The conclusion of the movie Poltergeist showcases the Freelings encountering numerous skeletons emerging from the ground, which were once actual remains of people.
Poltergeist, released in 1982, is a highly esteemed ghost film that continues to spark discussions regarding its true director, with conflicting claims between Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg, the credited producer.
Nonetheless, the film’s quality remains remarkable, irrespective of who was truly at the helm.
Taking place in the serene Californian neighborhood of Cuesta Verde, Poltergeist delves into the disruption of a seemingly ordinary family’s life by paranormal occurrences.
The Freelings face threats from deceased spirits, particularly a malevolent entity known as “The Beast,” who aims to utilize their daughter Carol Anne’s vibrant life force to guide them to the afterlife.
Assisting the Freelings in averting this fate is Tangina, a peculiar yet formidable psychic, along with a group of paranormal researchers from a university.
Towards the climax of Poltergeist, it is chillingly unveiled that the developers of Cuesta Verde constructed the community atop an old graveyard without relocating the buried bodies, provoking the wrath of the restless spirits.
This results in skeletons emerging from the earth, startling the Freelings, especially due to the origins of these skeletal remains.
In one of the most haunting sequences of Poltergeist, The Beast makes a menacing attempt to reclaim Carol Anne, causing chaos within the Freeling household.
During this turmoil, Diane Freeling (portrayed by JoBeth Williams) finds herself submerged in the family pool filled with mud from the incessant rain.
To her horror, she discovers that the pool also contains real corpses, representing the buried individuals beneath their residence who are intent on making their presence felt through terrifying skeletons.
This particular scene leaves a lasting impact on viewers, and it is revealed that the skeletons utilized in the film were sourced from actual human bodies, unbeknownst to Williams.
Crew members disclosed that Poltergeist acquired these skeletons from a medical supply company due to the cost-effectiveness compared to crafting artificial skeletons or purchasing ready-made replicas.
Such practices, common in earlier Hollywood productions, would face severe backlash if attempted today, considering the uproar that would ensue if a contemporary film resorted to using real human remains for shock value.
Intriguingly, the utilization of real skeletons is often linked to the alleged “Poltergeist curse,” which purports that those involved in the franchise experienced negative repercussions from malevolent forces.
