Poltergeist

Name: Poltergeist
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: May 22, 2015
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 47
Cast: Kennedi Clements, Kyle Catlett, Rosemarie DeWitt, Sam Rockwell, Saxon Sharbino

2015

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 27 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 254 Ratings

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3.6

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3.6	User Score Generally unfavorable reviews based on 254 Ratings

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Poltergeist

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: May 22, 2015 | PG-13

Starring: Kennedi Clements, Kyle Catlett, Rosemarie DeWitt, Sam Rockwell, Saxon Sharbino

Summary: Legendary filmmaker Sam Raimi and director Gil Kenan reimagine and contemporize the classic tale about a family whose suburban home is invaded by angry spirits. When the terrifying apparitions escalate their attacks and take the youngest daughter, the family must come together to rescue her.

Director: Gil Kenan

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 93 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Justin Lowe

May 19, 2015

While Hooper favored shock value and jump scares, Kenan and cinematographer Javier Aguirresarobe construct far more fluid sequences as the camera glides and hovers over its subjects, reserving the most impactful shots for the climactic scenes, particularly a concluding sequence that’s particularly thrilling. Read full review

Eddie Goldberger

May 22, 2015

It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but Poltergeist is a solid, surprisingly effective chiller. Read full review

Mark Olsen

May 22, 2015

The new Poltergeist is a pleasant enough diversion, better as a low-simmer suspense story than a full-blown effects extravaganza. Read full review

Jesse Hassenger

May 22, 2015

The most retro thing about the remake is its specific, outdated utility: If anyone still patronizes video stores with hard copies, and if those stores don’t happen to have the original Poltergeist (or Insidious) in stock on a Friday night, this version might do the trick. Read full review

Alan Scherstuhl

May 22, 2015

The remake grows less interesting as it goes, with final scares dipping into surprising lameness. Read full review

Randy Cordova

May 22, 2015

Ultimately, the whole affair is forgettable. The original film was promoted with the tagline "It knows what scares you." If there was a truth-in-advertising law regarding films, this movie's ad copy would read: "Poltergeist: Meh." Read full review

Clayton Dillard

May 22, 2015

It's the cinematic equivalent of a pat on the back accompanied by a slap in the face. Read full review

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User Reviews

ernie76

Jun 5, 2015

Good Remake that is close enough to the Original and less close to give some new story details.
Good actors and a dense Atmosphere. The Original is still a classic but for todays Young People ithe original is too much 80s to enjoy

4 of 9 users found this helpful45

busbfran

May 24, 2015

It does a good job at remaking the original that scared everyone back in the day, and still 2015...Poltergeist has impressed me. Fleshed out characters, better visuals, storytelling and genuine scares even if your seen the original. Pointless 3D and some disjointed scenes will be the majorIt does a good job at remaking the original that scared everyone back in the day, and still 2015...Poltergeist has impressed me. Fleshed out characters, better visuals, storytelling and genuine scares even if your seen the original. Pointless 3D and some disjointed scenes will be the major let downs. Poltergeist is back "there coming".… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

TheQuietGamer

Feb 18, 2016

Most horror movie remakes are downright awful. They usually fail to capture any of the magic of the original or bring any worthwhile new ideas to the table. That isn't so much the case here. It's got a few cool new ideas. but ultimately it's definitely not as good as the original. HoweverMost horror movie remakes are downright awful. They usually fail to capture any of the magic of the original or bring any worthwhile new ideas to the table. That isn't so much the case here. It's got a few cool new ideas. but ultimately it's definitely not as good as the original. However rather than being awful what we have is more of a boring affair.

It's most exciting moments are when it is recreating scenes from the original with it's own twists. These scenes bring back fond memories of the original, but don't really make much of an impression on their own, with the exception of the clown scene.

Part of what made the original Poltergeist so fantastic was the characters. They were likable, real, and made us care about them. There are some talented actors playing these new interpretations of them, and they do have some real world problems and interactions. The problem is that they feel just like the average modern horror movie protagonists. By that I mean they feel like faceless character types with no depth created for the sole purpose of screaming at scary stuff.

