The first trailer for 20th Century Fox's and MGM's Poltergeist reboot is here, and it's scarier than what I expected. Produced by Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead) and directed by Gil Kenan (Monster House), the film reboots the 1982 classic, which was written by Steven Spielberg and directed by Tobe Hooper. It followed the Freeling family, who has their daughter taken in through a television screen by menacing spirits, before turning to a parapsychologist for help. It starred Craig T. Nelson, Oliver Robins, JoBeth Williams, Dominique Dunne, and Heather O'Rourke.
The reboot has a very impressive cast that includes Sam Rockwell, Jared Harris, Rosemarie DeWitt, Saxon Sharbino, Jane Adams, and Kennedi Clements. Like the 1982 version, this Poltergeist reboot involves a family, the Bowens, that move into a house. Of course, that house has bad spirits in it, and it eventually leads to them calling a supernatural researcher and clairvoyant for help.
Raimi has been quoted saying, "The original film commented on how we've let television get out of control, babysitting our kids. It's only gotten worse with the handheld portable devices. Screens are everywhere."
In other news, I've now removed my kids' tablets from the house and have smashed all the TV screens in my house. I've also removed all of the closet doors in my house. I had goosebumps throughout this entire trailer. I can't wait to see it because I didn't have high expectations, and I'm definitely happy with the tone of the trailer. Yea, it's a lot of jump scares, but there are genuine creepy moments in there.
Poltergeist is set to open in theaters in 3D on July 24, 2015.
