Connor Bynum // Film Critic
THE POLTERGEIST (1982)
Rated PG (but more like PG-13), 114 minutes.
Now available on 4K Ultra HD.
Warner Bros has been very smart in balancing their 4K UHD releases of modern films with stellar remasters of their legacy content. Usually, they wait for a milestone anniversary for such an occasion, and POLTERGEIST (1982) is no exception as it celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
Movie Grade: A-
POLTERGEIST centers on a suburban family in the 1980s who live in a constantly expanding neighborhood development. The patriarch of the family, Steve (Craig T. Nelson), and his wife Dianne (JoBeth Williams) are hopelessly in love, and all seems right with the world until their youngest daughter Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke) begins to hear voices coming from the family television set. As time goes on, paranormal events begin to occur throughout the house. Things start small, like a chair moving on its own or an obnoxiously creepy clown doll seemingly taunting the middle child of the family, Robby (Oliver Robins), as he tries to fall asleep. But things come to a breaking point when Carol Anne gets sucked into a separate dimension and can only speak to the rest of her family through that same television set from before. The Freeling family must then go to whatever means necessary to rescue Carol Anne and bring her back home.
There are countless iconic moments to be found in POLTERGEIST. From the classic “They’re here…” line when Carol Anne talks with the TV people, to literally everything about the delightfully strange and eccentric Tangina (Zelda Rubinstein), it’s easy to see why the film is so highly regarded forty years after its first releasing in theaters. Although directed by Tobe Hooper (THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE [1974]), Producer Steven Spielberg’s influence is undeniably on display. The subtle but well-crafted long takes feature excellent blocking from both the actors as well as the camera. Jerry Goldsmith’s musical score features whimsical melodies for the family and their happy lives but contrasts them with bombastic and chaotic orchestrations when the hauntings become increasingly aggressive.
Lastly, having a family featured in a film that genuinely loves each other is legitimately refreshing. The husband and wife are still in love, and each gets heartwarming moments with their children, giving the audience ample reason to want to see them make it out alive. As a horror film, the scares are relatively tame. But as a supernatural thriller, POLTERGEIST is an outright classic.
Video/Audio Grade: A-
The film is presented in native 4K resolution, and it should be no surprise that it has never looked clearer, for better or worse. Let’s start with the better. Skin tones and hair all have that satisfying extra layer of polish that one simply can’t get with 1080p. The film’s many Spielbergian long takes move in and around the house while giving the audience a chance to appreciate the practicality of the set design from forty years ago. Almost everything in the film is real because it has to be. But then we get to the areas that sadly don’t hold up as well. While the film’s many practical effects have aged like wine, be warned; as is, unfortunately, the case with older films released on the format, the increased clarity painfully highlights just how dated some of the rotoscoping effects can appear by today’s standards. Thankfully these moments are few and far between.
The 4K disc also includes HDR10, which is applied to a near flawless degree. With most of the film taking place at night, the increased contrast and brightness spectrum adds a wondrous level of clarity. However, it should be noted that numerous sequences throughout feature heavy use of strobing lights that, even for nonepileptic viewers, might get a little too intense. Whether the increased brightness is responsible for the regrettably tacky albeit necessary warning sticker slapped onto the sleeve is debatable, but viewers prone to epileptic seizures should undoubtedly sit this one out.
The disc sadly does not include a new Dolby Atmos or even a DTS-HD 7.1 audio track. However, the DTS-HD 5.1 track is, in fact, an improvement over previous releases and is still more than capable of taking advantage of rear channels during the multiple scenes of spooky mayhem, with the absolutely insane final 10 minutes being a particular standout example. Some of the quiet scenes near the middle of the film leave just a little to be desired, with dialogue feeling just a tad too soft to hear over Jerry Goldsmith’s score, but other than that, this is a solid mix.
Extras Grade: C
Longtime fans of the film may have some thoughts on the new cover art, but I personally don’t think it’s the worst. The same can’t be said for the warning sticker mentioned earlier that, again, is understandable in its inclusion but very ugly nonetheless. There are only three bonus features included, and clocking in at under 45 minutes collectively, there really isn’t a lot here.
Surprising nobody at this point, these features are only available to watch on the included Blu-ray, which, believe it or not, is actually not just a reprint of the previous release and was sourced from the new 4K transfer used for the 4K disc. The longest feature of the bunch is sadly a repeat inclusion from the previous Blu-ray release. But the seven-minute “making of” featurette is surprisingly something new which is undermined by how frustratingly quickly it’s over. Lastly, things are rounded out by a theatrical trailer.
Overall, the extras are little more than a mixed bag.
- They Are Here: The Real World of the Poltergeists (2 parts, 31:00 total)
- The Making of Poltergeist (7:18)
- Theatrical Trailer (2:26)
Final Grade: B
POLTERGEIST in 4K should pair just wonderfully with other recent Warner Bros. 4K releases such as GREMLINS and THE GOONIES. As with those films, nostalgic fans of POLTERGEIST will be pleased with the improved technical aspects, but likely won’t have much of a reason to give the extras much of their attention.
