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‘Poltergeist’ With Bill Simmons and Van Lathan

October 8, 2024 · Poltergeist (1982) · Horror · Thriller · 1:33:10

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 36:52Multiple scenes including the opening scene with the dog, Carol Ann's 'They're here' TV scene, kitchen chairs on the table scene, tree takes the brother scene, and Dr. Lesh's speech about spirits
Van Lathan▶ 37:34Agrees with the 'They're here' scene as particularly impactful and scary, and notes Dr. Lesh's speech as very important on rewatch

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:00:20Steak and Maggots

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:00:35The score by Jerry Goldsmith - not creepy enough, too happy, feels like it could have been for E.T.

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 1:03:24Being able to change your neighbor's TV with a remote - you can't do that now

Overacting Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:13Couldn't come up with anyone, thought the movie was well-acted. Considered but dismissed Zelda (eccentric but scaled down), the doctor (good performance), and maybe the little boy (plays up being scared but appropriately so)
Van Lathan▶ 1:06:18Agreed the movie was well-acted and perfectly cast. Initially thought Zelda would be the pick but agreed she scales it down appropriately

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:40Haunting and The Beast
Van Lathan▶ 1:06:43The Beast (with caveat about aggressive tone)

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:01Zelda Rubinstein (Tangina) is not a good actress and they could have cast someone better like Sally Field or Viola Davis
Van Lathan▶ 1:09:47The ghost world has reverse racial dynamics - ghosts predominantly target white people as revenge, which explains why there aren't many black horror movies

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:11:00Drew Barrymore — Presented multiple casting what-ifs: Stephen King was wanted to co-write but declined, Joe Spano was originally wanted for Craig T. Nelson's role, Shirley MacLaine was possibly offered a starring role, and Drew Barrymore was considered for Carol Ann but went to E.T. instead
Van Lathan▶ 1:11:56Drew Barrymore — E.T. would have been better for Drew Barrymore's career than Poltergeist because it's 'minted in film lore'

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:13:29Louis Teague, the evil developer - his scene calmly explaining and then getting mad at Craig T. Nelson
Van Lathan▶ 1:13:44Dominique Dunne — Dominic Dunn - good in every scene, especially screaming

Best Double Feature

Van Lathan▶ 1:15:19Ghostbusters — Ghostbusters with this (Poltergeist)

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:18:31Steven Spielberg — Spielberg (this era with Raiders, E.T. and Poltergeist), Jo Beth Williams, Creepy Clowns in a Bedroom, Portals in a Closet, Family Ghost Movies, Cursed real life movies, Frantic Escapes from a Fucked Up Haunted House
Van Lathan▶ 1:18:40Steven Spielberg — Spielberg (agrees this was his peak with maximum juice), Family Ghost Movies, agrees with most other picks including cursed real life movies

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:23:13Samuel L. Jackson — Sam Jackson
Van Lathan▶ 1:23:16Samuel L. Jackson — Sam Jackson as the Richard Lawson guy

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:23:38Visual effects
Van Lathan▶ 1:23:31The script/writing

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:23:39Multiple questions including JoBeth Williams stepmother relationship, why spirits targeted Carol Ann, YouTube views for paranormal footage, psychological impact on children, neighborhood aftermath, JoBeth Williams career potential, and memorabilia choice of TV for maximum value
Van Lathan▶ 1:24:25Carol Ann was born in the house explaining spirit targeting, paranormal footage would get 50+ million views, neighborhood percentage staying after house collapse, JoBeth Williams faced crowded competitive field with Meryl Streep/Sally Field, and would want Darth Vader clock or the TV as memorabilia

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:27:44When weird shit starts happening in your house that's really fucking scary and disorienting, get the fuck out. Just leave. Don't be a hero.
Van Lathan▶ 1:27:55Go to other houses, not other children. Just go somewhere else and have a nice weekend.

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:28:41JoBeth Williams — Either Spielberg or JoBeth Williams, leaning toward JoBeth Williams for her great performance in a huge movie where she deserved more credit
Van Lathan▶ 1:28:40JoBeth Williams

Movies Referenced (32)

Ghostbusters (1984)

7 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Shining (1980)

7 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 3:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Thing (1982)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 3:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Smile (2022)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 36:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

3 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 3:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Stir Crazy (1980)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 20:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

When a Stranger Calls (2006)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 1:04:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Action Jackson (1988)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 21:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Alien (1979)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 3:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

All the Right Moves (1983)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 21:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Altered States (1980)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 3:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fright Night (2011)

2 mentions · Van Lathan▶ 13:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (9)

Steven Spielberg

40 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan▶ 2:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tobe Hooper

12 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Poltergeist▶ 15:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Iyi Tubi

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Ex Machina, World War Z▶ 56:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Frank Marshall

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Raiders of the Lost Ark▶ 17:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Carpenter

1 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Dark Star, Halloween▶ 12:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Bellany

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Stardust▶ 0:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Rob Zombie

1 mentions · Van Lathan▶ 1:05:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Stanley Kubrick

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon▶ 29:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Wayne Jacobs

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:23:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (42)

Craig T. Nelson

14 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for The Incredibles, The Family Stone▶ 19:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joe Spano

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Apollo 13, Fracture▶ 48:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Zelda Rubinstein

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Poltergeist▶ 17:33IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kadeem Hardison

5 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for White Men Can't Jump▶ 55:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Jordan

5 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons · Known for Space Jam, He Got Game▶ 33:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Crazy Town

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Something's Gotta Give, Saving Silverman, Orange County▶ 0:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Wayne

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Quiet Man▶ 8:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Meryl Streep

3 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Out of Africa▶ 1:08:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Terry Bozeman

3 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons · Known for Charlie Wilson's War, The Amazing Spider-Man, Rules of Engagement▶ 1:19:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bill Nunn

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Do the Right Thing, Regarding Henry▶ 55:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ernie Hudson

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Ghostbusters▶ 1:13:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jon Rocks

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Lady in the Water, Split▶ 25:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (4)

Mike Flanagan

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 34:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Stephen King

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Maximum Overdrive▶ 3:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

George Lucas

1 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, THX 1138, American Graffiti▶ 1:27:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 35:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Justin Lesch

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles▶ 42:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