This Trailer For The 'Poltergeist' Remake Proves That Little Kids Are Still Scary As Hell

Little kids are creepy as shit. Even as a little kid I knew this was one of the essential truths of the world, which is a big part of why Poltergeist is straight up terrifying. Who knows if the Sam Raimi-produced remake will be any good, but this first trailer does a good job sending a few chills up your spine. Also, if you have an aversion to scary clowns, probably sit this one out.

More than anything, I’m glad this version keeps the touching-the-TV-screen moment and the fact that this new family home was built on an ancient burial ground. You can’t lose either of those two things and still even pretend to call your movie Poltergeist. Anything else is just a ghost story. Beyond that, you know the story: family moves into a house full of angry spirits who are none to pleased at the invasion, all hell breaks loose. Simple, effective.

I’m not so sold on those moments where a character is just sitting there, only to be yanked away in fast-forward by an invisible hand. While it was effective at one time, that’s become a too-standard move over the last few years, but there’s potential in other arenas.

We’ll have to wait until July 24 to see if this is worth our time, but what the hell, I’ll watch anything with Sam Rockwell, and as far as first looks go, this isn’t bad.