lojitsu A-Z Horror Movie of the Day..."Poltergeist 2: The Other Side" (PG-13 - 1986 - US)Sub-Genre: Paranormal/Sequel My Score: 6.6Cast=8 Acting=7 Plot=7 Ending=9 Story=6 Scare=4 Jump=5 F/X=7 Creep=8 Sequel=5The Freeling family have a new house, but their troubles with supernatural forces don't seem to be over. "Alright then! I'll sing you a song...until your mom comes back!" God can stay in his holy temple as I watch this awaited sequel. I still liked this, but the script wasn't as good. Reverend Kane was as creepy as all get out and it had a solid ending. The story had holes in it and the scares were lacking, but it's still worth seeing for the paranormal fan. One thing's for sure...they're gonna have to move again!

Sober-Friend "Poltergeist" to me was one of the most scary movies I have ever seen.". "Poltergeist II" however was a one the most disappointing movies have ever seen.Now this film was not exactly a money grab. It was made 4 years after the first film. However watching this film is like watching a film that ended too soon because the production ran out of money. The movie itself is about the "Freeling Family" and it's about a year later. The are living with Diane's mother. However the events of the first film has left major scars on the family. One of the residual effects is the fact they no longer have television. Also Carol-Ann nows seems to be clairvoyant and a scary man seems to be chasing the family now or is he a "ghost"?Also returning is Zelda Rubinstein who's role seems to have been shoehorned in. I know MGM cut 20 minutes or weeks before the film was released. I don't know if the studio ran out of money but the ending seemed to be abrupt and silly. You can tell this was not the intended ending. Something seemed missing! I just wonder if it was filmed?

SnoopyStyle The house is gone. Tangina Barrons is digging at the site and finds the Indian burial grounds. She is joined by Native American shaman Taylor. The Freelings have moved in with Diane's mother Jess in Phoenix (without the older daughter). It's been a year and their insurance claim is in limbo. Steve is struggling selling vacuum cleaners. The evil spirit of Rev. Henry Kane is after Carol Anne. Jess dies after telling Diane of Carol Anne's abilities. Tangina sends Taylor to help the family.The death of Dominique Dunne needs to be acknowledged. Her character vanishes as if she never existed. It leaves a big hole especially since her scream is such an iconic scene. This sequel is essentially setting up for a repeat with Taylor as the new outside help. I don't like Taylor and he's not really necessary. Kane has a nice creepy look but he would be more effective at night. I don't understand why his scenes happen in the daylight. It also rewrites the cause of the original. I really don't like the retcon. The original's idea of the cementary is far superior putting the cause down to greed. On the other hand, the best has to be the limb-less creature coming out of Steve. It's a very memorable creature design. Overall, this could have been a functional stand alone movie. The retcon is problematic. As a sequel, the sense of inferiority is never far.

AaronCapenBanner Inevitable sequel to smash-hit original is far less effective horror wise, with the melodramatic story of how the ghosts were not left behind when the Freeling family moved, but instead follow them to their new home. The chief ghost(a sort of creepy old man who led a cult) is determined to seize Carol Anne, and use her to guide the ghosts out of limbo, and through the other side...Trying to make sense out of the bizarre happenings is futile, film is only concerned with over-the-top F/X sequences that blindside the viewer, and result is a nonsensical sequel that serves no real purpose; though cast is still good, the film is not.