Tag: ghosts

Nearly everything that Steven Spielberg touches turns to gold, which is why I was excited to watch Poltergeist (iTunes). The beginning of the movie is creepy as all seven hells, as the little girl goes downstairs to talk to the TV, and it doesn’t stop there. A number of shots throughout this movie are decidedly creepy.

It’s always a pleasant surprise when I see famous actors and actresses in movies that predate where I first discovered them. While I always knew that Craig T. Nelson would have begun his career before Coach, I never knew he was in this movie. His performance is excellent, but it pales in comparison to how incredible Heather O’Rourke is. Spielberg is one of those rare producers and directors that is capable of finding child actors that are miles above the rest, and while he didn’t direct this film, his influence can be seen in how amazing she is in this movie.

The end of the movie is also excellently creepy. After it seems as though everything is safe again, the ending goes on longer than it should, until you realize that it’s not over at all, and the truly terrifying visuals haven’t yet begun. Had I seen this movie as a child, I am sure that I would have had nightmares forever.

If you’ve never seen this movie, you owe it to yourself to watch it, even if just for the last 30 minutes of awesomeness.

Also, Star Wars bedsheets!

I’ve seen the original White Noise (iTunes), though I don’t remember much about it. It was creepy. Not overly frightening, but still left me with genuine unease about actual white noise for a time. I had hoped that the sequel wouldn’t just be a rehash of the first, and it wasn’t (at least, as far as I can tell, considering how little I remember of the first).

White Noise 2 (iTunes) on the other hand had some well-played scare factor, despite a much less scary premise. Whereas the original focused more on the protagonist seeking out a method to communicate with the dead (specifically, his wife), the sequel has a protagonist that can tell when people are going to die and attempts to save them. However, in doing so, their fates are altered and the consequences are more severe than had they simply died “on schedule”. Of course, the best part of the movie is Nathan Fillion, whom I adore. But Katee Sackhoff also plays a significant role, which is another great reason to watch the film.

The effects for the movie are fantastic, particularly the intermingling of the dead among the living. The simple use of a color (or lack thereof) to accentuate the unliving is downright gorgeous in a handful of scenes (particularly the climax, when we finally discover how the side effects of saving someone’s life might actually be averted). I had expected a wholly different ending, though I found my self pleased with this one. It could have gone a whole different way, and I’m glad they didn’t, as it’s what audiences likely would have seen coming.

Anyway, this is a good one to watch with a loved one that is creeped out by ghastly images and dark figures in unexpected places. Especially if either of you find Nathan or Katee attractive (and if you don’t, what is wrong with you people?).

Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for a Firefly reference in the first 30 minutes of the movie. Well-played, Mr. Fillion, et al.