Tobe Hooper was on board as director, with Spielberg in production mode for ET. The special effects were incredibly detailed, with real skeletons surrounding the character Diane Freeling after her fall into the pool. However, these were not props - they were actual skeletons.
The filmmakers used a combination of camera tricks and rotating sets to capture impressive sequences, including Diane's harrowing drag across the ceiling. Meanwhile, Martin Casella shared his experience playing Dr Marty Casey, describing how he was forced to perform a gruesome scene where he hallucinates clawing off his face. This involved working with an upper-body dummy rigged up with prosthetics.
The tension in Poltergeist is palpable, particularly when it comes to scenes depicting supernatural horrors. Spielberg insisted that the film's horror content would be toned down for a PG rating, but some more graphic elements were indeed cut from the final version of the movie.
The filmmakers used a combination of camera tricks and rotating sets to capture impressive sequences, including Diane's harrowing drag across the ceiling. Meanwhile, Martin Casella shared his experience playing Dr Marty Casey, describing how he was forced to perform a gruesome scene where he hallucinates clawing off his face. This involved working with an upper-body dummy rigged up with prosthetics.
The tension in Poltergeist is palpable, particularly when it comes to scenes depicting supernatural horrors. Spielberg insisted that the film's horror content would be toned down for a PG rating, but some more graphic elements were indeed cut from the final version of the movie.
that prosthetic dummy must've been super heavy! anyway, it's crazy how Spielberg toned down the horror content for a PG rating but still managed to include some more graphic elements in the final cut.
anyway back to poltergeist, i think what's really interesting is how the special effects hold up even today. i mean, those skeletons were crazy for 82 and they still look insane now 
️ they did an amazing job with the special effects back then, it's crazy to think those weren't just props - actual skeletons!!! 
Spielberg's vision for ET and Poltergeist is so inspiring, and i love how he pushed the boundaries of what was possible on screen. that one scene where Diane drags herself across the ceiling still gives me nightmares 
). The whole thing just highlights how much planning and creativity goes into making a classic like Poltergeist – it's no wonder it still sends chills down people's spines today 
I mean, come on, actual skeletons in ET? That's just ridiculous! They must've had some crazy special effects team that I'm not aware of 
. I think they just used animatronics or something to make it look all spooky and stuff. And what's up with Spielberg wanting to tone down the horror content? Like, is he trying to be all PG-rated on our behalf or something? 
It makes sense that some more graphic elements would get cut from the final version, but still... I mean, ET is a movie about an alien who flies, not some ghost story! 
Anyway, Poltergeist is still a classic, even if it's not as "spooky" as everyone makes it out to be 
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And can we talk about Martin Casella's experience playing Dr Marty Casey? The guy had to do a scene where he hallucinates and rips off his own face with this upper-body dummy... that's like something out of a horror movie itself!
I was so young when it came out and my grandparents used to tell me this scary story all the time... they even showed me some old clips from the movie (much to my embarrassment 
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) gets so emotional and intense that it's hard to shake off, even when things get weird and crazy afterwards 
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. It's wild to think about how much detail went into creating a more realistic atmosphere, from rotating sets to camera tricks. And Martin Casella's experience playing Dr Marty Casey sounds super intense - I can see why he'd want to get out of that creepy face scene ASAP 
. But honestly, the PG rating really limited what they could show, so it's no wonder some scenes got cut...
I mean, I know it was for the role of Dr Marty Casey but still... how many people get to work with actual fake body parts on set?! The way they used camera tricks and rotating sets to capture those intense sequences is just mind-blowing. And let's be real, Spielberg wanting to tone down the horror content just so they could get a PG rating? Like what even is that?! 
I mean I love ET as much as the next person but you can't deny Poltergeist was the OG spooky flick 
. I mean, what's wrong with a good jump scare every now and then 
? But at the same time, I don't think it changed the overall vibe of the movie that much... or did it? 
The tension in Poltergeist is still so effective today, even with some elements cut out, it's like Spielberg knew exactly how to rattle audiences without crossing a line. Still, some of those original cuts could've made it an even more terrifying watch...