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[tab title="Movie Review"]
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We all knew this wasn’t going to be good. The 2015 remake of the 1982 horror classic is for the most part, a waste of time. Unnecessary comes to mind. Back in the 1980s, Steven Spielberg was hot property and penned the original, and left the directing task up to Tobe Hooper. Hooper knew a thing or two about horror - his major claim to fame is the cult classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Another horror veteran produced this turkey, Sam Raimi, who also knows a thing or two about horror. Perhaps if he’d played a larger role in writing or directing it, the result may have been more positive.
It’s listed as a reimagining, but there’s no real reimagining here, just slight altering. Sam Rockwell’s family has moved to a new home after he’s laid off, whereas in the original they were living in the home for years. The visitors haunting quickly escalates in the remake, but in the original they begin a lot more playful by moving chairs in subtle ways and then gradually becoming hostile. The strangling clown doll, the living tree, and the skeletons in the ground are all paid huge disservices with poor “reimaginings” or nearly cut to a brief throwback scene. These three classic scenes from the original were iconic and closely associated with the film because of it.
Kennedi Clements tries her hardest to channel the late Heather O’Rourke into this version’s Carol Anne (renamed Maddie), but only succeeds in proving that lightning only strikes once for an iconic child role. O’Rourke was adorable, believable, and so innocent. Clements tries really hard to be all three, but comes off desperate. Instead of bastardizing the role of Tangina (wonderfully portrayed in the original by the quirky Zelda Rubinstein), it’s handed over to Jared Harris, who literally brings nothing to the table. He’s a decent actor with some great roles, but here he’s just present in the movie as an afterthought. His major contribution is bringing the rope to throw through the portal and to utter the classic line “This house is clean,” a dozen times for nostalgia purposes. Rubinstein’s more inviting in the original, sweet, awkward, but well meaning. Harris is blunt, weird, and painful.
It’s not without it’s merits though. Rockwell provides some much needed humor, most of it coming from his forced acting. One has to think that even he believes the film to be unnecessary. But he still delivers the best lines and provides the only real dramatic heft. Rosemary DeWitt is the real shocker here. In the past she’s been reliable but here she never quite passes as a mother of three. The relationship between Rockwell and DeWitt suffers no problems, but it’s obvious that Rockwell is the more likable in the scenario.
The major difference between the two versions is the remakes depiction of the other side of the portal through the use of a toy drone. It’s absurd, but the depiction is actually terrifying. Millions of arms and legs protruding from columns, with a ghostly membrane over the camera, gives off a wonderful image. It’s used sparingly, which is unfortunate because it’s the strongest point of the film and over far too quickly. Hooper’s version kept this portion minimal, to leave a sense of mystery. The 21st century doesn’t want mystery anymore in these types of films, we want to see the gritty details for the shock value. The remake gives a bigger taste, which is a nice addition to a rather bland reimagining.
Poltergeist 2015 doesn’t live up to it’s predecessor in any realm. It’s unscary, poorly acted, and despite it’s few achievements, is pretty boring to boot. If you’re into remakes, you can find a few better ones. The trend of remakes is certainly worn out it’s welcome, and any hope for this film is lost in its sad attempt at classifying itself as a “reimagining” when it’s anything but. Oh Raimi, you miserable buffoon, you can do better (see, The Evil Dead remake).
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[tab title="Film Details"]
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense frightening sequences, brief suggestive material, and some language
Runtime: 93 mins
Director: Gil Kenan
Writer: David Lindsay-Abaire
Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kennedi Clements
Genre: Horror
Tagline: They know what scares you.
Memorable Movie Quote: "They're here."
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Official Site: http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/poltergeist
Release Date: May 22, 2015
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: No details available.
Synopsis: Legendary filmmaker Sam Raimi (Spiderman, Evil Dead, The Grudge) and director Gil Kenan (Monster House) contemporize the classic tale about a family whose suburban home is haunted by evil forces. When the terrifying apparitions escalate their attacks and hold the youngest daughter captive, the family must come together to rescue her before she disappears forever.
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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]
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[tab title="Trailer"]
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