Considering this is a horror movie, one of the most important aspects I need to touch on when reviewing it is whether or not it is scary. It's not. Creepy specters show their ugly faces and people get grabbed, but there's never a sense of fear or urgency from the film. This might be partly due to the fact that many of us have seen the original. This remake doesn't deviate too far from it so those of us who have seen it already know what's going to happen.

That being said, I doubt those experiencing Poltergeist for the first time this way are likely to be frightened. It's pretty tame and by the numbers. At least it doesn't rely on jump scares, so there's that.

Honestly I just recommend watching the original. This remake isn't bad and has a talented cast. Some of the original's humor finds it's way here as well. None of that changes the fact that this is still a pretty boring horror movie that's devoid of any frights. It's not as bad as most horror movie remakes, and honestly it isn't really that bad at all. However none of that changes the fact that there are plenty of more entertaining options out there, as well as the infinitely superior original. If you've already exhausted your other options though, this isn't that bad.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

shooterboss

May 23, 2015

The only problem with this mediocre remake is that it fails to live up to its genre. I found only two good scares throughout the entire film, and both were cheap jump scares.

Poltergeist refused to waste time. It jumps into the action as soon as reasonably possible. While the scaresThe only problem with this mediocre remake is that it fails to live up to its genre. I found only two good scares throughout the entire film, and both were cheap jump scares.

Poltergeist refused to waste time. It jumps into the action as soon as reasonably possible. While the scares themselves were okay, very many of them had barely any build-up preceding them and seemed to end before the viewer could get a proper grasp on 'em.

But besides that, the action was quite good, especially the last sequence. Acting was okay, even for the children. Poltergeist isn't a film that will give me nightmares anytime soon, but it was a decent way to spend a Saturday night. Bottom line: if you've got nothing else to do, Poltergeist 2015 is worth a shot, but if you've got other plans, you may want to pass.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

FilipeNeto

Dec 17, 2018

This movie might just be a remake, but it's not. In fact, it seems to have taken very little from its predecessors in title. The script is banal: as it has happened in thousands of films before, a family with children moves to a new house, acquiring without knowing the (not very encouraging)This movie might just be a remake, but it's not. In fact, it seems to have taken very little from its predecessors in title. The script is banal: as it has happened in thousands of films before, a family with children moves to a new house, acquiring without knowing the (not very encouraging) possibility of being frightened by an endless series of ghosts. Of course, children will be the preferred target of these ghosts, be it by the ingenuity or the effect that this can provoke in the public. Nothing new here. Equally unoriginal (we've seen something similar in "Insidious" or "The Conjuring"), the wardrobe in the girl's room is the most active place, eventually "devouring" one of the children. I will not talk more about what happens in this movie so I will not spoil. I just wanted to demonstrate that the film is a succession of cliches.

Gil Kenan's direction proved to be poor, fragile and did not seem to have been able to ask for the best of the actors and staff members. A lazy direction, which is content with the medium without pursuing excellence. The scares are scarce and predictable: objects that jump towards the display, snoring, scary noises and lights. I can say that I never felt truly frightened while watching the film. About the actors what can be said is that they seem to me to have tried to fulfill their role well, but they were not directed effectively. Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt fulfilled their roles, while the children (especially Kennedi Clements and Kyle Catlett) seem to have fully lived up to what was asked of them. Jared Harris and Jane Adams do not seem to have been good choices, a complete casting error.

This film is a far cry from the quality of the Poltergeist of the 1980s, and I do not know if it's honest to relate these films to this movie. This seems a bit too ambitious, even though they share the same name. Despite this, I have the feeling that it would have been better with a more creative script and a more demanding and skillful director.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Gales

Apr 19, 2020

Filme horrível, personagens superficiais demais, história difícil de engolir e ambientação horrível
O mais assustador desse filme foram os personagens

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Thatsliam

May 30, 2015

Honestly would have been better as a comedy and it was so meh that it was more scary when the ads started blablablablabla I'm filling space. Yoloyoloyolo hipsters bad child actors I like Pepsi yum yum budget 99cents I'm going to vomit now

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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