Poltergeist: Could Reboot Also Revive the “Poltergeist Curse”?

20th Century Fox's Poltergeist remake is scheduled for release to US theaters in 3D on July 24. The studio's official synopsis says: "Legendary filmmaker Sam Raimi and director Gil Kenan reimagine and contemporize the classic tale about a family whose suburban home is invaded by angry spirits. When the terrifying apparitions escalate their attacks and take the youngest daughter, the family must come together to rescue her." Directed by Kenan from a screenplay written by David Lindsay-Abair, the official remake of the 1982 horror movie classic has been given by the MPAA a PG-13 rating because of the "intense frightening sequences, brief suggestive material, and some language."

The Steven Spielberg-produced original, which was rated PG, starred JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson and the unforgettable then 5-year-old Heather O'Rourke whose "They're here" line in her character Carol Anne has become one of the most memorable movie quotes of all time. The $10.7 million movie went on to gross more than $74.7 million and spawn two sequels, Poltergeist II: The Other Side in 1986 and 1988's Poltergeist III. Unfortunately, the trilogy has also given rise to a rumored "Poltergeist curse" after four cast members died in unexpected ways in the six years between the releases of the first and third films: Dominique Dunne, who played the eldest daughter Dana in the first movie, died at age 22 after being strangled by her abusive former boyfriend; Julian Beck, who played Henry Kane in Poltergeist II, died of stomach cancer diagnosed just before he had accepted the role; Will Sampson, who played Taylor the medicine man in Poltergeist II, died as a result of post-operative kidney failure and other complications; and Heather O'Rourke, who played Carol Anne in all three Poltergeist movies, died at the age of 12 during surgery for a misdiagnosed illness.

The 2015 Poltergeist remake now stars Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Saxon Sharbino, and Jane Adams as the Bowen family whose suburban home is about to be invaded by a poltergeist. The young Kennedi Clements portrays their youngest member Madison Bowen. In an interview with E!News, DeWitt revealed that the little girl who will be playing her daughter will also be heard saying the iconic "They're here" line in the upcoming movie. Others in the cast include Jareed Harris, Nicholas Braun, Kyle Catlett, Susan Heyward, Karen Ivany, Soma Bhatia, and L.A. Lopes.

Incidentally, the supposed "Poltergeist curse" came about because real human remains were used as props in the first Poltergeist movie and many still hold on to the view that desecrating the remains of the dead angers their spirits.