Poltergeist III Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Carol Anne moves to a skyscraper, bringing her ghost problems with her, making everyone wonder why they can’t just move.

🍿 Poltergeist III: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Carol Anne’s New Life

Following the events of the previous films, Carol Anne is sent to live with her Aunt Patricia, Uncle Bruce, and cousin Donna in Chicago. She attends a school for emotionally disturbed children, hoping to overcome her past trauma. Dr. Seaton, her psychiatrist, believes her experiences are mass hallucinations.

The Return of Kane

Despite the efforts to protect her, Reverend Kane returns, terrorizing Carol Anne through reflections in mirrors. The high-rise building, filled with reflective surfaces, becomes a hunting ground for the malevolent spirit. Kane manipulates reality, creating illusions and freezing temperatures to torment the family.

Trapped in the Skyscraper

As the paranormal activity escalates, Donna and her friends find themselves caught in the crossfire. They sneak into the building’s pool, unaware of the dangers lurking within. Meanwhile, Bruce and Patricia struggle to understand the supernatural events, torn between disbelief and the undeniable horrors unfolding around them.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke): The young girl plagued by supernatural forces, now living with her aunt and uncle in a Chicago high-rise.
• Bruce Gardner (Tom Skerritt): Carol Anne’s uncle and the building manager, who initially doubts the supernatural events but becomes a key protector.
• Patricia Gardner (Nancy Allen): Carol Anne’s aunt who struggles to believe the supernatural occurrences, remaining skeptical for a long time.
• Tangina (Zelda Rubinstein): The psychic returns to help Carol Anne and her family combat the evil forces.
• Donna Gardner (Lara Flynn Boyle): Carol Anne’s teenage cousin who gets caught up in the supernatural events.
• Dr. Seaton (Richard Fire): The skeptical psychiatrist who believes Carol Anne is a manipulative hypnotist, dismissing the paranormal activity.
• Kane (Nathan Davis): The ghostly Reverend returns to terrorize Carol Anne, seeking to use her to enter the light.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Reverend Kane: “Carol Anne… Carol Anne… It’s time to go to the light…” – Kane’s recurring taunt as he attempts to lure Carol Anne to the other side.
• Tangina: “Outside… in?” – Tangina says this when trying to figure out how to reach Carol Anne and the others, indicating her understanding of the mirror dimension.
• Dr. Seaton: “Mass Hysteria, that’s all it is.” – Dr. Seaton stubbornly denies the supernatural events, attributing them to psychological causes.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $10.5M
• Domestic Gross: $14.1M
• Worldwide Gross: $14.1M

💥 Poltergeist III Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I grew up watching this, and while it’s nowhere near as good as the first ‘Poltergeist,’ it still holds a special, spooky place in my heart. The high-rise setting was genuinely creepy, and the whole mirror thing messed with my head as a kid. It is sad because Heather O’Rourke died before it was finished, and you can tell the ending feels rushed. This was the first movie where I was afraid of mirrors!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of the Poltergeist series”
  • “Viewers interested in supernatural horror”
  • “Those intrigued by mirror-based scares”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Intense horror sequences”
  • “Threatening supernatural entities”
  • “Death”
  • “Children in danger”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “The third Poltergeist movie is a bad and disappointing sequel, lacking scares. While Heather O’Rourke gives a good performance, the script, acting, and special effects are a significant downgrade from the original. Too many characters, and a choppy ending. Even though the special effects were interesting, this movie suffers from a bad script and bad acting.
• Rotten Tomatoes: “While the change of scenery from suburban California to a modern Chicago skyscraper presents interesting visual possibilities, ‘Poltergeist III’ ultimately delivers cheap scares and an illogical plot that wears thin quickly. The mirror effects make up for some pretty corny dialogue and the characters’ tendency to yell “Carol Anne!” every other minute.

Audience Reactions

Some viewers found the change of scenery to a high-rise building added a unique and unsettling atmosphere.: Despite its flaws, many remember it fondly for its creepy atmosphere and the creativity in using mirrors.

Overall Consensus: Generally considered the weakest of the original trilogy, Poltergeist III is criticized for its illogical plot, poor acting (with the exception of Heather O’Rourke), and cheap scares, though some appreciate its unique setting and creative use of mirrors.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Heather O’Rourke’s death during post-production led to significant alterations to the ending. A body double was used for some scenes.”
• “The film’s setting in a Chicago high-rise aimed to create a claustrophobic and modern haunted house.”
• “Director Gary Sherman claimed that the original ending was not filmed before Heather O’Rourke’s death, but this has been contradicted by others who worked on the film, and was disproved with the 2020 Blu-Ray release.”

🖥️ How to Watch Poltergeist III?

Poltergeist III is available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for television airings. Physical copies on DVD and Blu-ray can also be found at major retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Poltergeist III, you might like these similar films:

• Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986): Direct sequel, continuing Carol Anne’s story and the threat of Reverend Kane.
• The Shining (1980): Features a family terrorized in an isolated location, with psychological and supernatural elements.
• The Sentinel (1977): Deals with supernatural forces in a high-rise apartment setting.
• Lights Out (2016): A modern horror film focusing on a supernatural entity that appears only in darkness, creating a similar sense of dread.

🛒 Poltergeist III Related Products

• Poltergeist: The Legacy – Complete Series DVD: While not directly related to the film, this series explores similar themes and expands the ‘Poltergeist’ universe.
• Speak & Spell Electronic Learning Toy: A retro classic. Based on the iconic toy seen in the movie, this is a piece of nostalgia and terror. Not intended to communicate with ghosts
• Funko Pop! Movies: Poltergeist – Carol Anne: Stylized collectable stands 3 3/4 inches tall, perfect for any Poltergeist fan! This is the definitive Carol Anne merch.
• Poltergeist (4K UHD): Own the classic film in stunning 4K quality and revisit the origins of the Poltergeist saga.

🎧 Soundtrack

Poltergeist III features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Jungle Music” – performed by Simon Stokes and Billy Cioffi

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Poltergeist3

Ever wondered what secrets were hiding behind Poltergeist III? This video spills the tea on 10 things you probably didn’t know – some of them are pretty wild!

(1987) Poltergeist actress Heather O’rourke Dies

This is a sad but important part of the Poltergeist story. Check out this news report about Heather O’Rourke’s untimely death – it’s a reminder of the human side of the film.

Siskel & Ebert Poltergeist III (1988) Review

Want to hear what the legendary Siskel & Ebert thought of Poltergeist III? Their review is a classic – even if you don’t agree with them, it’s a fun watch!

Was The Poltergeist Movie Set Really Cursed?

Spooky! Was the ‘Poltergeist’ movie set really cursed? This video dives into the eerie rumors and tragedies surrounding the film – decide for yourself if there was something supernatural at play.

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