| Photos (see all 55 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 5) |
| Craig T. Nelson | ... | Steve Freeling | |
| JoBeth Williams | ... | Diane Freeling (as Jobeth Williams) | |
| Beatrice Straight | ... | Dr. Lesh | |
| Dominique Dunne | ... | Dana Freeling | |
| Oliver Robins | ... | Robbie Freeling | |
| Heather O'Rourke | ... | Carol Anne Freeling | |
| Michael McManus | ... | Ben Tuthill | |
| Virginia Kiser | ... | Mrs. Tuthill | |
| Martin Casella | ... | Marty (as Marty Casella) | |
| Richard Lawson | ... | Ryan | |
| Zelda Rubinstein | ... | Tangina | |
| Lou Perryman | ... | Pugsley (as Lou Perry) | |
| Clair E. Leucart | ... | Bulldozer Driver (as Clair Leucart) | |
| James Karen | ... | Mr. Teague | |
| Dirk Blocker | ... | Jeff Shaw | |
| Allan Graf | ... | Sam | |
| Joseph Walsh | ... | Joey (as Joseph R. Walsh) | |
| Helen Baron | ... | Woman Buyer | |
| Noel Conlon | ... | Husband | |
| Robert Broyles | ... | Pool Worker #1 | |
| Sonny Landham | ... | Pool Worker #2 | |
| William Vail | ... | Implosion Man (as Bill Vail) | |
| Jeffrey Bannister | ... | Implosion Man | |
| Phil Stone | ... | Football Announcer, NBC Sports | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Craig Simmons | ... | Implosion Man (uncredited) | |
Directed by | |||
| Tobe Hooper | |||
Writing credits | ||
| Steven Spielberg | (story) | |
| Steven Spielberg | (screenplay) & | |
| Michael Grais | (screenplay) & | |
| Mark Victor | (screenplay) | |
Produced by | |||
| Kathleen Kennedy | .... | associate producer | |
| Frank Marshall | .... | producer | |
| Steven Spielberg | .... | producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Jerry Goldsmith | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Matthew F. Leonetti | (director of photography) | ||
Film Editing by | |||
| Michael Kahn | |||
| Steven Spielberg | (uncredited) | ||
Casting by | |||
| Jane Feinberg | |||
| Mike Fenton | |||
| Marci Liroff | |||
Production Design by | |||
| James H. Spencer | |||
Set Decoration by | |||
| Cheryal Kearney | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| Dorothy J. Pearl | .... | makeup artist (as Dottie Pearl) | |
| Toni-Ann Walker | .... | hair stylist (as Toni Walker) | |
Production Management | |||
| Dennis E. Jones | .... | production manager (as Dennis Jones) | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Pat Kehoe | .... | first assistant director | |
| Bob Roe | .... | second assistant director | |
Art Department | |||
| Michael Muscarella | .... | construction coordinator (as Michael L. Muscarella) | |
| Craig Raiche | .... | property master | |
| Ed Verreaux | .... | production illustrator | |
| Brent W. Bell | .... | carpenter (uncredited) | |
| Martha Johnston | .... | set designer (uncredited) | |
| Dick Lasley | .... | production illustrator (uncredited) | |
| Scott W. Leslie | .... | set dresser (uncredited) | |
| Greg Lynch | .... | lead man (uncredited) | |
| William F. Matthews | .... | set designer (uncredited) | |
Sound Department | |||
| Richard L. Anderson | .... | supervising sound editor | |
| John Dunn | .... | sound effects editor (as John Chih Chao Dunn) | |
| Stephen Hunter Flick | .... | supervising sound editor | |
| Warren Hamilton Jr. | .... | dialogue editor | |
| Alan Howarth | .... | special sound effects | |
| Bonnie Koehler | .... | dialogue editor | |
| Mark A. Mangini | .... | sound effects editor | |
| Steve Maslow | .... | sound re-recording mixer | |
| Kevin O'Connell | .... | sound re-recording mixer | |
| Art Rochester | .... | sound mixer | |
| John Roesch | .... | foley walker | |
| Joan Rowe | .... | foley walker | |
| Richard Thornton | .... | boom operator | |
| Bill Varney | .... | sound re-recording mixer | |
| Curt Schulkey | .... | adr editor (uncredited) | |
Special Effects by | |||
| Jeff Jarvis | .... | special effects foreman | |
| Craig Reardon | .... | special effects makeup | |
