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
The third installment in the *Poltergeist* series, *Poltergeist III* moves Carol Anne to Chicago, living with her aunt and uncle in a high-rise building. The narrative centers on Reverend Kane's continued pursuit of Carol Anne, this time using mirrors and reflections as a primary means of terror. The film maintains the supernatural horror elements established in the previous entries, focusing on a more contained and urban setting.
While continuing the established storyline of Carol Anne's supernatural experiences, *Poltergeist III* shifts the environment from a suburban home to a modern city skyscraper. This change introduces new visual possibilities, with mirrors and reflections becoming central to the horror. The film aims to deliver thrills through its horror and thriller genres.
Released in 1988, the movie was part of the ongoing supernatural horror trend of the decade. It explores themes of religion and the supernatural, with keywords like "devil" and "demon" suggesting its focus on malevolent forces. The film's critical reception, with a 14% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 40/100 on Metacritic, indicates a mixed to negative response, a common challenge for later entries in popular horror franchises.
Why you might be searching for Poltergeist III
People often search for *Poltergeist III* when recalling specific visual sequences, particularly those involving characters being pulled into mirrors or the general use of reflections as a horror device. The continued story of Carol Anne and her experiences with Reverend Kane is also a key element that brings viewers back to this film, especially for those who followed the original *Poltergeist* movies.
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You can stream *Poltergeist III* on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube Free, Tubi TV, Kanopy, and Fawesome. It's also available to rent or buy on platforms like Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home, or on DVD and Blu-ray.
*Poltergeist III* is a supernatural horror film and is not based on a true story; it is the third installment in the fictional *Poltergeist* film series.
In the theatrical ending of *Poltergeist III*, Pat and Bruce finally save Carol Anne, Donna, and Bruce from the Other Side after Pat proves her love and Tangina convinces Reverend Kane to go into the light with her. However, Kane's evil laughter is heard at the end, suggesting he may return. An original ending, which was reshot after Heather O'Rourke's death, had Tangina grabbing a magical amulet to vanquish Kane, and a smiling Tangina waving goodbye to Carol Anne from a mirror.
*Poltergeist III* received generally negative reviews, with critics praising some special effects but noting thin characters and a lack of the psychological depth of previous films. It holds a 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 40/100, indicating mixed or average reviews.