Best Film Ever

Episode 301 - Poltergeist

Listen Later

“They’re heeere…”

Join Ian & Megs for our 301st episode as we grab the remote, face the static, and step into the spectral suburbia of Poltergeist (1982). Liam and Kev? They’re not with us this week — the house they were recording in was built on an ancient podcast burial ground. We haven’t heard from them since, but we’re getting some weird interference through the TV…

This week we discuss:

  • 301 episodes in — how did we make it this far without getting dragged into the light?
  • How Poltergeist terrified an entire generation while redefining the modern haunted house movie.
  • The age-old debate: how much of this film was Tobe Hooper and how much was Steven Spielberg pulling the spectral strings?
  • Why the film’s suburban setting hits harder than gothic castles or spooky mansions — horror in the heart of normality.
  • The infamous curse surrounding the film’s production — what’s real, what’s coincidence, and what’s just chilling.
  • Is Poltergeist actually a family drama disguised as horror, and why does that emotional core make the scares land harder?
  • Ian breaks down the film’s special effects and practical wizardry — how they still hold up decades later.
  • Ian also shares about some childhood traumas regarding losing beloved toys at school while Megs reminds him that's why you don't bring valuable stuff in
  • Why Poltergeist manages to be scary without ever really being gory — and whether that balance is what makes it timeless.
  • Why do they have a magic remote control and was the guy costuming Dana a creep?
  • And finally, whether Poltergeist is the Best Film Ever — or just the reason we still side-eye our static screens.

    • Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE

    We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:

    • Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
    • Hermes Auslander
    • James DeGuzman
    • Synthia
    • Shai Bergerfroind
    • Ariannah Who Loves BFE The Most
    • Andy Dickson
    • Chris Pedersen
    • Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
    • Randal Silva
    • Nate The Great
    • Rev Bruce
    • Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
    • Richard
    • Ryan Kuketz
    • Dirk Diggler
    • Stew from the Stew World Order podcast
    • NorfolkDomus
    • John Humphrey's Right Foot
    • Timmy Tim Tim
    • Aashrey
    • Paul Komoroski

      • Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/.

      Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of Mistake by Luckydog. Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor, at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor.

      Also, massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song. You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store
      Best Film EverBy Movie Podcast
      • 4.5
      • 4.5
      • 4.5
      • 4.5
      • 4.5

      4.5

      52 ratings

      More shows like Best Film Ever

      View all
      Pop Culture Happy Hour by NPR

      Pop Culture Happy Hour

      11,535 Listeners

      The Bill Simmons Podcast by The Ringer

      The Bill Simmons Podcast

      30,220 Listeners

      How Did This Get Made? by Earwolf and Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, Jason Mantzoukas

      How Did This Get Made?

      23,097 Listeners

      Last Podcast On The Left by The Last Podcast Network

      Last Podcast On The Left

      51,167 Listeners

      Filmspotting by Adam Kempenaar & Josh Larsen

      Filmspotting

      3,954 Listeners

      Mad About Movies by Mad About Movies

      Mad About Movies

      1,479 Listeners

      Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review by Shat on Entertainment

      Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

      1,437 Listeners

      The Watch by The Ringer

      The Watch

      5,375 Listeners

      Blank Check with Griffin & David by Blank Check Productions

      Blank Check with Griffin & David

      6,142 Listeners

      The Rewatchables by The Ringer

      The Rewatchables

      13,947 Listeners

      Horror Movie Club by Horror Movie Club

      Horror Movie Club

      818 Listeners

      The Big Picture by The Ringer

      The Big Picture

      5,636 Listeners

      Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend by Team Coco & Earwolf

      Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

      59,271 Listeners

      Bad Movies Rule! by Cowboy Jack Pictures

      Bad Movies Rule!

      338 Listeners

      The Prestige TV Podcast by The Ringer

      The Prestige TV Podcast

      1,680 Listeners