A poltergeist is typically defined as a
noisy ghost. In Poltergeist II: The Other Side,
the definition of the term poltergeist is essentially non existent.
Sure, it retains it's original ghost story elements of the first
movie, but it also gets turned into a boogeyman stalking film. I'm
all about mixing up the formula for a sequel, especially if you are
basically planning a franchise, what's discouraging, is when a sequel
or film in the franchise completely strays from the formula or
disregards the previous works.
Now if you have
never seen Poltergiest II: The Other Side (when I type “the
other side, I keep getting that fucking Areosmith song in my head),
let me bring you up to speed by back tracking a bit to the first
film. The Keeling family start experiencing poltergeist activity in
their home. Chairs moving around lights turning on and off. But the
experiences start to become a bit more violent and the ghosts kidnap
the youngest daughter Carol-Ann. And bring her to another dimension.
We than find that
the the house was built over a cemetery by a corrupt developing
company that “Coach” (Craig T. Nelson) works for, (he's the
father/husband). The ghosts (poltergeists) are the dead people still
buried underneath the home. However, there is something called The
Beast, that has, taken a shine to Carol-Ann and will not give her up
easy. However, in the end of the first movie Diane, crosses into the
other dimension and saves Carol-Ann with the help of Tangenia the
psychic, and Coach.
Now, fast forward
to the sequel and a year later. The Keeling's are living with
Diane's mother who happens to be clairvoyant, like Carol-Ann, and
Diane (who has denied it her whole life). In any case The Beast has
found the family and has decided to take on a human form to stalk the
family in the form a an old “Skeletore” looking fellow named the
Revered Kane.
It turns out Kane
was a preacher and a bit of a whack job in the 1800's that led his
followers to their doom. They had sealed themselves in a tomb because
Kane told them it was the end of the world (completely unclear if the
whole sealing themselves underground was supposed to stop them from
perishing, or maybe they thought God would take them first. This
logic makes no sense to be honest) ANYWAYS.... he got it wrong.
Unfortunately, Kane wouldn't let anyone out of the tomb, so they all
perished. That tomb just happened to be under the cemetery that was
underneath the Keelling's old home.
Apparently Kane and
his followers haven't quite figured out that they are dead and have
not crossed over, and when Carol-Ann crossed into their world in the
first film, they got a taste of what life was like, and they want to
taste it again. In the end the family has to ban together to confront
Kane once and for all. Protected and aided by a Native American
Shaman Taylor, “Coach” leads his family to the field of battle
for a final showdown.
The film itself is
actually very creepy and despite the fact the formula changed from
ghost story to ghost story with a central villain, it's still very
effective. It was a subtle change to the original concept of the
film, but it was 1986, central villains or boogeymen were pretty
critical in horror films. Even though we are introduced to a main
“bad guy” the film keeps it's integrity, and doesn't stray from
the core story at all.
Now Poltergeist
had three films in the series, and for the most part it stayed
true (the third one Carol-Ann lives with her aunt and uncle in
Chicago in a hotel. Kane finds her and there are a lot of mirrors and
Lara Flynn Boyle).
The horror film
genre does this the most, changes the concept or structure of a film
within the franchise, and I am not talking about re-makes or it's
current term being used “reboot.” Either by introducing a new
bad guy (like Poltergeist II) or abandoning the entire
original concept of the film.
But Poltergeist
II succeeds because it doesn't direction, in fact the addition of
Kane, enhances the story. Where some films, by straying from the
core concept end up hurting the franchise more than anything else.
For example
Halloween III: The Season of the Witch, has no Michael Meyers.
How can there be a Halloween film without the central fucking
evil character. In fact the film has no relation to the mythos of
the original existing films, it's all about an evil corporation that
develops a mask that will melt childrens' faces when they watch a
particular commercial.
In no way shape or
form did this movie help the Halloween series. In fact, most
people don't even consider it part of the films “cannon.” If the
film would have been called something else (you wouldn't have been
able to call it Season of the Witch, there were no fucking
witches in the film) it might have been an alright movie, but it was
not.
Thankfully, the
addition of Kane didn't ruin the concept of Poltergeist.
However, the addition of Lara Flynn Boyle in the third film, almost
tanked the entire series.
Also, just because it was in my head
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