Stars:
Craig T. Nelson Jobeth Williams, Heather O’Rourke, Oliver Robins, Julian Beck,
Zelda Rubinstein, Will Sampson, and Geraldine Fitzgerald
Writers:
Michael Grais and Mark Victor
Director:
Brian Gibson
Feature
length: 91 minutes
Languages:
English Stereo
Subtitles:
N/A
Packaging:
Jewel Case
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1986/VCD Release: 2002
Theatrical
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures
Home
Video Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment Through Video Van In
Malaysia Only.
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
A
year has past since the Freeling Family fled Cuesta Verde. They now live with
in-laws and Carol Anne is still being stalked by a demon that walks in human
form as a scary looking preacher played by Julian Beck. Determined to get Carol
Anne so he can control the spirits of those he led to doom more than a century
before, the Freelings must rely upon the guidance of a medium, the magic of a
medicine man, and their own family’s bond of love to protect their daughter.
The
original “Poltergeist” was such a great film that it is almost infuriating
to see how much the sequel was botched up. The characters are all just flat
caricatures of their former film counterparts making Will Sampson and Julian
Beck the only two characters that are memorable and with all honestly, Beck
steals every scene he appears in. There are
some good special effects by Richard
Edlund and conceptual design by H.R. Giger, but when we finally see the other
side, the film ends up being unintentionally comical rather than scary or awe
inspiring.
Unfortunately
the full-framed (1.33:1) aspect ratio is riddled with MPEG-1 compression
artifacts and the source print used appears to be very faded. The English Stereo
Soundtrack is CD digital quality, but the picture is considerably less in
quality even when compared to old NTSC VHS tape. Major disappointment on two
levels and the film is not available on DVD either in America.
“Poltergeist
II: The Other Side: MGM Contemporary Classics” can be ordered online directly
from EurkaMovies.Com.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.