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- Poltergeist Cast Members Began to Suffer Tragic Fates
- Heather O’Rourke’s Losing Battle With a Parasitic Infection
- Dominique Dunne’s Infamous Murder Led to a Miscarriage of Justice
- Getting to the Bottom of the Poltergeist Curse Theory
As a horror enthusiast with over three decades of film-watching under my belt, I must say that the story of Poltergeist and its alleged curse has always intrigued me. Growing up, I remember watching this movie countless times with friends, huddled together on the couch, our hearts pounding with fear.
The movie titled “Poltergeist” was among a few that Steven Spielberg devised but didn’t personally direct because of contractual commitments to another project – in this case, “E.T”. Although he wasn’t the director, Spielberg contributed by writing the story concept and collaborating on a script for a horror film with three other writers. This movie combined Spielberg’s affection for suburban America with supernatural fright. Despite the original idea leaning more towards science fiction, Spielberg remained involved as a producer and chose Tobe Hooper, renowned for his work in “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, to direct. Under Hooper’s guidance, the film evolved into a ghost story rather than strictly a sci-fi production.
The storyline of Poltergeist revolves around a family who move into a suburban home in California, only to discover that it is haunted, since it was constructed on an ancient Native American burial ground. Although some argue that Spielberg served as the real director due to his significant control during filming, he might have avoided trouble when the movie’s curse started affecting reality – as members of the Poltergeist cast experienced unfortunate events following production.
Poltergeist Cast Members Began to Suffer Tragic Fates
Heather O’Rourke gained immense popularity as a child actress when Poltergeist became a massive box office success. Similar to JonBenet Ramsey, another child star whose untimely death drew national attention, O’Rourke was recognized for her adorable, doll-like features and platinum blonde hair. In the movie, her character, Carol Anne, served as the connection between the film’s spirits and her family, who were left petrified as they experienced supernatural occurrences in their home.
“Carol Anne is the unique family member who interacts with the house’s spirits. She talks to them by speaking into the TV when the regular programming ends and static appears on the screen. This intriguing aspect of the character, a sweet child, was one of the brilliant decisions in the movie ‘Poltergeist’. The story takes a terrifying turn when Carol Anne gets pulled into another dimension through the television and is held captive by the spirits. Although she’s rescued from their grip in the film, unfortunately, Heather O’Rourke, who played Carol Anne, did not have a positive real-life ending.
Heather O’Rourke’s Losing Battle With a Parasitic Infection
Heather O’Rourke continued playing Carol Anne in two follow-up movies, but during filming for Poltergeist III, she became ill from a rare parasite found in the well water at her family’s home in Big Bear Lake, California. Her illness was initially mistaken as Crohn’s disease, and the subsequent treatment led to painful side effects like swelling in her face. Eventually, the parasite caused intestinal blockage, leading to O’Rourke collapsing due to a cardiac arrest on January 31, 1988. Despite the efforts of doctors, she couldn’t be saved. Her death garnered widespread attention because of her memorable portrayal of Carol Anne. Tragically, it was Dominique Dunne, who played Dana (Carol Anne’s sister), who endured an even more harrowing and heart-wrenching demise.
Born into a well-known and powerful Hollywood dynasty, Dominique Dunne traced her roots back to her father, Dominick, who was a successful writer and producer for television, contributing to movies like “The Panic in Needle Park“. Her brother, Griffin Dunne, also carved out a significant career in the film industry, featuring in “An American Werewolf in London” and Martin Scorsese’s “After Hours“.
Dominique Dunne’s Infamous Murder Led to a Miscarriage of Justice
Later on, Dominique Dunne had broken up with Sweeney, but on the evening of October 30, while practicing lines for a television show at her house in West Hollywood, Sweeney appeared at her doorstep. Desperate to rekindle their relationship, Sweeney persuaded her to step outside, but when she refused his entreaties for reconciliation, the obsessed young man flew into a rage. Tragically, he strangled her to death in her front yard. Dunne was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and placed on life support. However, she never regained consciousness due to lack of brain activity caused by oxygen deprivation. On November 4, just a few months after the release of Poltergeist, her parents agreed to have her taken off life support.
The trial that followed was deeply painful for Dominique’s family, as her reputation was sullied by defense lawyers. Even though Sweeney admitted to police officers that he had strangled her to death, this miscarriage of justice resulted in a lenient sentence for him. Years later, on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Griffin Dunne, Dominique’s brother, recounted the distressing trial, commenting, “Her murderer served only 3 and a half years [in prison]. In California Judicial History, it was notorious for how things could go so horribly awry.” This experience led Dominique’s father, Dominick, to dedicate his life to working as a crime reporter for Vanity Fair, aiming to prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy.
Getting to the Bottom of the Poltergeist Curse Theory
If the two unfortunate incidents weren’t already suggestive of a Poltergeist curse, it’s worth noting that two other cast members, Julian Beck and Will Sampson, passed away shortly following the movie’s premiere. For those who hold such beliefs, enthusiasts of the film attribute the curse to its disturbance of a Native American burial ground. Some also suggest the use of real human skeletons in the scene where actress JoBeth Williams jumped into a muddy pool searching for Carol Anne as the cause of the curse. Years later, Williams encountered one of the special effects crew members and learned that the skeletons were not fabricated but actual remains.
Though it was never verified that real skeletons were used, the intense fear evoked by Poltergeist has kept the idea of a curse surrounding the film strongly in the minds of many movie enthusiasts. Regardless, Poltergeist remains an iconic horror movie, arguably one of the best from the 1980s, and as long as this legacy persists, so too will discussions about the infamous curse. You can rent Poltergeist on AppleTV+, Prime Video, and Google Play.
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2024-09-22 22:01