The Poltergeist Curse: When the Horror Followed Them Home

When Poltergeist hit theaters in 1982, audiences were terrified by the story of a suburban family haunted by malevolent spirits. But behind the scenes, the horror didn’t end when the cameras stopped rolling. Strange accidents, tragic deaths, and eerie coincidences began piling up, leading many to believe the film itself was cursed.

It all started with the decision to use real human skeletons during the infamous swimming pool scene. Why? Because real bones were cheaper than plastic ones at the time. Actress JoBeth Williams later claimed she had no idea she was thrashing around in water with actual remains, an unsettling fact that would haunt the legacy of the film forever.

Shortly after the first film wrapped, tragedy struck. Dominique Dunne, who played the eldest daughter Dana, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend at just 22 years old. Then, in 1988, Heather O’Rourke, the angelic face of the franchise known for her iconic line “They’re here,” died suddenly at age 12 from a misdiagnosed intestinal blockage. Her death shocked fans and deepened the chilling lore.

But the curse didn’t stop there. Actor Julian Beck died of stomach cancer before Poltergeist II was released. Will Sampson, who played a Native American shaman in the same film, passed away after a heart and lung transplant. Some even believe he attempted a spiritual cleansing on the set, as if something unnatural had truly taken root.

Lights falling, unexplained equipment malfunctions, and crew members reporting strange feelings or sudden illnesses only added to the legend. Whether it was a coincidence or something darker, the Poltergeist curse remains one of the most infamous tales in Hollywood’s haunted history.

Because sometimes, the scariest part of a horror movie… is what happens offscreen.

Haunted by horror history? You’re in good company.

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