18.8.11

Poltergeist (1982)

On our second audio commentary we tackle yet another classic movie from the 80's. Poltergeist from 1982, directed by Tobe Hooper, written by Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais & Mark Victor, and produced by Frank Marshall & Steven Spielberg.

On this track we cover:
  • 80's movies
  • Makeup and visual effects
  • Controversy surrounding the director
  • Controversy surrounding the script
  • The Poltergeist curse

DOWNLOAD

Download the mp3 file here. Link.

Subscribe to the commentary podcast in iTunes. Link.

STATS

Participants: David Bjerre and Dennis Rosenfeld
Day of recording: August 18th, 2011.
Version: Poltergeist Bluray (also works with 25th Anniversary US DVD)
Movie runtime: 1:54:28

SCREENSHOTS

Gorgeous cloud tank shot.

A combonation of cloud tank elements and matte painting.

The most difficult bluescreen sequence ever.

Sometimes you just don't like what you see in the mirror.

The spirit on the stairs

Another epic matte painting.

The beast in a beautiful forced perspective shot.

The beast, shot as a water tank element.

The $250.000 sentence.

LITERATURE

Cinefex No. 10 (October 1982), article by Paul Mandell.

Cinefantastique, Vol. 13 No 2 & 3, article by James Van Hise.

Industrial Light & Magic: The Art of Special Effects, by Thomas G. Smith.

Poltergeist (The Novelization), by James Kahn.

LINKS

Poltergeist fan site. Link.

American Cinematographer Podcast - Episode 03. Link.

The Making of Poltergeist - Original 1982 Featurette. Link.

The Poltergeist location. Link.

Single-Minded Movie Blog, Cloud tank effect. Link.

Cinefex. Link.

IMDb. Link.

Wikipedia. Link.