Film

Poltergeist III

Name: Poltergeist III
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Released: 1988
Cast: Tom Skerritt, Nancy Allen, Heather O'Rourke, Lara Flynn Boyle, Kipley Wentz

Poltergeist III relocates the haunted-child saga to a Chicago high-rise, where Carol Anne's desperate refuge becomes a vertical funhouse of supernatural malice. It's a late-eighties creature feature that trades the original's domestic dread for maximalist spectacle—mirrors, elevators, and Tom Skerritt's face registering deep concern. For fans of the first two films who want more possession-adjacent chaos, even when the seams show.

TMDb rating

2.6

If you liked this

Poltergeist II: The Other Side1986

The direct predecessor and notably better: it deepens the mythology while maintaining the family-under-siege tension. Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams anchor something genuinely unsettling, and the Reverend Kane is a formidable antagonist.

But Eighties special effects show their age, and the tone wobbles between camp and sincere horror. Some sequences feel unintentionally funny now.

Poltergeist1982

The original still works: Tobe Hooper directed this pristine suburban nightmare where a family's home becomes genuinely alien. Spielberg's sensibility meets real craft, and the scares have teeth.

But If you haven't seen it, starting with the first is wiser than jumping in here. Coming back afterward will feel like homework.

Insidious2011

Modern equivalent of the possessed-child template: atmospheric, inventively scary, with a clear narrative drive and James Wan's visual precision. It knows how to build dread without relying on mirror tricks or elevator drops.

But Less concerned with family dynamics than Poltergeist; it's leaner and colder, which some find more effective but others find emotionally distant.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Poltergeist III

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

House1977

Both trap characters in architecturally impossible spaces where the building itself becomes the active malevolent force. Hausu treats this premise as dream-logic rather than realistic horror, but the core terror is identical.

A Japanese haunted-house film that abandons realism entirely—surreal, gorgeously colored, deliberately illogical. It's what happens when a director prioritizes mood and visual invention over plot coherence. Hypnotic and utterly strange.

But Narrative logic is secondary to aesthetic texture. Viewers expecting a conventional story will find it frustrating and impenetrable. Subtitles required.

The Twilight Zone1959

A single perfect episode about environmental horror that's understated and genuinely claustrophobic. It proves that dread doesn't require ghosts, just the slow wrongness of reality bending.

But It's thirty-six minutes and in black-and-white. If you want the full '80s horror experience, this won't scratch that itch.

Thir13en Ghosts2001

Another high-rise/enclosed-space haunting with a similar visual vocabulary—mirrors, glass, elaborate supernatural architecture. Fun ensemble cast and unapologetic spectacle that doesn't pretend to be art.

But Tonally confused and occasionally silly in ways that undercut the scares. The plot mechanics are convoluted and not always coherent.

Sinister2012

Ethan Hawke as a true-crime writer haunted by footage that's genuinely disturbing. It builds a suffocating atmosphere where you feel the protagonist's spiral into obsession and dread.

But Slow-burn approach means long stretches without payoff. The final act divides viewers sharply on whether it lands or deflates.

The Haunting1963

A masterclass in psychological horror where architecture itself becomes a character. Robert Wise uses shadow and suggestion instead of jump-scares, and it's infinitely more effective. The house wins.

But Deliberately ambiguous about whether the hauntings are real or psychological. If you want clear supernatural rules, this refuses to deliver them.

Beetlejuice1988

Released the same year as Poltergeist III, it's proof that supernatural chaos works better when played for laughs. Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton in a haunted house that's actually fun, with practical effects that dazzle.

But Comedy-horror requires tonal balance that doesn't always land. Some gags feel dated; others feel forced.

Drag Me to Hell2009

Sam Raimi's minor masterpiece: possessed-person horror filtered through slapstick and visceral makeup. Alison Lohman is excellent, and Raimi treats supernatural punishment as both horrifying and darkly funny.

But Unevenly paced and occasionally too committed to its own grotesqueness. The tonal shifts will alienate viewers wanting pure scares.

The Minion1998

Both feature a relentless supernatural entity pursuing a child protagonist through modern urban spaces, using the architecture and surroundings as weapons. Where Poltergeist III does this with MGM resources, The Minion does it with sheer conviction and none of the polish.

A Canadian action-horror hybrid about demonic possession in present-day Montreal, buried in obscurity but genuinely inventive in its violence and practical effects. It's aggressively stupid in the best way—no apologies, just commitment.

But Low budget shows everywhere. The script is clunky, the acting uneven, and the tone swings wildly between serious and laughable. Many will find it unwatchable rather than fun-bad.

Kwaidan1965

Both explore what happens when the supernatural invades ordinary spaces—homes, workplaces, apartments. Kwaidan suggests that the uncanny lives in strangeness and absence; Poltergeist III shows it in violent presence. One whispers; one screams. Both ask if anywhere is ever truly safe.

Four Japanese ghost stories adapted from folklore, shot in shocking color and widescreen. Each segment builds supernatural dread through suggestion, sound design, and visual beauty rather than effects. It's patient, meditative, and devastating.

But Three hours, deliberately paced, and entirely folkloric in logic. No jump-scares, no explanations, no reassurance. Demands attention and patience modern horror rarely requires.

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Poltergeist III

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Checked 28 October 2026. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Age rating

PG-13in United States

Ratings come from the people who assign them in each country, and they do not mean the same thing in any two. We show the one given where you are.

Released: 1988
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Status: Released
Runtime: 98 min