Sam Raimi to produce a remake of Poltergeist

Hot on the heels of the long rumoured remake of Carrie going into production, we have news of another horror classic set to receive the remake treatment: Poltergeist. It’s another one we’re sure that will receive its fair share of scorn given the high regard the original is held in, and quite rightly so.

The film will be produced by Sam Raimi, who is also producing the remake of his own classic The Evil Dead, with David Lindsay-Abaire penning the script. The screenplay will closely follow the plot of the first film, by the sounds of things.

I tend to keep an open mind over remakes until I’ve seen the finished project, as some have the tendency to surprise you with how good they are. But I have to say this is one that I’m struggling to see the point of.

Poltergeist is a film that I have watched at least once a year for as long as I remember and there very few aspects present that date the film (not that that’s necessarily a bad thing). A few of the effects in the later stages of the film are a little poor by today’s standards but it’s not a movie that’s reliant on said effects, so it’s not an issue. The Blu-ray release of the film is strong, too, showcasing a clarity of picture and sound mix that beats many modern horrors hands down.

I suppose we should wait to see if this actually goes ahead before we get too worked up. What's more, Sam Raimi has a level of involvement in the picture, and it isn’t being remade by Platinum Dunes...

The Hollywood Reporter