I received a very interesting and informative email from a rabid Poltergeist III fan in response to my review for the upcoming <a href="http://www.creature-corner.com/reviews/poltergeist2&3dvd.php3" target="_blank">Poltergeist II & III DVD</a>. I asked his permission to reprint the email here as I thought there was some fascinating stuff to be gleaned.
Quote:
| Just thought I'd try and shed some more light on the story issues you raised about III: 1. Heather O'Rourke actually died before the end of the film was shot. Supposedly, the principal photography was done between April-May of 1987. Gary Sherman the director had a business obligation, and the film's SFX makeups had to be redone, so the film was put on hiatus. Heather died a week before they were scheduled to shoot the ending (in early Feb., 1988). At first, the studio, Gary Sherman, and the producers wanted to not finish the film at all, at least for the time being. But, the MGM board told them to either finish it without Heather or they would bring in someone who would. So, Gary wrote the abrupt ending that now appears in the film. They used a body double for the last shot when everyone walks out of the mirror. Look closely, and you'll see Carol Anne's face is not shown. 2. This in turn affected the character of Scott, Donna's boyfriend. In the original script, he comes back with everyone else. However, when they shot this new, rushed ending (in one day) there apparently was some confusion about where the actor, Kip Wentz, was. Sherman says he was "back East" (they shot the ending in LA), and the cast and crew couldn't wait for him to become availiable. Kip Wentz told me via email he was actually in town at the time, going to USC film school, and is not sure why they didn't include him. He also says to his memory that they shot the original ending back in June of 1987 in Chicago (the new ending was shot between Feb.-June of 1988). So, I'm not sure what the actual truth is on this one (MGM, of course, told everyone after Heather died that the entire film was done). 3. The lightning strike and laughter was tacked on to "punch up the ending." The original script ended with the camera just pulling out of the apartment, panning across the high-rise, and to the sunrise. Everyone hated the filmed ending so much, this was about the best they could do. 4. The storyline does obviously contradict the first two (when Kane did NOT want to go into the Light). Of course, there was that scene with Tangina in III when she seemed to suggest that the "beast" was the evil side of Kane, but again, they didn't explain it enough. Here's the basics of how the original script ended: After Pat falls into the room from the window washing rig, there are strong winds and blinding white light inside the room. Pat falls down near the bed. The frozen Speak and Spell says "Bruce. B-R-U-C-E. Now spell TRISH." Pat backs away and falls over what appears to be the frozen body of Carol Anne, underneath a sheet of ice. Pat screams, backing into the frozen "ice statues" of Donna and Scott, all on the floor. Then she sees Bruce, frozen as well. She looks up, notices Kane looking at her in the mirror. She runs up to him, banging on the iced over mirror, saying "I love my family. You can't have them!" Then, she realizes Kane is actually behind her, in the room. She spins around, and is grabbed by her evil reflection. She breaks free, then falls onto the frozen body of Tangina. Tangina's eyes move under the ice though, and we realize she is still alive. Kane begins to reach for the necklace Pat holds, but at the last minute Tangina's hand breaks through the ice and grabs the necklace. Tangina sits up and tells Kane, "You don't need them. I can lead you into the Light. I have the Power!" Kane roars, and touches the amulet necklace. At that moment, lines of light erupt on his face. His face continues to crack, and then finally EXPLODES in a burst of blinding white light. Outside the building, prism like lights shoot out of the broken window and go flying up into the sky (I guess these were all the spirits escaping). Then, inside the room, the storm goes away and everyone is safe: Bruce, Pat, Carol Anne, Donna, and Scott. Carol Anne notices for a moment that Tangina is IN the mirror, silently waving goodbye. Carol Anne waves back, a tear running down her cheek. When Carol Anne looks back, Tangina is gone. The family is safe. The camera pulls back, outside the window. It pans across the building and to the skyline, where the sun is coming up. Then it ends. |
