In 1988, we got the third and final Poltergeist movie. This time around, most of the cast and filmmakers decided to jump ship before it completely sank, and the only people returning are Heather O’ Rourke and Zelda Rubinstein, returning as Carol Anne and Tangina. Neither writers Michael Grais and Mark Victor returned with Steve Freke, Gary Sherman(also serving as director) and Brian Taggert taking over writing duties . Nor did composer Jerry Goldsmith, with John Renzetti replacing him as composer. Goldsmith was unhappy with how Poltergeist II turned out, so he wasn’t willing to return.
Carol Anne is now living with her aunt and uncle in a skyrise apartment building in Chicago. This time around, she’s not with such a loving family, and it’s apparent right from the start that Henry Kane is still after her. Strange things start happening in the building. Mirrors are breaking and the building is getting quite chilly. And Kane is constantly following characters around on reflections of mirrors and glass. Kane eventually makes his move, capturing several characters and replacing them with evil doubles. It is up to the aunt and uncle to overcome Kane.
The production value is much smaller this time around. All the magic of Poltergeist is now gone, as are the effects. Henry Kane is back, but he no longer takes the shape of monsterous creatures. In fact, all he really does is linger in mirrors, the gimmick this time around, and follow Carol Anne around. Except, this time around he drives a frozen car and tries to run over a couple of the main characters in a scene that defines the entire film’s made for video horror quality. In the scene, one of the characters shouts “What do you want?” In which, Kane replies back, in a very cheesy way, “You!”
Apparently, somewhere between this film and the last, the Freelings decided to dump their beloved daughter, Carol Anne, with her aunt and uncle in Chicago. It’s such an unsettling thought that the Freelings, the loving family who did all they could to save and protect their daughter, who they obviously loved, decided to just toss her out like garbage. Honestly, I just don’t believe it. Not one bit. She is now with her aunt, uncle, and cousin played by Tom Skerrit, Nancy Allen, and Lara Flynn Boyle. Aunt Pat and cousin Donna don’t seem to care too much about Carol Anne. They are nice to her face, but turn around and say
nasty things about her when she isn’t around. Donna does so on a lesser scale, but Pat just comes off as so unlikeable and it’s hard to forgive her when she says “lets dump the brat.”
Another unforgiveable character is Dr. Seaton, a jerk psychologist who doesn’t believe any of the crazy things going on around him, yet he believes that Carol Anne can hypnotize people with the power of suggestion, you know like randomly glancing at a mirror. He’s a guy who just seems to have it out for Carol Anne.
The film seems to have a harsher tone this time around. The first Poltergeist film did not portray a single death and the only death that Poltergeist II had wasn’t a victim to the spirits’ mayhem, but died of natural causes. Here, we have a couple of casualties.
The film does have an interesting setting, a Chicago skyrise. It’s too bad it wastes its potential. Imagine the crazy things that could have happened in a big city setting. I can just picture seeing spirits over the Chicago skyline. But we don’t see any spirits this time around and nothing exciting happens whatsoever.
Poltergeist III is the complete opposite of the first film. Uninspired, dull, and poorly written.
