Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)
Studio: MGM/20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release: May 23rd, 1986
Blu Ray Release: September 13th, 2011
PG-13
Review by James Klein
Although this blu ray was released months prior as a Best Buy Exclusive, MGM has now released Poltergeist II: The Other Side nationwide. Fans of the smash hit sequel may already have this blu ray and can back me up in saying that Poltergeist II has never looked this good. I own the old Poltergeist II/III DVD and have been so used to television broadcasts and old VHS tapes that the film always looked overly grainy and cheap. Not the case here. In its widescreen format, Poltergeist II looks and sounds great. It's a shame though that the sequel doesn't hold a candle to the original.
Poltergeist II starts off just months after the Freeling family left their haunted house who are now broke and living with Diane's grandmother. While the family members try to evolve to their new living conditions (I really like the joke about refusing to own a T.V.) Carol Anne seems to have no memory of what happened months prior. She has been drawing pictures of a strange preacher man who seem to be haunting her which only Carol Anne's grandmother picks up on this. We also find out that Carol Anne may have telekinetic powers, which was later brought up more prominently in Poltergeist III. When the grandmother passes away suddenly, she calls Carol Anne on her toy phone to tell her that she is all right. It's dramatic scenes like this that reminds one of the original film and how Poltergeist wasn't just a horror movie with ghosts. However, Poltergeist II soon falls victim to that category during the middle of the second act.
When the preacher man shows up and is linked to the ghosts that were under their house, all hell literally breaks loose. Luckily for the Freeling family, they are still in contact with the psychic Tangina who hires for them an Indian by the name of Taylor who can protect the family from these supernatural forces. While we get some great scares such as Robbie's braces attacking him and Steven becoming possessed by a worm-like creature, the movie forgets what made the original so special which that given these strange circumstances, Poltergeist was still grounded in realism. By the third act, the film becomes laughable as the family journey's to the other side and fights creatures with magic spears. It becomes unintentionally funny and comes across as poor screenwriting as if the writers thought that by adding some great special effects (some which are now dated) the audience will hopefully forget the lame plot.
Much has been said about the "Poltergeist Curse" where many cast members have died either during the filming or right after (the character of the teenage daughter from the first film isn't even mentioned in the second film). The very thought of these cast members dying somehow makes Poltergeist II worth purchasing since these actors/actresses never went on to do much else. Will Sampson and Julian Beck (Taylor and The Preacher) are excellent and it's a shame that this is their swan song, although it does seem fitting. It's nice to see a still healthy Heather O'Rourke who looked so bloated and sick by the time she did Poltergeist III, her final film before her death.
Poltergeist II is a lot of fun and its a decent sequel until the second half where it becomes too hokey and silly. I still recommend this beautiful blu ray although aside from the trailer, the disc has nothing else going for it in the special features department. The movie though has never looked or sounded this good and fans will be pleased with this transfer.
Theatrical Release: May 23rd, 1986
Blu Ray Release: September 13th, 2011
PG-13
Review by James Klein
Although this blu ray was released months prior as a Best Buy Exclusive, MGM has now released Poltergeist II: The Other Side nationwide. Fans of the smash hit sequel may already have this blu ray and can back me up in saying that Poltergeist II has never looked this good. I own the old Poltergeist II/III DVD and have been so used to television broadcasts and old VHS tapes that the film always looked overly grainy and cheap. Not the case here. In its widescreen format, Poltergeist II looks and sounds great. It's a shame though that the sequel doesn't hold a candle to the original.
Poltergeist II starts off just months after the Freeling family left their haunted house who are now broke and living with Diane's grandmother. While the family members try to evolve to their new living conditions (I really like the joke about refusing to own a T.V.) Carol Anne seems to have no memory of what happened months prior. She has been drawing pictures of a strange preacher man who seem to be haunting her which only Carol Anne's grandmother picks up on this. We also find out that Carol Anne may have telekinetic powers, which was later brought up more prominently in Poltergeist III. When the grandmother passes away suddenly, she calls Carol Anne on her toy phone to tell her that she is all right. It's dramatic scenes like this that reminds one of the original film and how Poltergeist wasn't just a horror movie with ghosts. However, Poltergeist II soon falls victim to that category during the middle of the second act.
When the preacher man shows up and is linked to the ghosts that were under their house, all hell literally breaks loose. Luckily for the Freeling family, they are still in contact with the psychic Tangina who hires for them an Indian by the name of Taylor who can protect the family from these supernatural forces. While we get some great scares such as Robbie's braces attacking him and Steven becoming possessed by a worm-like creature, the movie forgets what made the original so special which that given these strange circumstances, Poltergeist was still grounded in realism. By the third act, the film becomes laughable as the family journey's to the other side and fights creatures with magic spears. It becomes unintentionally funny and comes across as poor screenwriting as if the writers thought that by adding some great special effects (some which are now dated) the audience will hopefully forget the lame plot.
Much has been said about the "Poltergeist Curse" where many cast members have died either during the filming or right after (the character of the teenage daughter from the first film isn't even mentioned in the second film). The very thought of these cast members dying somehow makes Poltergeist II worth purchasing since these actors/actresses never went on to do much else. Will Sampson and Julian Beck (Taylor and The Preacher) are excellent and it's a shame that this is their swan song, although it does seem fitting. It's nice to see a still healthy Heather O'Rourke who looked so bloated and sick by the time she did Poltergeist III, her final film before her death.
Poltergeist II is a lot of fun and its a decent sequel until the second half where it becomes too hokey and silly. I still recommend this beautiful blu ray although aside from the trailer, the disc has nothing else going for it in the special features department. The movie though has never looked or sounded this good and fans will be pleased with this transfer.
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