Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)

Director:

Brian Gibson

Writers:

Michael Grais (written by)
Mark Victor (written by)

Release Date:

23 May 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

They're back.

Plot:

The Freeling family have a new house, but their troubles with supernatural forces don't seem to be over.

Plot Keywords:

Native American | Psychic | Afterlife | Giant Worm | Stop Motion

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

JoBeth Williams	...	Diane Freeling (as Jobeth Williams)
Craig T. Nelson	...	Steve Freeling
Heather O'Rourke	...	Carol Anne Freeling
Oliver Robins	...	Robbie Freeling
Zelda Rubinstein	...	Tangina Barrons
Will Sampson	...	Taylor
Julian Beck	...	Kane
Geraldine Fitzgerald	...	Gramma-Jess
John P. Whitecloud	...	Old Indian
Noble Craig	...	Vomit Creature
Susan Peretz	...	Daughter
Helen Boll	...	Mother
Kelly Jean Peters	...	Young Jess
Jaclyn Bernstein	...	Young Diane
Robert Lesser	...	Kane's People

Also Known As:

Poltergeist 2 (Australia) (TV title)
Poltergeist II (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:16 | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chinle, Arizona, USA

Trivia:

The exorcism was performed by Will Sampson, who was a real-life shaman for "several different groups" before his death in 1987. Studio security was instructed to leave the set unlocked and unguarded so Sampson could return in the middle of the night to perform the exorcism.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the ghosts attack the station wagon in the garage, a major scene shows the crescent wrenches methodically smashing the headlights. After the car breaks through the garage door, the headlights have restored themselves and show up intact in several later scenes.

Quotes:

Diane: Steven, we are almost broke.
Steve Freeling: Okay, we're, we're broke, but we're not, we're not starving!
Diane: Okay. But I don't happen to like having to live off my mother, and I think that we deserve a house of our own again someday.
Steve Freeling: Aw, honey, geez... see, that's the difference between you and me, Diane, I am into downward mobility. I'm not settling for it, I'm *into* it, I - I like getting out there in the streets and meetin' those people; I like selling vacuums, I like carrying the pipes and the apparatus in my little demo case.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References "The Twilight Zone: Long Distance Call (#2.22)" (1961)

3.5 out of 5 stars

First of all let me say that I am a huge Poltergeist fan. I'm LOVED the first, and I think this is a pretty worthy sequel. It follows the same story, most of the same cast is back, excellent acting (Julian Beck & Craig T. Nelson blew me away!) I would recommend this to any Poltergeist or horror fan.