The 1982 horror masterpiece Poltergeist, produced by Steven Spielberg, remains a landmark of American cinema, but its legacy is shadowed by a series of tragic real-life events that many have labelled a sinister curse.
This tale of a suburban family terrorised by supernatural forces in their new home seems to have invited real-world darkness, marked by multiple untimely deaths and bizarre on-set incidents that continue to fascinate and unsettle fans decades later.
The Tragic Toll: Cast Deaths That Shocked Hollywood
The so-called Poltergeist curse began its grim work almost immediately after the first film wrapped. Dominique Dunne, who played teenage daughter Dana, was tragically murdered in late 1982.
Just months after filming, she was strangled by an ex-boyfriend during a confrontation. He was later convicted of voluntary manslaughter and served a reduced sentence, a devastating loss that left the cast and crew in mourning.
Perhaps the most heart-breaking loss was that of Heather O'Rourke, the young star whose delivery of the line "They're heeere!" became iconic. In 1988, she collapsed from a sudden medical emergency.
Despite being airlifted to a children's hospital, medical efforts failed. Her death was ruled the result of an intestinal abnormality, complicated by infection and septic shock. Poltergeist III was released just four months after her passing.
The tragedy extended to the sequel, Poltergeist II. Julian Beck, the actor who portrayed the terrifying Reverend Kane, passed away from stomach cancer in 1985. Will Sampson, who also appeared in the second film, died in 1987 due to complications following a heart-lung transplant.
Haunted Props and On-Set Exorcisms
Beyond the tragic deaths, the production was riddled with eerie occurrences. Crew members have claimed that the filmmakers used real human skeletons in the film's infamous climactic scene where a pool erupts with corpses.
It was reported that real skeletons were sourced from medical suppliers because they were cheaper and looked more authentic on camera than plastic replicas, adding a macabre layer to the production.
The atmosphere on set, particularly during the sequels, was often described as tense and uneasy. Multiple accounts from crew interviews and magazine features suggest that actor Will Sampson, who played a Native American medicine man, felt the presence of such darkness that he performed an exorcism on the set after a night's filming had concluded.
Critical Acclaim Amidst the Darkness
Despite the off-screen turmoil, Poltergeist was met with significant critical praise upon its release. Legendary critic Roger Ebert called it "an effective thriller," applauding how the film presented its strange events through the eyes of the family, preventing the special effects from overwhelming the cast and audience.
The Washington Post noted its power to "arouse childhood fears, teasing away adult defences… making us hunker in our seats." The film's quality was further cemented by its three Academy Award nominations, and it was later named the 20th scariest film ever made by the Chicago Film Critics Association.
An intriguing piece of film trivia reveals that Spielberg initially wanted horror author Stephen King to co-write the screenplay, but the prolific writer was committed to other projects at the time.
The combination of its artistic success and the enduring mystery of its troubled production ensures the Poltergeist curse remains a compelling and chilling chapter in Hollywood history.
