FILM REVIEW: POLTERGEIST 3D (15)

Smarter than the average scare?

Halloween, Psycho and Nightmare on Elm Street are just a few examples of the many terrible horror remakes. Does the reimagined version of Poltergeist break free from that trend?

Filmmaker Sam Raimi (Evil Dead & The Grudge) and Director Gil Kenan (Monster House) bring to the screens their version of the 1982 classic. It sees the Bowen family – Eric (Sam Rockwell), Amy (Rosemarie DeWitt) and their kids Kendra (Saxon Sharbino), Griffin (Kyle Catlett) and Maddy (Kennedi Clements) – forced to downsize to a new home.

It’s not long before Maddy starts hearing voices from people that aren’t there. And before you know it, the spookiness escalates with evil forces holding the young girl captive. Her parents consult a team of parapsychologists who engage the supernatural entities in a battle for the girl’s freedom.

The original Poltergeist was a game-changer for the horror genre. It introduced us to unique slow-burning scares that ultimately paid-off – and filmmakers have been using similar tactics since. Unfortunately this version has absolutely nothing new to share. Like many horrors, it simply uses the same techniques we’ve seen over and over again. It feels like lazy filmmaking from all involved.

Not even the use of 3D technology saves this movie. Converting the film into 3D after production had wrapped seems like a pointless after-thought designed to sell more tickets.

I must admit, this is a reboot that’s slightly better than many that have been made in recent years, but I wanted more. It ultimately feels like a wasted opportunity. I’d only recommend this version on the basis that you haven’t seen the original.

See Poltergeist and much more at Showcase Cinema, Peterborough. Visit www.showcasecinemas.co.uk for the latest up-to-date show times. You can also join the chat on Twitter @showcasecinemas or on Facebook by searching for ‘Showcase Cinemas UK’. [youtube id=”HD2sz9RVzfM” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Genre: Horror

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Catlett, Kennedi Clements & Jared Harris

Running Time: 1hr 33mins

Directed by: Gil Kenan

See if you liked: The Grudge & The Others

Mikey Clarke