THEY’RE BACK.

The Freelings are recuperating after the first film’s horrific events, but the vicious specters, led by a dead preacher, once again try to get the family under their spell.

This sequel simply is just too far-fetched to be sufficiently effective. The visual effects are of random quality; some scenes are borderline ridiculous, including the attack of the braces (still, whoever came up with it gets points for originality).

Keeping the main cast from the 1982 original is a good thing (it’s easy to like this family) and Julian Beck is terrific as the spooky Reverend Kane.

1986-U.S. 91 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Brian Gibson. Cast: JoBeth Williams (Diane Freeling), Craig T. Nelson (Steven Freeling), Heather O’Rourke (Carol Anne Freeling), Oliver Robins, Zelda Rubinstein, Will Sampson. 

Trivia: H.R. Giger created the design of several creatures in the film. Followed by Poltergeist III (1988).