MovieChat Forums > Poltergeist (1982) Discussion > I don't understand how this is scary?

I don't understand how this is scary?

posted 10 years ago by mahendru1992
53 replies | jump to latest

I just saw the movie today and I don't get it. I mean how is this the 'best horror' film ever etc etc? IMO, Annabelle, which is a *beep* film, is way scarier than this one. In fact films like Sinister and Conjuring, which may have their own cliches (I don't deny that) scared the bejesus out of me! Not to mention that I loved both of them

Keep in mind that I'm not talking about the characters or the story itself. I'm only talking about the 'horror' factor. Honestly except for the clown scene, nothing really scared me.

P.S Oh and no pointing out or attacking people (especially me lol) in this thread, unlike the other threads I've seen . Let's just try to have a mature discussion, okay?

[–] NickiDrea 10 years ago

This movie actually scares the crap out of me. First you find out that your house is haunted. Next, your child is taken from you to another plane that you have no idea how to reach. For a long time it's unclear if your child is dead or alive. Meanwhile, you know your child is in the house somehow and therefore you are forced to stay in a haunted house to find your child. All while you have to keep up normal appearances to the world because no one would believe you if you told them what was happening. Then you find out that your child is being manipulated by an evil spirit to try and control the souls of the spirits haunting your house.

The plot really does creep me out.

I also just love the movie. There's individual scenes that creep me out. For example, the scene with the kitchen chairs stacked on top of the table freaks me out even though I know it's coming. As a kid the scene in the bathroom with the young investigator guy scared the crap out of me.

Then there are just little scenes that I like even if some are a bit cheesy: the parents passionately kissing before the mom goes to get Carol Anne; the reaction of the female paranormal investigator to the haunted room (the shaking teacup); Tangina's monologue to everyone about what is keeping Carol Ann in the house; the dad screaming "you moved the headstones but you left the bodies!!" To the developer. The way that I always wonder, even on the fiftieth time I've seen this movie, how they will explain the disappearance of their house to their insurance company.

I love this movie, it came out the year I was born and I've loved it since the first time I saw it in the 80's.

That hexagon-face bitch, she's so passive-aggressive.

-SpencerFan

[–] mahendru1992 10 years ago

Next, your child is taken from you to another plane that you have no idea how to reach. For a long time it's unclear if your child is dead or alive. Meanwhile, you know your child is in the house somehow and therefore you are forced to stay in a haunted house to find your child

Okay, this part was really interesting but I didn't find it scary, maybe because I'm not a parent as of yet.

As a kid

Exactly! You were scared as a kid when the movie came out. Maybe it was the most scary movie of its time, but I don't think it is now. Honestly, I was laughing for the most part, except for whenever the creepy clown scene came out. Try seeing it now, I bet you wouldn't find it as scary. Or maybe even if you did see this movie again recently, I think that you were just reminded of how scary the movie was when you saw it the first time. At least that's what my theory is.

Then there are just little scenes that I like even if some are a bit cheesy

Agreed, some part were cheesy, but for the most of the film, it was less cheesy then some of the contemporaries today - Husband not believing the wife, parents not believing either of the children bla bla bla.

[–] NickiDrea 9 years ago

I just watched like like two weeks ago and it's still creepy to me...

That hexagon-face bitch, she's so passive-aggressive.

-SpencerFan

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] andreaahr (2332) 4 years ago

The chairs stacked up on the table freaked me out; one of the scariest scenes in the movie for sure and that music too; even more scarier!!!

[–] AckbartheHutt 10 years ago

This was pretty freaking scary in 1982. And in 32 years Annabelle will be considered not scary as well. I saw this movie when I was 11 and it scared the crap out of me.

[–] mahendru1992 10 years ago

This was pretty freaking scary in 1982. And in 32 years Annabelle will be considered not scary as well. I saw this movie when I was 11 and it scared the crap out of me.

If you read my earlier reply, I already mentioned that it would have been scary a long time back and I also agree that in a few years annabella wouldn't be as scary as it was now, not to mention it wasn't as horrifying as some of its contemporaries, but when people say that poltergeist is the scariest movie of all time, I don't get it.

