Poltergeist: The Making and The Curse - Bonus

A family home built over the dead.A child’s voice coming through the television.And behind one of the most iconic supernatural films of the 1980s, a darker story began to grow.In this bonus episode of Haunted UK Podcast, Steve explores the making of Poltergeist — the 1982 horror classic that became a landmark in paranormal cinema — and the alleged curse that has followed the film and its sequels for decades.The episode revisits the story of the Freeling family, the disappearance of young Carol Anne, the terrifying presence known as “the Beast”, and the now-famous revelation that the housing development was built not over a moved cemetery, but over bodies left behind beneath the ground.Beyond the film itself, Steve looks at the unusual production history, including Steven Spielberg’s role as writer and producer, Tobe Hooper’s credited direction, and the long-running debate over who truly shaped the finished movie. The episode also explores some of the most unsettling behind-the-scenes stories: the malfunctioning clown prop that nearly strangled Oliver Robins, JoBeth Williams filming in muddy water with real human skeletons, and strange disturbances said to have taken place during production.The darker legacy of the franchise is then examined through the tragic deaths and near-misses often linked to the so-called Poltergeist curse, including Dominique Dunne, Heather O’Rourke, Julian Beck, Will Sampson, Lou Perryman, and Richard Lawson’s survival of a fatal plane crash.Cinematic, reflective, and rooted in horror history, this bonus episode asks why certain films seem to gather legends around them — and whether the curse of Poltergeist is simply coincidence, or something that has become part of the movie’s haunting power.Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave us a rating, and drop a review. It really helps the show reach more listeners. Here's where to find more:Support the show: Patreon (patreon.com/hauntedukpodcast) | Ko-fi (ko-fi.com/hauntedukpodcast)Follow us: Instagram @hauntedukpodcast | TikTok @hauntedukpodcast | X @hauntedukpodWebsite: https://hauntedukpodcast.com/Produced by Pink Flamingo Sound Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.