Few horror movies stand the test of time as well as Steven Spielberg’s 1982 ghost thriller, Poltergeist. In terms of style, the practical special effects still hold up (stop motion crawling steak, anyone?), and the story, which serves as a biting commentary on the ravages of urban sprawl, adds more than enough substance. When MGM announced plans to remake the timeless classic, it was disheartening, but the dread was soon assuaged when Evil Dead director Sam Raimi signed on to produce. The project took another promising step when Gil Kenan, who helmed the charming Spielberg-produced animated feature Monster House, was hired to direct. As the film nears production, plot details have emerged to shed some light on just how different the new version will turn out.

Based on a screenplay by Raimi and one of his Oz the Great and Powerful writers, David Lindsay-Abaire, the concept follows “Eric Bowen and his family who, after he loses his job, relocate to a new town to start anew. His daughter, Madison, is abducted, making him truly understand what’s important in life: family. In the new version, Eric’s wife, Amy, can communicate with the dead.” Joining the family are characters Carrigan Burke, a television personality who hosts a show called Haunted House Cleaners, and his ex-wife, parapsychologist Dr. Brooke Powell. Powell and her team investigate the “supernatural events surrounding the disappearance of the Bowen girl,” but it’s unclear how Burke comes into play – considering Raimi’s sense of humor, and the name of Burke’s show, I foresee reality TV being portrayed in an unflattering light. [Bloody Disgusting]

Casting has begun on Poltergeist, which begins shooting sometime around September in Toronto, Canada.

Based on these new plot details, are you feeling hopeful for the Poltergeist remake?

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