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Poltergeist III
1988 98 min United States of America PG-13 16+
★4.6
Horror, Thriller
Director: Gary Sherman
Trailers
EN
Teaser
Teaser
Teaser
Description
Carol Anne has been sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle in an effort to hide her from the clutches of the ghostly Reverend Kane, but he tracks her down and terrorises her in her relatives' appartment in a tall glass building. Will he finally achieve his target and capture Carol Anne again, or will Tangina be able, yet again, to thwart him?
Budget:
$10.5M
US Gross:
$14.11M
Worldwide:
$14.14M
Starring
Heather O'Rourke
Actor
Tom Skerritt
Actor
Nancy Allen
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1990
— Best Supporting Actress
Razzie Awards 1989
— Worst Supporting Actress
Key opinion
Poltergeist III is widely regarded as a significant departure from the original film's tone and narrative coherence, often criticized for its thin plot and illogical character motivations. While a minority of viewers find the urban gothic aesthetic and mirror-world concept compelling, the general consensus points to a lackluster, disjointed sequel that fails to capture the magic of its predecessors.
| Screenplay | The franchise's core theme of familial solidarity is undermined by a screenplay that forces Carol Anne into an isolated, illogical domestic situation. | |
| Score | The replacement of original composer Jerry Goldsmith results in a derivative and less impactful musical experience. | |
| Originality | The film's transition from supernatural suburban horror to an urban, mirror-based 'house-city' aesthetic divides opinion, with some finding it an intriguing departure and others seeing it as a loss of franchise identity. | |
| Acting | Viewers are split on the performances, as some praise the cast for providing human depth, while others characterize the acting as wooden or lacking in emotional weight. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is viewed by many as tedious and sluggish, though some find the contemplative, atmosphere-heavy approach refreshing for a horror film. | |
| Production | Opinions on the practical effects are polarized; some appreciate the imaginative mirror-world visuals, while others view them as inferior to the high bar set by the first film. |