‘Poltergeist’ With Bill Simmons and Van Lathan
October 8, 2024 · Poltergeist (1982) · Horror · Thriller · 1:33:10 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsMultiple 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▶ 36:52
Van LathanAgrees with the 'They're here' scene as particularly impactful and scary, and notes Dr. Lesh's speech as very important on rewatch▶ 37:34
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsThe score by Jerry Goldsmith - not creepy enough, too happy, feels like it could have been for E.T.▶ 1:00:35
Overacting Award
Bill SimmonsCouldn'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)▶ 1:06:13
Van LathanAgreed the movie was well-acted and perfectly cast. Initially thought Zelda would be the pick but agreed she scales it down appropriately▶ 1:06:18
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsZelda Rubinstein (Tangina) is not a good actress and they could have cast someone better like Sally Field or Viola Davis▶ 1:07:01
Van LathanThe ghost world has reverse racial dynamics - ghosts predominantly target white people as revenge, which explains why there aren't many black horror movies▶ 1:09:47
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsDrew 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▶ 1:11:00
Van LathanDrew Barrymore — E.T. would have been better for Drew Barrymore's career than Poltergeist because it's 'minted in film lore'▶ 1:11:56
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsJames Karen — Louis Teague, the evil developer - his scene calmly explaining and then getting mad at Craig T. Nelson▶ 1:13:29
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsSteven 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▶ 1:18:31
Van LathanSteven Spielberg — Spielberg (agrees this was his peak with maximum juice), Family Ghost Movies, agrees with most other picks including cursed real life movies▶ 1:18:40
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsMultiple 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▶ 1:23:39
Van LathanCarol 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▶ 1:24:25
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill SimmonsWhen 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.▶ 1:27:44
Van LathanGo to other houses, not other children. Just go somewhere else and have a nice weekend.▶ 1:27:55
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsJoBeth Williams — Either Spielberg or JoBeth Williams, leaning toward JoBeth Williams for her great performance in a huge movie where she deserved more credit▶ 1:28:41
Movies Referenced (31)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghostbusters (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:15:19 |
| The Shining (1980) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 3:39 |
| Conspiracy Theory (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 25:23 |
| Smile (2022) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 36:27 |
| Aliens (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 10:03 |
| Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 3:39 |
| When a Stranger Calls (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 1:04:55 |
| Alien (1979) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 3:39 |
| All the Right Moves (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 21:14 |
| Fright Night (2011) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan | ▶ 13:08 |
| Gladiator (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 36:24 |
| Halloween (1978) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan | ▶ 1:04:58 |
Directors Referenced (9)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Spielberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 40 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan | ▶ 2:47 |
| Tobe Hooper | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Bill Simmons | Poltergeist | ▶ 15:32 |
| Iyi Tubi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Ex Machina, World War Z | ▶ 56:01 |
| Frank Marshall | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Raiders of the Lost Ark | ▶ 17:18 |
| John Carpenter | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | Halloween | ▶ 12:42 |
| Paul Bellany | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Stardust | ▶ 0:05 |
| Rob Zombie | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | ▶ 1:05:21 | |
| Stanley Kubrick | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon | ▶ 29:32 |
| Wayne Jacobs | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:23:05 |
Actors Referenced (43)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craig T. Nelson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | The Incredibles | ▶ 19:35 |
| Richard Lawson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | Poltergeist | ▶ 44:48 |
| Joe Spano | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Apollo 13, Fracture | ▶ 48:23 |
| Zelda Rubinstein | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Poltergeist | ▶ 17:33 |
| Kadeem Hardison | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan | White Men Can't Jump | ▶ 55:02 |
| Michael Jordan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | Space Jam, He Got Game | ▶ 33:08 |
| Crazy Town | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Something's Gotta Give | ▶ 0:00 |
| John Wayne | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance | ▶ 8:27 |
| Meryl Streep | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan | Out of Africa | ▶ 1:08:38 |
| Terry Bozeman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | Charlie Wilson's War, The Amazing Spider-Man, Rules of Engagement | ▶ 1:19:39 |
| Bill Nunn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Spider-Man 3, Do the Right Thing | ▶ 55:56 |
| Ernie Hudson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Ghostbusters | ▶ 1:13:03 |
Writers Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Flanagan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 34:40 | |
| Stephen King | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 3:39 | |
| George Lucas | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, American Graffiti | ▶ 1:27:19 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 35:52 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Lesch | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | ▶ 42:45 |