Review: Poltergeist III (1988)

I've always found it a bit weird that Poltergeist 3 (again, I am not doing the Roman numerals outside of the review title, mostly out of laziness) is considered the worst of the trilogy.  One could consider its muted response was somewhat because of the death of star Heather O'Rourke, a tragedy that would make many avoid a movie where the young actress is in peril.  But even in the years since, this movie is often considered the worst - no critical reappraisal has ever really gone against the popular belief that it is the worst.

There are a few ways that it is a step down from the previous two.  Namely, the 'undead effects' and the non-return of JoBeth Williams, Craig T Nelson, and Oliver Robins.  Losing three-fourths of your main cast would hit any franchise hard, and while I think the director and crew do a good job getting around the reduced budget, the seams still show in several areas.

Set in Chicago instead of California, the film takes place in a high rise tower.  The change is setting helps keep the movie a bit more fresh in my opinion, and the decision to use mirrors as the primary method of scares is a good one.  Who hasn't caught a flash of something as they turned their head from a mirror?  How horrible would it be to turn back and see what you had barely missed before?  Other horror movies have explored this more fully, but as a basis for how the return Kane (Nathan Davis, though Julian Beck is given a special mention in the credits) affects the world around him, the many mirrors is a striking choice.

The movie also differs from the previous two in that is willing to kill characters - the first time in the franchise that has happened (we are not counting Gramma Jess's death from part 2, as it was not caused by the supernatural like in this movie).  It's not a large change, but it does re-add some stakes to the movie after the absence of them from the previous.

The performances from the new cast members are fairly strong, though Nancy Allen struggles with some late-in-the-movie dialogue that feels out of place.  But you have reliable actors like Tom Skerritt and Lara Flynn Boyle working the material well, and even O'Rourke - tasked with much more dialogue than in the previous films - does fine for a young actress.

I'd say it is scarier than 2 though, again, with lesser special effects and makeup.  I don't think either of the sequels would keep anyone up at night, but this one would surprise them a bit more during the viewing.  But if you only watch the first one, it isn't a crime to have missed either of the sequels.

6.5 out of 10