Podcasts
[Horror Queers Podcast] Terrifying a Generation of Children in ‘Poltergeist II: The Other Side’
Citizen Kane.
We’ve been all over the ’80s this month! First, we traveled to 1986 to discuss the “slasher” April Fool’s Day, then we went forward a year to 1987 (via a 2000 lens) to hang with Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. Last week, we made a brief detour to 1936 (via a 2005 lens) to celebrate 4/20 with the cast of Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical! Now we’re heading back to 1986 to dig into Brian Gibson‘s Poltergeist II: The Other Side.
In the film, the Freeling family once again find themselves under attack from supernatural forces attempting to claim their daughter Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke). This time it comes in the form of the spirit of an insane preacher (Julian Beck) who led an apocalyptic cult during the 19th century. In their efforts to save their daughter, the family find help in a Native American shaman (Will Sampson), an old friend of Tangina’s (Zelda Rubinstein).
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Episode 70 – Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)
We’re joining forces with Tyler Jensen and Roman Chimienti, the directors of the superb (and queer!) documentary Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street, in Phoenix Arizona (and later Orange Country, California) to discuss the “Other Side” in the 1986 sequel Poltergeist II: The Other Side!
After spilling the tea on last year’s live episode on A Nightmare on Elm Street 2, we dive into Brian Gibson’s sequel that at least tries to do something different (as opposed to repeating the most successful parts of the original film). Is it wholly successful? That matter is up for debate, as the film holds a special place in Roman’s heart, while it was a first-time viewing for us.
Join us as we discuss Reverend Henry Kane (Julian Beck), the villain that terrified a generation of children. Also up for discussion are the diminished roles of Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke) and Tangina (Zelda Rubinstein), the laughable effects of the 3-minute-long climax in the titular Other Side and what it means to live a “normal” life.
It’s not all bad, though! We admire the chemistry and charisma of the film’s co-leads Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams, the superb practical effects (that vomit monster!) and the historical importance of the film’s release during the Night Stalker’s reign of terror.
Cross out Poltergeist II: The Other Side!
Coming up on Wednesday: We’re “celebrating” the 10th anniversary of the 2010 remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street!
– Joe & Trace
P.S. Check out this month’s article on 1981’s Looker. You can find all of the old articles here.
P.P.S. As an added bonus, if you subscribe to our Patreon you can listen to bonus episodes! Since every new horror release has been delayed, we decided to go with a home invasion theme this month, so you can listen to full-length episodes on The Strangers and Mike Flanagan’s Hush!
It’s been a busy month on Murder Made Fiction podcast. In addition to introducing a new co-host (Perfectly Good Moment‘s Amanda Jane Stern), we spent Pride Month tackling a wide variety of Leopold and Loeb fictional adaptations.
In 1924 Chicago, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb plotted to commit the perfect murder when they abducted and killed 14-year-old Bobby Franks. As Amanda outlines in her primer on the case, the men were caught almost immediately and the media circus that followed was billed “the trial of the century”.
Listen to Leopold and Loeb mini primer.
The fallout has reverberated throughout the last century as countless books, plays, musicals, and films have drawn on the case for inspiration. Some are more faithful than others, such as Richard Fleischer‘s 1959 drama Compulsion, which stars a young Dean Stockwell as Leopold and Orson Welles as the boys’ lawyer, John Darrow (named Jonathan Wilk in the film).
Listen to Leopold and Loeb: Compulsion (1959).
Then there are the texts that use the idea of queer-coded killers as a jumping off point, but confuse (or flat-out disregard) the details of the real life case in favour of jumbled fiction. That’s what happens in Barbet Schroeder‘s Murder by Numbers, which awkwardly introduces a tortured backstory for lead actress (and executive producer) Sandra Bullock. The result is an uneven film that misunderstands which of its two competing storylines are actually interesting (hint: it’s the Leopold and Loeb stuff with Ryan Gosling and Michael Pitt).
Listen to Leopold and Loeb: Murder by Numbers (2002).
We ended up discussing other (often more successful) titles on Patreon, including 1992’s Swoon (a New Queer Cinema art-house take on the crime), Michael Haneke‘s 2007 Funny Games remake, and gay screenwriter Kevin Williamson‘s Scream, which proved to be a much more reverent and sly interpretation of L&L than we anticipated.
We wrapped up the month with a final summary episode about our favorite adaptations before chatting with author and archivist Erik Rebain, who literally wrote the book on Leopold (Arrested Adolescence) and maintains one of the foremost websites on the crime.
Watch our discussion on YouTube below (or listen here):
Next month: For July, we’re turning our attention to the Boston Strangler, with a look at films from 1964 and 1968, as well as the most contemporary version from 2023, starring Kiera Knightley and Carrie Coon.
Want even more true crime adaptations and Murder Made Fiction? Support the show on Patreon to listen to the aforementioned episodes, as well as a full-length primer on the case and 160+ hours of bonus content.
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