| Michael Wood | .... | mechanical effects supervisor (as Mike Wood) | |
| Robert Cole | .... | special effects hydraulic foreman (uncredited) | |
| John McLeod | .... | special effects technician (uncredited) | |
| Thaine Morris | .... | pyrotechnician (uncredited) | |
Visual Effects by | |||
| Jose Able | .... | animator: ILM | |
| Peter Amundson | .... | assistant visual effects editor: ILM | |
| Charles Bailey | .... | model maker: ILM (as Charlie Bailey) | |
| Craig Barron | .... | assistant matte photographer: ILM | |
| David Berry | .... | optical printer operator: ILM (as Dave Berry) | |
| Mike Bolles | .... | design engineer: ILM | |
| Conrad Bonderson | .... | machinist: ILM | |
| Ed Breed | .... | production procurer: ILM | |
| Marty Brenneis | .... | electronic engineer: ILM | |
| Kris Brown | .... | electronic system software: ILM | |
| John Bruno | .... | animation supervisor: ILM | |
| Conrad Buff IV | .... | visual effects editorial supervison: ILM (as Conrad Buff) | |
| Laura Buff | .... | production accountant: ILM (as Laura Kaysen) | |
| Scott Caple | .... | assistant animator: ILM | |
| Melissa Cargill | .... | electronic technician: ILM | |
| Sean M. Casey | .... | model maker: ILM (as Sean Casey) | |
| Dave Childers | .... | stage technician: ILM | |
| Wade Childress | .... | equipment maintenance: ILM | |
| Terry Chostner | .... | still photographer: ILM | |
| Bob Chrisoulis | .... | optical technician: ILM | |
| Donald Clark | .... | optical printer operator: ILM (as Don Clark) | |
| Harold Cole | .... | stage technician: ILM | |
| Samuel Comstock | .... | technical animation supervisor: ILM (as Sam Comstock) | |
| Jay Davis | .... | matte animator: ILM | |
| Bob DeLuca | .... | assistant animator: ILM | |
| Dick Dova | .... | stage technician: ILM | |
| Richard Edlund | .... | visual effects supervisor | |
| Judy Elkins | .... | matte animator: ILM | |
| John Ellis | .... | optical printer operator: ILM | |
| Chrissie England | .... | administrative supervisor: ILM | |
| Rick Fichter | .... | effects cameraman: ILM | |
| Bob Finley III | .... | stage technician: ILM (as Bobby Finley III) | |
| Pat Fitzsimmons | .... | stage foreman: ILM | |
| Barbara Gallucci | .... | model maker: ILM | |
| Steve Gawley | .... | model maker: ILM | |
| Tim Geideman | .... | optical technician: ILM | |
| Ray Gilberti | .... | second assistant camera: ILM | |
| Ralph Gordon | .... | optical line-up: ILM | |
| Milton Gray | .... | animator: ILM (as Milt Gray) | |
| Mary Lou Hale | .... | production secretary: ILM | |
| David Hanks | .... | apprentice machinist: ILM | |
| Toby Heindel | .... | model maker: ILM | |
| Robert Hill | .... | first assistant camera: ILM | |
| Edward Hirsh | .... | stage technician: ILM | |
| Renee Holt | .... | animation assistant supervisor: ILM | |
| Paul Huston | .... | chief model maker: ILM | |
| Jerry Jeffress | .... | electronic system designer: ILM | |
| Ed Jones | .... | optical line-up: ILM | |
| Paula Karsh | .... | production procurer: ILM | |
| James Keefer | .... | animation camera supervisor: ILM (as James C. Keefer) | |
| Kim Knowlton | .... | matte animator: ILM | |
| Neil Krepela | .... | matte photographer: ILM | |
| Kathryn Lenihan | .... | matte animation: ILM | |
| Gary Leo | .... | electronic engineer: ILM | |
| Michael Lessa | .... | key assistant: ILM (as Mike Lessa) | |
| Ellen E. Lichtwardt | .... | assistant animator: ILM (as Ellen Lichtwardt) | |
| Mike MacKenzie | .... | electronic engineer: ILM | |
| Jeff Mann | .... | model maker: ILM | |
| Kim Marks | .... | first assistant camera: ILM | |
| Scott Marshall | .... | model maker: ILM | |
| Cristi McCarthy | .... | electronic coordinator: ILM (as Christi McCarthy) | |
| Roberto McGrath | .... | still photographer: ILM | |
| John McLeod | .... | stage technician: ILM | |
| Marghi McMahon | .... | model maker: ILM (as Marghe McMahon) | |
