Poltergeist II: The Other Side

Name: Poltergeist II: The Other Side
Genre: Horror
Released: May 23, 1986
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 49
Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Heather O'Rourke, JoBeth Williams, John P. Whitecloud

1986

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Mixed or average reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Ratings

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: May 23, 1986 | PG-13

Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Heather O'Rourke, JoBeth Williams, John P. Whitecloud, Julian Beck, Noble Craig, Oliver Robins, Will Sampson, Zelda Rubinstein

Summary: The Freeling family have a new house, but their troubles with supernatural forces don't seem to be over.

Director: Brian Gibson

Genre(s): Horror

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 91 min

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Critic Reviews

Staff (Not Credited)

This time around, co-scripters Mark Victor and Michael Grais (who wrote the first Poltergeist with Steven Spielberg) have the focus of evil in human form, in the perfectly cast, since deceased, Julian Beck. Read full review

Dave Kehr

Altogether, an unusually honorable achievement in a form (the remake) where originality is a dirty word. Read full review

Bill Cosford

The original was good enough so that a residue of curiosity about the Freelings remains; we want to know what happened next. But a sequel is a sequel is a sequel, and this amiable movie is very much a II. [23 May 1986, p.D1]

David Ansen

It groans under the burden of explanations and exposition, not to mention moral homilies. Family love can conquer evil, according to director Brian Gibson's sequel, which is very nice to know but not why anybody will plunk down money to see this movie. [02 June 1986, p.75]

Staff (Not Credited)

This sequel, sans Spielberg but obedient to his spirit, simply fails to regenerate the original's gut-grinding fears that make you dread ever scratching a spot again. And the contribution of Giger's design work has only added one near-unwatchable sequence. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Although an improvement thematically over the first film (the childlike awe of the original has been replaced by a very adult fear of impotence), Poltergeist II is terribly disjointed and dramatically unfulfilling. Read full review

Paul Attanasio

There are movies that make you want to mince words, and then there's Poltergeist II: The Other Side, a movie so ineffably bad, you can't even find the words to mince. [23 May 1986, p.D2]

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User Reviews

Dungeon00X

Nov 23, 2019

This is probably my most favorite scary movie ever, seeing as it still scares me. Most of the cast returns, with Craig T. Nelson still killing it in this film, following the events of the first movie. A lot of this film's scare factor comes from the assistance of creature designs by H.R.This is probably my most favorite scary movie ever, seeing as it still scares me. Most of the cast returns, with Craig T. Nelson still killing it in this film, following the events of the first movie. A lot of this film's scare factor comes from the assistance of creature designs by H.R. Geiger (God rest his soul) making the ghouls much more horrifying. All of the practical and visual effects are amazing, there are even a few zombies thrown in as ghosts -they may have thought this was a monster film- for good measure. My favorite part of the film that still scares me is the father's possession and it almost turns into domestic violence but then the horror part comes when he pukes up the worm and then IT flips over the bed and stares at them with a sinister grin crawling out of the room. The climax of the film is probably the most heartwarming which is the only part I won't spoil, go watch it for yourself!… Expand

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HellHoleHorror

Feb 16, 2022

Looked a little bit soft here and there. The blacks were a little messy too. The camera movement was nice and always interesting yet subtle. The visual effects look very dated and fail to impress. It was a little uneven to listen to. Some bits were louder than others. Some of the dialogueLooked a little bit soft here and there. The blacks were a little messy too. The camera movement was nice and always interesting yet subtle. The visual effects look very dated and fail to impress. It was a little uneven to listen to. Some bits were louder than others. Some of the dialogue was a little flat. Other than that it worked really well with great music and sound effects. The film starts quite slow and shows the family continuing their life after the first movie. It slowly builds up and then there is a great final twenty minutes of exciting horror. There are also a few good bits along the way. It's not as noticeable as the first movie but still very fun. The guy dressed in black who haunts them is a truly fascinating actor; he plays the role with such menace. Not as good as the first movie but still very entertaining.… Expand

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Steven1981

Mar 20, 2020

Poltergeist II: The Other Side, yes indeed, the other side of not the best follow up to the original but at least we see the beautiful Heather O'Rourke, Jobeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Oliver Robins return aswell as Zelda Rubinstein but we are also introduced to Will Sampson and JulianPoltergeist II: The Other Side, yes indeed, the other side of not the best follow up to the original but at least we see the beautiful Heather O'Rourke, Jobeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Oliver Robins return aswell as Zelda Rubinstein but we are also introduced to Will Sampson and Julian Beck.. Poltergeist II has some good scenes at the beginning that are very well done in terms of horror and overall good special effects. However as the film progresses the horror scenes seem less fun, dull, bland and non interesting and were certainly not as good as the amazing horror scenes in the original. Julian Beck plays some evil character called Kane who's the villain and is cringeworthy and borderline paedophile if you ask me and they could of found a better actor. Will Sampson as some Indian character who helped the Freeling family against the forces of darkness was mainly boring and wooden. Oliver Robins was annoying in a few scenes and that's pretty much it. None of the characters from the original were annoying so this sequel is strange to say the least but it has scenes of beautiful and tranquility and innocence and also darkness, rage, pure evil and absolute terror but it's not scary, neither was the original but it was certainly more entertaining than Poltergeist II. However Poltergeist II: The Other Side was more enjoyable than Poltergeist III but not the first because the original is the best one. Poltergeist II was made in 1986 by director Brian Gibson and is a supernatural horror... Watchable at best.… Expand

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