Poltergeist the remake!

[tecnowraith]

Read on for the update: In 1982 MGM released one of the scariest films of all time, Poltergeist, which was written and produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Tobe Hooper. The film is of legend, being that it's not only extremely scary, but that it was rated PG (after an appeal from an R). Word has come down from various confirmed sources that the once titled "Poltergeist: Kayeri" is now being retooled as a remake of the original film. Poltergeist, which is about a family's home being haunted by a host of ghosts, is now looking to attach a director. More details inside:

I've just received official confirmation that the original idea for "Kayeri" will NOT be used for the remake, instead the new film will be a straight-up remake of the first film... pretty much frame-for-frame. Just think Hills Have Eyes...

Although Clint Morris did write the original "Poltergeist Kayeri", it's not believed he is part of the new project.

In addition, I can also confirm that Zelda Rubinstein, Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams will not be part of the remake.

In the original, a young family are visited by ghosts in their home. At first the ghosts appear friendly, moving objects around the house to the amusement of everyone, then they turn nasty and start to terrorise the family before they "kidnap" the youngest daughter.

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/7703

 

[trancejeremy]

Hrrrrmph. I can see doing that if the original were a low budget cult movie, but this can only be worse than the original. I mean, besides having top of the line special effects for the day (which still look good), it had really some really good acting. And directing by Hooper (and Spielberg, who is only credited as producer, but helped).

For this, they'll probably use a bunch of actors from the WB network (er, CW), use some cheap CGI, and have it directed by someone who did music videos.

 

[satori01]

Does the name familiarity of remaking a 'classic' or at least well known film or TV series really add to box office dollars? There are plenty of talented writers out there, why not have them work on new projects?

Studio film making seems to have devolved to remaking, re-imagining, or just plain translating films/TV shows from the past, or taking ideas from Japanese films.

Culturally translating is fine for me, The Departed was a good film.

However, the remake of the Omen, was not nearly as suspenseful as the original, how could it be, you replaced the engine of the film, the great performance by Gregory Peck, an actor that oozes gravitas,and you replaced it with a mediocre performance by Liev Shrieber.

Dukes of Hazard, Miami Vice, Manchurian Candidate, and now Poltergeist.

Any remake of Poltergeist will also have the problem that the original scared the beejezus out a whole generation of 30 somethings. I saw the film once, at the theatre. I have not seen it since, nor do I think I want to.

 

[Mark Chance]

...the new film will be a straight-up remake of the first film... pretty much frame-for-frame.

Hollywood is so out of ideas that now about all we see are film versions of movies. It's right down there with the novelization of the movie Flicka. Yes, that's right. Not a reissue of the Mary O'Hara novel My Friend Flicka, but a book version of the movie based on the book.

No wonder so many kids today are so utterly vacuous.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I, for one, will be protesting this movie.

 

[Jesus_marley]

I am going to wait until I hear further word as to who will be in it. Although the lack of Zelda Rubenstein will be a major setback. Who could possibly replace her?

 

[trancejeremy]

Richard Simmons?

 

[Sir Brennen]

Richard Simmons?

That's so wrong... but mostly because I could see it working...