Poltergeist (4K UHD Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio: Warner Brothers
Release Date: September 20, 2022
Rating: PG
Film: 4/5
 
Plot
Suburbanites Steve (Nelson) and Diane (Williams) suddenly experience paranormal activity in their home. What starts off as minor excitement quickly turns into nasty ghostly encounters. The disappearance of their daughter Carol Anne (O’Rourke) forces the Freelings to bring in parapsychologists and a professional exorcist to exorcise their home.
 
My Thoughts
I’ve never been much of a horror fan, even as a kid, but this is a movie I actually saw in theaters when I was a teenager. Not being a fan of the genre, I literally haven’t sat down to watch this in full since my initial screening in the theaters. That’s a very long time!
 
For the most part, it holds up quite well and would probably get a PG-13 rating today because of the themes, but I wouldn’t call it a violent film by any means. I remember as a teenager being a bit freaked out by the ghosts—especially since I was a latchkey kid and spent a lot of time at home alone. To add insult to injury, a lot of this alone time was at night!
 
Young actress, Heather Michele O’Rourke, went on to act in some TV shows, but it was really her performance in the sequel that made her a young child star. She starred in the third film as well but died a few months later in 1988 at 12 years-old—much too young.
 
Video 9/10
 
Audio 9/10 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
 
Special Features:

• “They Are Here: The Real World of Poltergeists Pt. 1 – Science of the Spirits”
• “They Are Here: The Real World of Poltergeists Pt. 2 0 Communing with the Dead”
• “The Making of Poltergeist”
• Trailer
• 4K + Blu-ray + Movies Anywhere Digital Copy

 

 
 
Conclusion
The movie had enough of a following to spurn two additional sequels in the 80s along with a sub-par 2015 remake. While I’m not a horror fan, this is a film I can handle but my wife didn’t care much for the themes since she stays at home alone while I’m out of town for work, but she’ll get over it (or else I’m in BIG trouble!). The 4K restoration is outstanding and is the definitive version of the film to own.
 
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS2000 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 88” 16x9 Fixed Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
M&K Sound X15+ Subwoofer
Dual JL Audio F-110 (stacked and treated as one sub)
Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner

[bmoney]

Thanks for the review. But the one childhood trauma movie I’ll
Never watch again

[David Vaughn]

Thanks for the review. But the one childhood trauma movie I’ll
Never watch again

LOL