Poltergeist is a 1982 American supernatural horror film directed by Tobe Hooper and written by Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais, and Mark Victor. It follows the Freeling family, who are terrorized by a poltergeist in their suburban home. The film stars Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams, Heather O'Rourke, and Zelda Rubinstein, and is considered a classic in the horror genre.Poltergeist (1982 film) - Wikipedia
Poltergeist (1982 film) - Wikipedia
On IMDb, Poltergeist has a rating of 7.3 out of 10 based on over 150,000 user reviews. It was a commercial success, earning over $121 million in the United States and Canada and becoming the eighth-highest-grossing film of 1982.Poltergeist (1982) - IMDb
Poltergeist (1982) - IMDb
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 87% based on 62 reviews, with an average rating of 7.93/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Smartly filmed, tightly scripted, and—most importantly—consistently frightening, Poltergeist is a modern horror classic."Poltergeist (1982) - Rotten Tomatoes
Poltergeist (1982) - Rotten Tomatoes
Poltergeist was a major box office success, grossing over $76 million in its opening weekend and becoming the highest-grossing film of 1982. It also became the seventh-highest-grossing film of all time at the time of its release.Poltergeist (1982) - Box Office Mojo
Poltergeist (1982) - Box Office Mojo
On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 79 out of 100 based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".Poltergeist (1982) - Metacritic
Poltergeist (1982) - Metacritic
On TV Tropes, Poltergeist is listed as an example of the "Haunted House" trope, with the Freeling family's home being invaded by malevolent spirits.Poltergeist (1982) - TV Tropes
Poltergeist (1982) - TV Tropes
On AllMovie, the film has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, with a review stating, "It's a rare horror movie that manages to be scary and funny at the same time, but Poltergeist pulls it off with ease."Poltergeist (1982) - AllMovie
Poltergeist (1982) - AllMovie
On Letterboxd, the film has a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on over 88,000 user ratings. Many users praise the film for its terrifying atmosphere and iconic scenes.Poltergeist (1982) - Letterboxd
Poltergeist (1982) - Letterboxd
On The Numbers, Poltergeist is listed as the 22nd-highest-grossing horror film of all time, with a worldwide gross of over $121 million.Poltergeist (1982) - The Numbers
Poltergeist (1982) - The Numbers
On FilmAffinity, the film has a rating of 7.2 out of 10 based on over 27,000 user ratings. It is also listed as one of the top-rated horror films on the site.Poltergeist (1982) - FilmAffinity
Poltergeist (1982) - FilmAffinity
The Haunting of the Living Room: A Tale of Poltergeists and House Design
The year was 1982, and the Smith family had just moved into their new home in the quiet suburb of Maplewood. The house was a charming two-story colonial, with a spacious living room that the family had fallen in love with. However, little did they know that their dream home would soon become a nightmare as they discovered that they were not the only ones living in the living room.
The Smiths had always been fascinated with the paranormal, but they never expected to encounter it in their own home. It started with small things like objects moving on their own and strange noises in the middle of the night. But as time went on, the occurrences became more frequent and more sinister.
Poltergeists
, or mischievous spirits, seemed to have taken up residence in their living room. No one could explain it, and the Smiths were at a loss as to what to do. They tried everything from sage cleansing to calling in paranormal investigators, but nothing seemed to work. The poltergeists only seemed to become more agitated and more active.
As the disturbances in the living room continued, the Smiths began to notice something peculiar. They realized that the poltergeists were drawn to certain
design elements
in the living room. The antique mirror hanging above the fireplace, the vintage chandelier, and the intricate rug seemed to be the focal points for the paranormal activity.
The family soon realized that the poltergeists were not just random spirits, but they were attached to the living room itself. It was as if the house had a history, and these spirits were trying to communicate something to them. The Smiths began to do some research and discovered that their home was once owned by a wealthy family in the 1920s. The living room was their pride and joy, and it was where they would host lavish parties and gatherings.
The Smiths realized that the living room was the heart of their home, and the poltergeists were drawn to it because it held so much history and energy. With this newfound understanding, the family decided to embrace the poltergeists and make peace with them. They rearranged the living room, incorporating modern elements while still honoring the original design. They even started leaving out offerings for the spirits, and surprisingly, the disturbances stopped.
In the end, the Smiths came to appreciate the poltergeists as part of their home's unique charm and history. They learned that
house design
is not just about aesthetics but also about creating a space that tells a story and evokes emotions. The living room may have been haunted, but it was also a place of warmth and comfort for the Smith family. And in the end, that's all that mattered.
