Poltergeist III is a 1988 American supernatural horror film. It is the third and final entry in the Poltergeist film series. Writers Michael Grais and Mark Victor, who wrote the screenplay for the first two films, did not return for this second sequel; it was co-written, executive produced and directed by Gary Sherman (Death Line aka Raw Meat; Phobia (story only); Dead & Buried), and, after a troubled production and re-shoots, was released on June 10, 1988, by MGM.
The film was panned by critics, and was a box office disappointment. Sherman has said that although he is proud of portions of the movie (particularly the creative use of mechanical “in camera” effects instead of the traditional optical effects often seen in movies of that genre), it is the least favorite of his films.
Heather O’Rourke and Zelda Rubinstein were the only original cast members to return. O’Rourke died four months before the film was released and before post-production could be completed. It was dedicated to her memory.
Plot teaser:
The Freeling family has sent Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke) to live with Diane’s sister Pat (Nancy Allen) and her husband Bruce Gardner (Tom Skerritt). Pat and Bruce are unaware of the events of the first two films, just noting that Steven was involved in a bad land deal. Along with Donna (Lara Flynn Boyle), Bruce’s daughter from a previous marriage, they live in the luxury skyscraper of which Bruce is the manager.
Carol Anne has been made to discuss her experiences from the first and second films by her teacher/psychiatrist, Dr. Seaton (Richard Fire). Seaton believes her to be delusional; however, the constant discussion has enabled Rev. Henry Kane (Nathan Davis) to locate Carol Anne and bring him back from the limbo he was sent into at the end of the second film. Not believing in ghosts, Dr. Seaton has come to the conclusion that Carol Anne is a manipulative child with the ability to create mass hysteria and to perform mass hypnosis, making people believe they were attacked by ghosts. Also during this period, Tangina Barrons (Zelda Rubinstein) realizes that Kane has found Carol Anne and travels cross-country to protect her…
Reviews:
“Sherman’s sensible approach to the material was to eschew the ILM overload that marked the series up to that point and opt for (much cheaper) in-camera optical effects and low-tech illusionry. At its best, Poltergeist III recalls that surreal mix of DIY ingenuity and narrative ineptitude that mark some of Lucio Fulci’s lesser efforts. At its worst, well, it’s just another soulless, hacky-tacky horror sequel.” Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
“A low-budget sequel which tries, and fails, to make a virtue out of adversity by substituting cheap mechanical effects for the expensive light and magic of Parts I and II … A couple of choice moments cannot compensate for a threadbare scenario bereft of attention-grabbing visual effects.” Nigel Floyd, Time Out
“Poltergeist III is not as bad as people would have you believe. The storyline is more cohesive than Poltergeist II but it never reaches the heights of the original movie. It’s eerie to watch the movie knowing that O’Rourke was seriously ill whilst making it and the fact she died before it was released makes it even more difficult to watch in places. Poltergeist III is a good little horror that works well as a standalone movie and as a final chapter to the much-loved horror trilogy.” Pip Ellwood, Entertainment Focus
Cast:
- Tom Skerritt as Bruce Gardner
- Nancy Allen as Pat Gardner
- Heather O’Rourke as Carol Anne Freeling
- Zelda Rubinstein as Tangina Barrons
- Lara Flynn Boyle as Donna Gardner
- Richard Fire as Dr. Seaton
- Nathan Davis as Reverend Henry Kane
- Kipley Wentz as Scott
