"Is it still a haunted house if the only thing scaring you is the remake itself?"
Episode Description
This week, Landen and Truman revisit Poltergeist (2015) in a quick debrief, pondering why Hollywood thought a beloved classic needed a remake. From haunted closet doors to awkward dinner parties, they break down the film’s failed attempts at capturing the magic of the 1982 original. Plus, the trailer guessing game returns—this time with more clown content than anyone wanted.
Major Cast and Crew
Director: Gil Kenan...
"Is it still a haunted house if the only thing scaring you is the remake itself?"
Episode Description
This week, Landen and Truman revisit Poltergeist (2015) in a quick debrief, pondering why Hollywood thought a beloved classic needed a remake. From haunted closet doors to awkward dinner parties, they break down the film’s failed attempts at capturing the magic of the 1982 original. Plus, the trailer guessing game returns—this time with more clown content than anyone wanted.
Major Cast and Crew
- Director: Gil Kenan
- Writers: David Lindsay-Abaire (screenplay), Steven Spielberg (original story)
- Main Cast:
- Sam Rockwell as Eric Bowen
- Rosemarie DeWitt as Amy Bowen
- Jared Harris as Carrigan Burke
- Jane Adams as Dr. Claire Powell
- Saxon Sharbino as Kendra Bowen
- Kyle Catlett as Griffin Bowen
- Kennedi Clements as Madison Bowen
Film Synopsis
A suburban family discovers their new home is built on a former cemetery and that their youngest daughter has been abducted by malevolent spirits. With the help of a paranormal investigator, they fight off CGI clowns, ghostly TV hands, and a complete lack of narrative tension.
Episode Highlights
- The lost art of haunted house tension: What this remake forgot about subtlety.
- A deep dive into the ridiculous closet door scene and other baffling moments.
- Sam Rockwell’s journey from Oscar-worthy to "Why is he here?"
- The film’s inexplicable obsession with ropes and their supernatural importance.
- The return of the trailer guessing game—and why we totally missed the clown content.
What’s your favorite haunted house trope? Let us know in the comments or on social media!
Enjoyed the episode? Drop us a review on your favorite podcast platform—we might even feature your thoughts in our next episode!
- 💡 Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod
- 🌐 Visit our website: http://www.moviememorymachine.com/
- 📱 Follow us on Social Media:
- Facebook: Movie Memory Machine
- Instagram: @MovieMemoryMachine
- Threads: @MovieMemoryMachine
- Bluesky: @MovieMemoryMachine
- YouTube: @MovieMemoryMachine
🎵 Theme Song by Porky's Groove Machine: https://porkysgroovemachine.com/
SEO Keywords
Poltergeist 2015 mini-episode, haunted house tropes, Sam Rockwell movies, horror remakes podcast, bad CGI in movies, clown horror tropes, Movie Memory Machine podcast
View more
