Following the destruction of their Cuesta Verde home (in Poltergeist) the Freeling family are living with Diane's mother, Gramma Jess. Gramma dies shortly after young Carol Anne shows signs of clairvoyancy. When the dead Gramma's house is subjected to psychic phenomena similar in nature to that which they suffered at Cuesta Verde, the family flee in terror.
A mysterious Indian, Taylor, colleague of Tangina the psychic researcher who helped them regain Carol Anne in their previous paranormal adventure, persuades them to return to Gramma's home to fight the evil head on. The father, Sieve, is skeptical, but events prove that the Indian can be trusted. When a cadaverous-looking preacher, who in reality is a long-dead (but not for long it seems) 19th century religious zealot, Kane (now that's a familiar name! sorry John!), who committed his faithful followers to a living burial, arrives at the house, attempting to cause disharmony, out of which he hopes to gain possession of Carol Anne, the final act with all the forces of evil set against them into play.
Familiar territory: with one exception - there are no TV sets in the current Freeling household! Dad's banned them, while this might strike a welcome cord with film collectors, it prompts his son Robbie to remark that he's going to grow up retarded!
Not as effective as Poltergeist which is a had act to follow. This sequel has obviously had less money lavished on it and uses special effects more sparingly. Those that are used are quite effective, though I didn't like much a stomach churning creature that Sieve vomits forth (the result of drinking alcohol straight from the bottle in which Kane has secreted a pernicious maggot Steve unwittingly swallows - yuk!) though I doubt if this would bother anyone who has sat through Alien few times. Directed by Brian Gibson.
The print, marred only slightly by some sparkle early in the first reel, is beautiful - crisp, crisp, crisp! Top-notch colour, and the stereo sound, though extremely low on our review copy, was good too (probable top-notch too on a fully modulated print) with what appeared to be some effective surround sound via my Yamaha Pro-Logic decoder and sub woofer (pity 'bout the neighbours). This print (slightly sparkle notwithstanding) easily rates an A* - very easy on the eye, even if the content is not on mine! Recommended to Poltergeist fans.
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Distributed by: Derann
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The above review was printed in Super Eight Film Review issue 23 from Winter 1992. |
This page was last updated 02 Dec 2002