Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)

May 23, 1986

May 23, 1986

Poltergeist II: The Other Side is a 1986 American supernatural horror film directed by Brian Gibson, and starring JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Heather O'Rourke, Zelda Rubinstein, Will Sampson, Julian Beck, and Geraldine Fitzgerald. The second entry in the Poltergeist film series and a direct sequel to Poltergeist, it follows the Freeling family who again find themselves under attack from supernatural forces attempting to claim their daughter, this time the spirit of an insane preacher who led an apocalyptic cult during the 19th century. In their efforts to save their daughter, the family find help in a Native American shaman.

Filming of Poltergeist II took place in California and Arizona in the spring of 1985. The majority of the original film's cast reprised their respective roles, with the exception of Dominique Dunne, who was murdered shortly after the first film's release in 1982. Surrealist artist H. R. Giger designed the creatures featured in the film.

Released in the spring of 1986, Poltergeist II was a financial success, earning nearly $75 million worldwide. Critical reviews were mixed, but the film nevertheless followed its predecessor with a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, as well as two Saturn Awards.

A third film in the series, Poltergeist III, was released in 1988.

Storyline

The Cuesta Verde neighborhood is turned into an archaeological dig centered on the spot where the Freelings' home stood. The excavation leads to the discovery of a cave. Its existence is revealed to psychic Tangina Barrons, who informs her friend Taylor, a Native American shaman. After investigating the cave for himself, Taylor realizes that the spirit of Rev. Henry Kane, an insane preacher whom he has seen in dreams, is after Carol Anne and goes to defend her.

The Freeling family has relocated and now live in a house with Diane's mother, Jess. Grandma Jess is highly clairvoyant, and believes that Diane and Carol Anne possess the same abilities. Jess later dies from natural causes, but not before telling Diane one last time that she will always "be there" if she needs her.

Taylor shows up as Kane begins his first assault on the home. Unable to get in through the television, as the family has removed all television sets from the house, Kane's minions are forced to find another way in, this time through Carol Anne's toy telephone. The attack fails, and the family gets out of the house quickly. Taylor introduces himself and convinces them that running would be a waste of time since Kane would only find them again, and they return to the house.

Kane shows up at the home one day in human form and demands to be let in, but Steven refuses. Taylor congratulates him for resisting Kane, then takes Steven to the desert and gives him the "Power of Smoke", a Native spirit that can repel Kane. Tangina visits the house and helps Diane to understand Kane's history and how he became the Beast that is now stalking the family. Diane turns out to be unique in that she is one of the only people on earth who have been to the spirit world while living. Diane has visions of Kane in the mid-19th century when he was the head of an apocalyptic cult. Kane led his followers through the desert and into the cave, because he believed that the end of the world was coming, but then kept them trapped and captive there to slowly die with him after the day of his prediction came and went. Because he was so deranged and evil, Kane became a monster after death and controls the souls of his followers. Taylor warns the family that Kane is extremely clever and will try to tear them apart.

With Taylor having left, the family's morale drops. Steven lets his guard down and gets drunk, swallowing a Mezcal worm that is possessed by Kane, who then temporarily possesses him. The possessed Steven tries to rape Diane, who cries out that she loves him, weakening Kane's hold. Steven then vomits up the possessed worm, which grows into a huge, tentacled monster. In this form, Kane attacks Steven from the ceiling, but he uses the smoke spirit to send him away. The Beast launches another assault before the family flees. The Freelings decide to confront the Beast on his own turf, the Other Side.

The Freelings return to Cuesta Verde and, with Tangina and Taylor, enter the cavern below their former home, where Kane pulls Diane and Carol Anne over into the Other Side. Steven and Robbie jump in after them through a fire started by Taylor. On the Other Side, which appears as a place of floating limbos without the sense of direction, Steven, Diane, Robbie, and Carol Anne unite, but the now monstrously transformed Kane grabs Carol Anne and begins to drain her life force. Carol Anne is saved after Taylor puts a charmed Native spear into Steven's hands, and Steven stabs Kane with it, defeating the monster. Carol Anne nearly crosses over into the afterlife, but Jess' spirit appears and guides her back to the family. The Freelings then return safely and thank Taylor and Tangina.

Steven later gifts the family car to Taylor after he had expressed affection for it previously, and Taylor drives away with Tangina. After the Freelings realize that they now have no ride home, they chase after Taylor.

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Sound Effects Used

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