped younger daughter and we actually see the Poltergeist 'nest'.  Unfortunately, if you have been watching horror films from early 2000s this will seem all too familiar and most horror movie fans may be bored by the tired plot devices.

 

1. Performances lack enthusiasm

Many terrible films have been saved by the inspired performances of the title characters.  The opposite happens in this updated Poltergeist film.  The original benefited from veteran actors like Craig T. Nelson and a stunning performance by the late Heather O'Rourke; the 2015 version seems particularly dull due to the minimalistic performances of the new cast.  Most of the actors you will probably recognize as supporting characters in other films and there are moments in which they deliver genuinely funny dialogue.  However, the overall lack of excitement and realism gives the film more of a Lifetime Television quality rather than the high caliber of a feature film.

Indeed, it is hard to recommend this film especially to anyone who enjoyed the fantastic 1982 original version. One redeeming quality is the fact that the writers attempted more humor than we saw in the original.  The film actually never takes itself seriously which may make it tolerable to casual moviegoers.  However, for veteran fans of truly frightening horror films this new Poltergeist may be deemed as the most unnecessary and uninspired remake of 2015.