[–] pannala537 10 years ago

Just because you dont get it doesnt mean we dont like it. I think it has to do with where your head is at when you watch it. For me I think that the movie alone is very creepy. I love the 80's special effects and I think that it really is a good movie. Where does it say its the scariest movie ever?? I dont think it is but I think its good. Things dont really scare me anymore and usually I watch movies just to be entertained. Not scared. To me you just sound like a troll who wants to pick a fight and then say hey its just my opinion. Maybe you should go watch the movies you think are good instead of making fun of ones we actually like. I have not seen Annabelle yet but since you saw it and think its scary can I guess your age. At least in your early 20's maybe even late teens????? Maybe you weren't alive for the good movies so you see them now and they do nothing for you. Who cares. We love this and others. YOu don't. What is the problem??? We can all have different tastes and opinions but why is it when you guys dont like something you have to run to the internet to state that fact. I so miss the 80's and 90's when you all didn't have to proclaim something and think its truth. I so wish the internet would go away!

Game Over!

[–] mahendru1992 10 years ago

Jesus Dude! Chill the *beep* out, like seriously. Read what I wrote carefully. I never wrote nor implied in any sort of way that the people who liked poltergeist have bad tastes or something to that effect. I wanted to know what made you guys tick.
You're the troll here not me

Peace out

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] mahendru1992 9 years ago

You sound like a 10 year old. The hec you talking about kid? Get over the fact that some people don't agree with your tastes. Fanboys I tell you :/

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[–] Steve_Freeling 9 years ago

I'm a boy and I will have you know this is my all-time favorite movie.

We just want you to find our little girl.

[–] Jose_Accent_On_E 8 years ago

You sound like a 10 year old.

Yeah, well how old are you, whippersnapper? Let I guess - 2016 minus 1992 equals 24 years old.

Now excuse me - I fractrured my hip when I bent down to retrieve my dentures...

[–] AckbartheHutt 9 years ago

Definitely not the scariest movie of all time, not sure what that movie would be. The first Evil Dead was pretty scary.

[–] moviechatterer (13270) 3 years ago

" And in 32 years Annabelle will be considered not scary as well"

um , why?
does the scaryness fall off a movie with age like fading paint?

[–] HumanFundRecipient 10 years ago

It may not be a blood-and-guts scary moment, but when Steven's supervisor talks to him about the expansion of the neighborhood- via "moving" the cemetery- and "It's been done before" (about the homes on Steven's street), it was a chilling moment putting two and two together.

Are we beginning to see the possibilities here?

[–] mahendru1992 10 years ago

neither was conjuring or sinister blood and guts scary.

[–] joshdesmond 10 years ago

Man I was just a kid when I saw this too for the first time. Just the old lanky dude scared the hell out of me. Even the little midget lady scared me LOL. Im gonna have my kids watch it since it is the time of the year to get scared. Hey it's only PG anyways. I can parentally guide that *beep*

[–] HellboundHero 10 years ago

Old lanky dude was in Poltergeist II.

[–] Kuato_and_George 9 years ago

I think you are likely on the younger side and a product of your generation. Old movies don't scare you. You need modern effects to feel the fright.

For my latest movie reviews and news: http://www.hesaidshesaidreviewsite.com

[–] mahendru1992 9 years ago

Yeah. I'm in my early 20s.
So what movie scared you the most?

[–] Kuato_and_George 9 years ago

I like this movie, Jaws, Alien, Aliens. Newer movie wise, I think The Conjuring is actually very good.

For my latest movie reviews and news: http://www.hesaidshesaidreviewsite.com

[–] kaskait 9 years ago

I saw the film on release.

It was never considered scary. The audience I saw it with were not scared. What the film was, was a theme park ride like the Haunted House in Disney.

[–] dgross-3 9 years ago

I too saw it in the theater, and when that giant skeleton head briefly boing'd into the bedroom and out again, I laughed out loud, it was so hokey.

[–] killsantakill 9 years ago

I saw this movie as a kid in the mid 1980s and it wasn't that scary then. I actually just watched it tonight because of all the hate with the remake trailer. I wanted to revisit this again, and it's still not scary at all.
Do you love horror movies? Instead of just watching them check out www.supportourmovie.com

[–] mahendru1992 9 years ago

Yeah, I seemed to get the same feeling when I finished seeing the film.
What I don't get is why is the movie labeled by many people as the 'scariest movie of all time'.
Well, maybe it's how they feel. :P

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] SnoopyStyle 9 years ago

because it happens to a little girl....