POLTERGEIST distributed by MGM/UA (1982). Steven Spielberg served as co-writer and co-producer. He was in pre-production for directing "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial." Tobe Hooper served as director.
The horror film has become a classic movie. The production budget climbed to $10 million and grossed a massive $127 million for 1982.
The story is simple. A suburban family lives in a house that was built above a burial ground. The youngest daughter Carol Anne is drawn to the white static from the living room Television set. A white hand appears and Carol Anne is later pulled into a spiritual portal. Her family seeks out a paranormal ghost team.
Heather O'Rourke (Carol Anne) said a line in the film that became a popular catchphrase, "They're here."
It was said that Steven Spielberg actually directed the movie. He was on the film set each week and made visual story boards. He was in pre-production with "E.T." for Universal. The Directors Guild stepped in to pay Hooper $15,000 because of Spielberg's credit on the movie trailer.
Tobe Hooper died in 2017 and was said to have created the idea for "Poltergeist." He also had final say on the set and in post-production.
The movie was so popular that two sequels were made. "Poltergeist II: The Other Side" (1986). "Poltergeist III" (1988). A remake was also made, "Poltergeist" (2015). None were as successful as the original.
Heather O'Rourke was a child star who died at age 12 from congenital stenosis (1988). Horror fans believe that she died from a "curse" created by the "Poltergeist" films. It isn't true but she is remembered as little Carol Anne from the movie.
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