| Duncan Meyers | .... | optical technician: ILM | |
| Ted Moehnke | .... | supervising stage technician: ILM | |
| Jack Mongovan | .... | assistant animator: ILM | |
| Thaine Morris | .... | stage technician: ILM | |
| Lisa Jean Mower | .... | special wardrobe: ILM | |
| Bill Neil | .... | effects cameraman: ILM | |
| Bruce Nicholson | .... | optical photography supervisor: ILM | |
| Kerry Nordquist | .... | still photographer: ILM | |
| Ease Owyeung | .... | model maker: ILM | |
| Udo Pampel | .... | machinist: ILM | |
| Michael Pangrazio | .... | matte painting supervisor: ILM | |
| Paula Paulson | .... | special wire performance: ILM | |
| Lorne Peterson | .... | modelshop supervisor: ILM | |
| Gary Platek | .... | laser and cloud effects: ILM | |
| Chris Rand | .... | apprentice machinist: ILM | |
| Bruce Richardson | .... | model maker: ILM | |
| Nilo Rodis-Jamero | .... | effects art director: ILM (as Nilo Rodis) | |
| Pete Romano | .... | first assistant camera: ILM (as Peter Romano) | |
| Thomas Rosseter | .... | optical line-up: ILM (as Tom Rosseter) | |
| Michael Shannon | .... | additional matte photographer: ILM | |
| Kathy Shine | .... | production secretary: ILM | |
| Grant Smith | .... | model maker: ILM | |
| Michael Smith | .... | equipment maintenance: ILM | |
| Thomas G. Smith | .... | production supervisor: ILM (as Tom Smith) | |
| David Sosalla | .... | model maker: ILM (as Dave Sosalla) | |
| Howard Stein | .... | visual effects editor: ILM | |
| Peter Stolz | .... | stage technician: ILM | |
| Mitch Suskin | .... | visual effects coordinator | |
| Larry Tan | .... | model maker: ILM | |
| Ed Tennler | .... | draftsman: ILM | |
| Marc Thorpe | .... | model maker: ILM | |
| Peggy Tonkonogy | .... | assistant animator: ILM | |
| Mark Vargo | .... | optical printer operator: ILM | |
| Jim Veilleux | .... | camera additional scenes: ILM | |
| Laurie Vermont | .... | production coordinator: ILM | |
| Art Vitello | .... | key animator: ILM | |
| Gary Waller | .... | first assistant camera: ILM (as Garry Waller) | |
| Gene Whiteman | .... | equipment engineering supervisor: ILM | |
| Bess Wiley | .... | electronic technician: ILM (as Bessie Wiley) | |
| Terry Windell | .... | animator: ILM | |
| Jammie Friday | .... | rotoscope (uncredited) | |
Stunts | |||
| Jeannie Epper | .... | stunts (as Jean Epper) | |
| Cindy Folkerson | .... | stunts | |
| Dana Gendian | .... | stunts | |
| Jaimi Gendian | .... | stunts | |
| Bob Herron | .... | stunts | |
| Beth Nufer | .... | stunts | |
| Glenn Randall Jr. | .... | stunt coordinator | |
| Felix Silla | .... | stunts | |
| George P. Wilbur | .... | stunts (as George Wilbur) | |
| Bob Yerkes | .... | stunts | |
| Bobby Clark | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
| Donna Garrett | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
| Chuck Waters | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
Camera and Electrical Department | |||
| Mark Averill | .... | dolly grip | |
| Pat Blymyer | .... | gaffer | |
| Hugo Cortina | .... | best boy | |
| Tommy Klines | .... | second assistant camera (as Tom Klines) | |
| John R. Leonetti | .... | first assistant camera (as John Leonetti) | |
| John J. Linder | .... | key grip (as John Linder) | |
| Dennis Matsuda | .... | camera operator | |
| Bruce McBroom | .... | still photographer | |
| Bruce Hill | .... | ultra high speed photography (uncredited) | |
| Albert Hood | .... | electrician (uncredited) | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Charles DeMuth | .... | costumer: men | |
| Ann Gray Lambert | .... | costume supervisor (as Ann Lambert) | |
| Buffy Snyder | .... | costumer: women | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Albert Coleman | .... | assistant editor | |
| Rick Fields | .... | associate editor (as R. Fields) | |
| Mel Friedman | .... | assistant editor | |
| Bob McMillian | .... | color timer | |
