It is a dark night.  The sky is pregnant with distant stars.  A lone fire lights the desert canyon wall.  Two Native Americans sit next to it.  There is chanting.  Soon, spirits are inhaled.  If the opening to Poltergeist II: The Other Side throws you for a loop, know that you aren’t alone.  It's trying something new-ish.  And it works.

In spite of the countless mysteries and deaths surrounding the Poltergeist franchise, the first sequel is the only one that dares relax a bit.

From this desert opening in which ghostly portals are opened, director Brian Gibson quickly shifts gears to focus on the fragile peace that has settled over the Freeling family.  Steve (Craig T. Nelson), Diane (Jobeth Williams), Robbie (Oliver Robbins), and Carol Ann (Heather O’Rourke) have regrouped at the home of clairvoyant Gramma Jess (Geraldine Fitzgerald).

Okay, maybe not the smartest of moves as Carol Ann’s grandmother only feeds what attracted the spirit world to the little girl all over again, but it does add a little security to this already troubled family.

At least, that’s one way to interpret the supernatural events in the sequel. 

There are many others as the supernatural regroups once again for some pretty heinous domestic hauntings.  The point is that the Freelings are about to get visited once again by members of the other side…including two creatures designed by Swiss surrealist artist H. R. Giger (of Alien fame).  While those creatures provide the film with some of its weirdest scenes, Poltergeist II is a bit of an edited mess, making it ripe for rediscovery with this release (even if the long rumored deleted scenes remain at large).

Written and produced by Michael Grais and Mark Victor (the duo behind Spielberg-backed original), the sequel to the 1982 hit is a darker and wilder ride (which is appreciated), but all of that is at the sake of actually frightening its audience.  The real scares here are from the living.  This is a special-effects bonanza, yet the new effects largely fail to do much to increase our fear throughout its running time.  We are left with only the scratching of our heads.

It is up to psychic Tangina Barrons (Zelda Rubinstein), a Native American shaman named Taylor (Will Sampson), and the mostly dead Reverend Henry Kane (a very creepy Julian Beck) to save the proceedings.  They do this only because they don’t ground anything in their performances and tilt this title straight into camp territory with their B-grade performances.  These three talents and how they are portrayed here – edits, dialogue, and otherwise – make this sequel worth remembering.

From a toy phone and its ability to connect the living with the dead to the final Mary Poppins-like flight of the Freelings through the void, much of Poltergeist II is thankfully without explanation.  We don’t want these ridiculous moments ruined for us with words.  While Robbie gets the best bit – when his braces go on the attack and start caging his head – and Steven gets to painfully spit up a possessed worm, it is the threatening hymn-singing from the bad ol’ Reverend Kane that creeps audiences out the most.

Scream Factory presents audiences a chance to revisit the child-abducting supernatural with a 4K release of Poltergeist II: The Other Side.  It is now available to own.  And, as I told my son, you can watch all you want, just promise me that you will never ever swallow a possessed Mezcal worm.  Lesson learned.

Open your hearts and let Poltergeist II: The Other Side into your homes for a chilling good time.

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Collector's Edition

Home Video Distributor: Shout Factory
Available on Blu-ray - August 27, 2024
Screen Formats: 2.35:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos; English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

In this thrilling follow-up to the smash hit Poltergeist, the Freeling family (JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Heather O'Rourke, and Oliver Robins) settles into a new home following the annihilation of their former residence by terrifying visitors from the netherworld. But the spirits of the dead are still hell-bent on luring the family to "the other side." This chilling sequel, directed by Brian Gibson (Still Crazy) also stars Will Sampson (One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest), Julian Beck (The Cotton Club), and Zelda Rubinstein (Teen Witch), returning as Tangina.

VIDEO

The 2160pHEVC encoded video is spot-on.  There’s really no word on whether or not the scan has been cleaned up for the 4K treatment, but the images are better than we’ve seen before on home video.  The 4K scan of the interpositive is supremely rich in details and colors.  While some of the effects show their age, there really is nothing to complain about.  Black levels are solid and shadows are thick.  Lines are strong.  And the colors – while they don’t pop – are cleaner and stronger than I’ve ever seen them appear.

AUDIO

The new 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track that is provided delivers the goods when it comes to upgraded dialogue, good atmospheres, and nice sound throughout the running time. 

Supplements:

Commentary:

• There are 2 commentaries, repeating on the two discs.  See below for details.

Special Features:

Inside, you get a new interview with Oliver Robins, the only actor willing to talk about these films it seems.  There’s a new interview with the special effects team from the movie, and a new look at the contributions from Giger.  The rest is filled with archival looks at the making of the movie.

DISC ONE (4K UHD):

• NEW 4K Restoration From The Original Camera Negative     
• Presented in Dolby Vision And Dolby Atmos
• Audio Commentary With Writer/Producer Michael Grais
• Audio Commentary With Webmaster Of The Poltergeist Fan Site David Furtney

DISC TWO (BLU-RAY):

• NEW Restoration From The Original Camera Negative
• Audio Commentary With Writer/Producer Michael Grais
• Audio Commentary With Webmaster Of The Poltergeist Fan Site David Furtney
• “Robbie’s Return” – An Interview With Actor Oliver Robins
• “The Spirit World” – An Interview With Special Effects Designers Richard Edlund, Steve Johnson, And Screaming Mad George
• Ghosts Of Giger” – A Look At The Contributions Of Artist H.R. Giger Featuring Rare Photos And Illustrations And An Interview With Friends And Agent, Les Barany
• "They're Back" - The Making Of Poltergeist II
• "Monster Shop"
• "Ghostmakers" - The Magic Of Poltergeist II
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots
• Still Galleries

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 91 mins
Director: Brian Gibson
Writer: Mark Victor; Michael Grais
Cast: JoBeth Williams; Craig T. Nelson; Heather O'Rourke
Genre: Horror | Thriller
Tagline: The Other Side.
Memorable Movie Quote: "You're all gonna die in there! All of you! You are gonna die!"
Theatrical Distributor: MGM
Official Site:
Release Date: May 23, 1986
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: August 27, 2024.
Synopsis: The Freeling family have a new house, but their troubles with supernatural forces don't seem to be over.