Customer Reviews

Poltergeist

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Rarely does a book written from a screenplay turn out better than this. Kahn's imagination expanded and expounded on what was a visual treat with the movie into something mind numbingly surreal in the written word. This book stands on it's own in so many ways.

Steve and Diane Freeling live an ideal life, Steve with a good job in a booming real estate economy and Diane a stay-at-home mother of three. But there's something they don't know about their property, something that came with the house, until Carol Anne, their five year old daughter, goes missing.

By chance, through a dream that dwarf-medium Tangina Barrons experiences, Dr. Martha Lesh and her team of parapsychologists get involved with the Freeling's dilemma. Dr. Lesh, and Tangina, have never encountered such a powerful presence as what resides in the Freeling's home. Tangina is determined to bring Carol Anne back from the netherworld she is trapped in.

Here is where the book shines above the movie. James Kahn takes us through these alternate dimensions of shadow, shade, arid wastelands, cloudiness, and sludge; and introduces us to the mystical creatures that dance within these realms. Here are creatures of shadow, fire, earth, plant, and demonic prescience. When Tangina encounters The Beast, she knows in her heart that she must save Carol Anne.

Kahn's description of these dimensions is worth the price of looking up a copy of this book, they are fascinating and inspired. The book haunts me in ways that the movie could not. A great deal of imagination and talent went into the novelization of this movie, and becomes a piece of written work that you shouldn't turn your nose up at. The book gives the impression that the movie was based on it, not the other way around. It's well worth your effort, should you be a horror or Sci/Fi fan, to pick up a copy. Enjoy!

Strobes, creepy voices, and crawling steaks were fun on-screen. But much was missing (or just badly acted by secondaries).

Much is explained in the book, and more detail is given as to the nature of the attacks on this fictional family. Taking nothing away from the awesome acting of the primaries JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson, the book lends more depth to the little girl, Carol Ann, the midget psychic who comes tot he family's rescue, and the paranormal investigation team who stays at the house. Each incident is deepened and expanded, providing more true fear material and less photographic shock.

More robust than the movie, and classically chilling, Poltergeist is a must-have for horror enthusiasts.

Just shut the closet door before you read!

This is a chilling read!! James Khan has fashioned a tight frightening text based on this film's screenplay. I felt it was excellently well written and expanded upon. It can be very hard to find this book but if you can find it, read it!!! It's great!

Books are usually better than movies. The same can be said for this one, but not by much. The book added some much needed depth that the film should have used. Another level of creepiness, this time seen from the other realm and it's ghosts.

The film did a great job of keeping it's viewers creeped out with all the horror, ghosts and kidnapping of a Carol Anne. Good special effects, even for an early 1980's film. The crawling meat, the guy ripping the skin off his face, and the climactic ending were very well done. Poltergeist is one of my all time favorite horror films.

I enjoyed the acting immensley. Heather O'Rourke was such an extremely cute child. I can still see her cute image in the Rams football helmet as she slides across the kitchen floor, as she is asking for pepperoni pizza. Fun stuff. JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson played the distraught, frightened parents. Their chemistry together was very believeable.

Tangina plays a huge part in the book, unlike the film where she appears only at the very end, and is only there because she was asked by the ghost hunters. The book has Tangina constantly dream about the "other side" and it's ghostly occupants. She eventually sees 5 year old Carol Anne lost in this other realm, and the dreams takes on another level of realism for her. She know understands that the little girl must be rescued. To make matters worse, she knows that she must confront the guardian of the realm; the beast. A creature who wanders the Freeling family home regularly without being seen. Very cool creepy visual.

I was freaked out on many occasions reading "Poltergeist". The part with the beast and describing it's thoughts and how it is filled with a venomness hates really got to me. The battle between the beast and the psychic Tangina in the other realm is epic. There is even a part in the book where the beast buries his horns in Tangina's eyes. Wow! It would have been great if the film, even slightly, delved into the other relam.

Bottom line, both book and film are great. Both are highly recommended.

I'm a big fan of "Poltergeist" the movie but the book is even better. So scary. The book goes even deeper than the movie ever could. We actually know what "the beast" is thinking throughout the story. He actually does battle with the little psychic lady before the final confrontation and many more new scenes that the movie doesn't have. Very well written and hard to put down. I found myself looking over my shoulder a few times to make sure I was alone. Read "Poltergeist". You won't regret it. Trust me.

I read this book years ago and was actually disappointed when I got to see the movie. I found the movie somewhat lacking because they don't fill you in where the psychic comes from (the book does) and so much more.

The only thing I did not like about the book was the ending seemed like a sequel was on the way. I would rather it just ended.

I enjoyed reading this given i was such a huge fan of the movie and it's certainly up there on my top five list of best movies of all time. This book was cool due to the detail it went into about what you didn't see what went on behind all the visuals.

One thing is for certain it completely changes your view on the relationship between dianne freeling and "The Beast". While some things in the book are slightly different from the movie. It was nice seeing more of Dana and what went on with her while all this was going on.

While the author is certainly no Stephen King or Dean Koontz I did read this in one day so it certainly keeps you reading. There are som big elements in the book that the movie did not go into detail about like Why Marty left and was never coming back, how Dana really felt about her parents and her "missing" little sister and after watchin poltergeist 2 giving Robbie a lot more character. and throwing in a few little surprises.

what would Poltergeist been like if it had been R rated instead of PG and how much better this could have been if Sir Steven hadn't been so busy with E.T. I really enjoyed the read. Watch the movie first, then read this book and you'll be entertained. hearing the characters voices from the movie in your head as you read along :)

While the book differs somewhat from the movie, it is worth reading if you're a fan of Poltergeist! The way the family meets Tangina is very different from the movie and you also get to read about her astral confrontation with "The Beast"! A deleted scene that can be seen in the orignal trailer for the movie is explained in great detail, as well as the way one of the ending scenes was shot differently! It is also explained in greater detail on what happened to Marty and why he didn't return to the house! If you're a fan and want to know more about this movie read the book. It's worth it!

This book has some extra parts that were not in the movie, the movie is my favortie. I liked how Dr. Lesh followed Tangina to the Freelings. Also the part where Marty has his gory encounter is a lot more gory in the book.

i am also a fan of the poltergeist moives!! the book is a good reading and is more in depth then the moive! all the the scenes from the book were used in the moive the special effects would be even more outstanding! i got scared all over again just reading this book.