The making of the 1982 horror classic Poltergeist was shrouded in almost as much mystery as the film's plot, with a dark secret that remained hidden from the cast for decades. In a shocking revelation that adds another layer of terror to the iconic movie, it's been confirmed that the skeletons used in the famous swimming pool scene were not special effects props - they were real human remains.
A Director's Disturbing Discovery
Director Tobe Hooper, working under the powerful shadow of producer and co-writer Steven Spielberg, made a grim discovery during production. The skeletons, ordered from a medical supply company, arrived on set as genuine articles rather than the plastic replicas everyone had expected.
"If I'd known the skeletons were real, I'd have been even more disgusted," Hooper later confessed, capturing the moral dilemma faced by the production team when the truth emerged.
The Infamous Swimming Pool Scene
The climactic sequence where rotting corpses burst from the muddy swimming pool remains one of cinema's most terrifying moments. Actress JoBeth Williams, who played mother Diane Freeling, recalled the visceral horror of working with what she believed were convincing props.
"We were told they were amazing special effects," Williams revealed. "The thought that they were actual human bones never crossed our minds. The production team went to great lengths to maintain the illusion."
Budget Constraints and Ethical Dilemmas
The decision to use real skeletons stemmed from a surprising source: cost efficiency. In the early 1980s, genuine human skeletons were significantly cheaper than creating realistic plastic replicas. The production faced the ethical quandary of whether to halt filming and source alternatives or continue with the macabre discovery.
- Real skeletons cost approximately $400 each in 1981
- High-quality plastic replicas would have cost thousands
- The production used over a dozen skeletons in total
The Spielberg Factor
Steven Spielberg's influential role in the production cannot be overstated. While Tobe Hooper received directorial credit, Spielberg's hands-on involvement shaped much of the film's creative direction. The skeleton revelation adds another controversial chapter to the long-standing debate about who truly directed the horror masterpiece.
A Legacy Shrouded in Mystery
The Poltergeist curse mythology has grown over decades, with some connecting the real skeletons to various tragedies that befell cast members. This new confirmation about the production's ethical shortcuts provides fresh context for one of Hollywood's most enduring behind-the-scenes mysteries.
Four decades later, the revelation that actors were literally working with human remains adds an uncomfortable but fascinating layer to the legacy of a film that continues to haunt audiences worldwide.
