Poltergeist II: The Other Side

Send us Fan Mail HUGTOBER kicks off with one of the strangest, creepiest, and most unexpectedly chaotic sequels of the 1980s: Poltergeist II: The Other Side. This week, Rob and Liam dive into the return of the Freeling family, the cosmic weirdness of the “Other Side,” and the film’s biggest weapon — Reverend Henry Kane, whose calm, skeletal presence instantly elevates the entire movie. Every time he appears, the tone shifts from suburban ghost story to full‑blown nightmare. We break down: • Kane’s unnervingly calm performance • The surreal, jarring emotional flashback • Giger’s grotesque creature design • The Freelings’ ongoing supernatural misery • Taylor’s mystical smoke ritual and spiritual logic • The sequel’s wild tonal swings and 80s weirdness • Why the film feels like two different movies stitched together Plus: Rob and Liam unpack the creature effects, the emotional beats that come out of nowhere, the bizarre pacing, and how Poltergeist II manages to be creepy, chaotic, and unintentionally hilarious — often at the same time. HUGTOBER is officially underway, and we’re starting with a sequel that’s equal parts spooky, surreal, and wonderfully odd.