Poltergeist III (1988)
Carol Anne has been sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle in an effort to hide her from the clutches of the ghostly Reverend Kane, but he tracks her down and terrorises her in her relatives' appartment in a tall glass building. Will he finally achieve his target and capture Carol Anne again, or will Tangina be able, yet again, to thwart him?
Details
Budget
$10,500,000
Rating
5/10 (495 votes)
Status
Released
Production Companies
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
About Poltergeist III
Poltergeist III, released in 1988, is the third installment in the Poltergeist series, continuing the story of Carol Anne. This film shifts the setting from suburban homes to a high-rise apartment building in Chicago, Illinois. It maintains the horror and thriller elements of its predecessors, focusing on supernatural threats and religious themes involving demonic entities and the struggle against them.
The film explores themes of good versus evil through the ongoing pursuit of Carol Anne by Reverend Kane. Its plot centers on supernatural occurrences within an urban environment, using mirrors and reflections as a central motif for the poltergeist activity. Despite being a sequel with familiar characters like Tangina, Poltergeist III attempts to present a new kind of haunting, moving away from a traditional haunted house narrative into a more contained, vertical space.
Critically, the film received low scores, with a 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 40/100 on Metacritic. The audience reception, reflected in an IMDb rating of 4.7 out of 10 from over 22,000 votes and a TMDB average of 5 out of 10 from 495 votes, indicates a generally unfavorable view compared to earlier films in the franchise. These ratings suggest that while the movie aims to continue the series' legacy of scares and supernatural suspense, it did not resonate positively with many viewers or critics.
Why you might be searching for Poltergeist III
People recall Poltergeist III when searching for movies about a family haunted in an apartment, specifically with a child being targeted by a ghost or demon. The film's unique setting in a tall glass building in Chicago and the continued presence of Carol Anne, who is known for attracting poltergeist activity, are distinguishing details. Searches also reflect memory of the use of mirrors as a plot device for supernatural encounters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about finding and identifying movies
You can stream *Poltergeist III* on FuboTV, MGM+ (Amazon Channel), MGM Plus, Philo, or for free with ads on The Roku Channel and VIX. It's also available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home. [justwatch.com](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/poltergeist-iii)
*Poltergeist III* is not based on a true story; it is a supernatural horror film. The movie is the third and final installment in the original *Poltergeist* film series and is based on characters created by Steven Spielberg. [wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poltergeist_III)
In the theatrical ending of *Poltergeist III*, Tangina returns after her apparent death to give Pat and Bruce advice and her necklace. Pat eventually faces Kane, and Tangina convinces Kane to go into the light with her. Donna, Bruce, and Carol Anne return to Pat, but Kane's evil laughter is heard at the end, hinting he may not be gone for good. There was also an original ending, later released on Blu-ray, where Pat confronts Kane among frozen bodies, including Tangina, who uses an amulet to vanquish Kane. [wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poltergeist_III)
*Poltergeist III* received negative reviews from critics and was a box office disappointment, earning $14.1 million against a $9.5 million budget. Critics found the plot thin and were annoyed by repetitive elements, though some acknowledged the ingenious special effects which were mostly done live on set. [wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poltergeist_III)