Nordling here.
I'd been putting off writing about this, because frankly, the idea of it pisses me off to no end, and I don't like to come at any articles mad about a potential movie. But I just don't see the logical sense in this, other than trading on a popular movie, known to horror fans the world over, and making box office coin off it. And it's not like this is coming from out of the blue - this movie's been on the remake block for years now. But it still cuts a little bit.
Sam Raimi will produce the remake to POLTERGEIST for MGM, along with Nathan Kahane, Roy Lee, and Robert Tapert, according to Hollywood Reporter. He will not, however, be directing, at least for now. The script is being written by OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL's David Lindsay-Abraire. It was announced earlier in the week from MGM's Roger Birmbaum that this was happening, but things have solidified since then and the movie is moving forward.
This summer is the 30th anniversary of POLTERGEIST - Ain't It Cool is hosting a screening at the Alamo Drafthouse for the Summer of 1982 event, in fact - and in my opinion the movie hasn't dated a bit, except for a few incidentals. Everything that works in POLTERGEIST still works, even through the passage of time. It's still scary, funny, and well-acted. The whole "Did Tobe Hooper direct it" controversy seems a bit silly to me, honestly, because no matter what, the end result is a horror classic and I'm happy we've got it. To remake POLTERGEIST, especially today, makes me worried because - oh hell, I'll just say it, if someone makes POLTERGEIST into a found footage movie they need their asses kicked.
Look, I'm certain Raimi and crew will treat the project with respect but I'd much rather see him and his team tackle an original project. I think DRAG ME TO HELL is a fantastic horror movie, for example, and actually has a lot more going on than many people realize. I'd much rather see Sam Raimi work on something new, especially after Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon threw down the gauntlet with THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, a riff on Raimi's EVIL DEAD if I ever saw one. It's hard to be optimistic about POLTERGEIST, even with the talent involved. They better bring their A-game.
