By Staci Layne Wilson
@StaciWilson

Poltergeist is not out yet at the time of this writing, but some of the reviews are. And they are not kind. I’m assuming those are from hardcore horror fans who hate on anything that’s got the remake reek, or they are oldsters fondly remembering the now-dated Tobe Hoper flick they saw on the big screen back in 1982.

I look at the 2015 Poltergeist on its own merits. Yes, it’s not an original idea. But it’s been remade by some very respectable folks who are horror fans themselves – director Gil Kenan (Monster House) and producer Sam Raimi (Evil Dead) know what’s good and what works onscreen. Poltergeist is good. Not great, mind you. But thrilling, fast-paced, well-made and flawlessly acted. It’s the cast who really brings this tired old ghost story to life. (Thanks in part to witty dialogue written by Pulitzer prizewinner David Lindsay-Abaire.)

Sam Rockwell plays down-and-out dad Eric Bowen, who’s out of work and trying to make ends meet, which is especially difficult when he moves his family into a fixer-upper on the poorer side of town. The neighborhood was once the grounds of a cemetery, but the graves were moved – adding insult to injury – to a better part of town. Eric’s wife Amy (Rosemarie De Witt) is supportive, and his kids – teenaged Kenda (Saxon Sharbino), tween Griffin (Kyle Catlett) and the youngest, Maddie (Kennedi Clements) – well, they’re kids. Sometimes bratty, but always cinema-cute.

Very shortly after the family moves in, the ghosts try to evict them. When that doesn’t work, they snatch little Madison into their dark and deadly netherworld. The Bowens call in paranormal experts to exterminate the evil, and then all hell (excuse me, heck – this is a PG-13 movie) breaks loose.

While Poltergeist is not a film I would describe as “scary,” it is an exciting roller-coaster ride with never a dull moment. It’s a dark fantasy romp that’s well acted and nicely paced. It’s well worth the price of admission to see it on the big screen (it’s available in 2 or 3D).

PG-13
1:33 Minutes

Get times and tickets at Fandango.com

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