| Brian Ralph | .... | negative cutter | |
Music Department | |||
| Kenneth Hall | .... | music editor (as Ken Hall) | |
| Arthur Morton | .... | orchestrator | |
| Harry V. Lojewski | .... | music supervisor (uncredited) | |
Transportation Department | |||
| Gary Hellerstein | .... | transportation coordinator | |
Other crew | |||
| Richard L. Calkins | .... | rip's owner & trainer | |
| Don Levy | .... | unit publicist | |
| Gerald Moore | .... | craft service (as Jerry Moore) | |
| Jerry Moore | .... | craft service | |
| Paul Pav | .... | location manager | |
| Janice Pober | .... | assistant: Mr. Spielberg | |
| Christopher Reynolds | .... | production associate | |
| Patty Rumph | .... | assistant: Mr. Marshall | |
| Daphne Stacey | .... | assistant: Mr. Hooper | |
| Marion Tumen | .... | script supervisor | |
| Beverly Webb | .... | production coordinator | |
| Denise Durham | .... | assistant: Ms. Kennedy (uncredited) | |
| Dixie Fusillo | .... | production accountant (uncredited) | |
| Randee Lynne Jensen | .... | substitute production coordinator (uncredited) | |
| Kevin King | .... | payroll accountant (uncredited) | |
| Theresa Shepherd | .... | caterer (uncredited) | |
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| Stir of Echoes | American Beauty | The Shining | Carrie | The Night of the Hunter |
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I noticed that IMDb lists the release dates for films, and laughed here because I could never forget Friday, June 4, 1982, my last day in tenth grade, and about my tenth date with the exceptionally pretty and wonderful young lady I dated throughout most of high school. The weather was perfect, and I took my ladyfriend out for a nice lunch and a walk down Broadway in search of a movie. ET had been the hyped Spielberg film of that summer, but this one was already out, and the thought of a horrified hottie clinging to me for dear life (or vice versa) was irresistible. Poltergeist it was.
Like all Spielberg films, one will not find many weaknesses. The plot will be engaging, the visuals stunning, the acting excellent, and the overall experience first-class. This film did not disappoint.
The restrospectively amusing casting of Craig T. Nelson in the lead. Notable supporting cast include the late Dominique Dunne and the late Healther O'Rourke, both of whom would die tragically in 1988 and 1982, respectively, the earlier by domestic violence and the latter by illness. The loss to Hollywood is still felt to this day as each would likely have Oscars by now. The cast of competent, moderately known talents provided a strong yet muted substance to the special-effects stylings for which Spielberg became so famous.
As I settled in with my date to watch the film, I was equally enthralled both by her touch and the screen. From the moment O'Rourke uttered the to-this-day-chilling "They're here!!," through the amusing plot twist that explains the hauntings (a certain home developer forgot to do something with the gravesite that had previously existed on the land and apparently ticked off some spirits), though the death, destruction, and absolute terror experienced by the hapless protagonist family.
I will never again be fifteen, never again experience the deep cuts to the heart that come with teenage desire, never again wonder if maybe those horror movies could happen in real life, never again will experience the thrill of not having school or any other responsibilities for the next three months, and will never again be as vital or physically capable as I was so effortlessly back then, but to have had that even once, all at the same time, in the greatest city in the world, was absolutely awesome.
Whatever might have been wrong with my life at that age simply did not exist in that theater, during that film, with that date. Anything less than a perfect film would have spoiled what was literally a perfect day. It didn't.