POLTERGEIST BS2 ( or not)

Poltergeist doesn't fit a bs2 and I think it could have been better if it had. 

I love the movie. I think the first half is amazing...and the end is tacked on. 

This might seem like a wishy-washy BS2, and I think it's because the movie isn't a great example of 3-act-structure. 

But I'll throw it out there to stir discussion.  It's a quickie.

Here we go:


SETUP:
  Carol Anne starts talking to the TV.  We meet the family. Dad's into real estate.


THEME STATED:
There's definitely a theme dangled out there, but it's not really paid off. It centers around respect for the dead. And is introduced with the burying the bird scene. Ultimately it's revealed the builder just put houses right over grave-sites. This is the 'sin' for this Monster In The House. If you don't respect sacred ground or properly respect the dead you'll pay the price.


CATALYST:
I think the catalyst is what happens in the first three minutes --  'they're here'...from there it's really a debate of what is here? for the next 30-40 minute.

Chairs start to move. Forks bend. The dog barks at nothing. They soon realize something phenomenal is happening...but not too scary.

A mysterious earthquake only they can feel(another catalyst only it really doesn't change much,it's just in the right spot).

BREAK INTO ACT 2:
Then it gets scary. A stormy night. Spooky. The tree crashes in the window -- seemingly alive and grabs Robbie.

While the parents scramble to save him, Carol Anne is sucked through a portal in the closet.

They can hear her voice through the TV

FUN & GAMES:
They bring in a team of parapsychologists. Their investigation is sort of the forgettable part of the movie. Hardly fun & games. It's a downer after the awesomely fun first act.

There really is no discernible midpoint or all is lost.

Some b-story stuff about giving Steven a new house on the site of a graveyard. Exposition that they moved a graveyard to build their current house.

Eventually, the parapsychologist bring in the psychic who has all the answers. She determines there's a portal to and from the house...and if mom goes into the portal she can get Carol Anne out...

ALL IS LOST:
There's also 'the beast' in there....we need to get Carol Anne out.

Mom goes in the portal...

BREAK INTO ACT 3:
They get Carol Anne out. And the psychic declares the house 'clean' (dumbass psychic).

Really this could be the end of the movie as any family would get the hell out of there clean or not...and the goal of the protags -- getting the daughter back -- is done.


FINALE:
 They're moving. Dad goes to 'take care of some things' while the rest of the family hangs at home.

A ghostly attack occurs -- crazy clowns, bodies come up from the ground! Mom clinging to the ceiling. All hell breaks loose as they battle to escape.

And they do. On the way out, determining the graves werent moved afterall, just the headstones.

The house is sucked into another dimension -- ahhh eighties special FX.

FINAL IMAGE:

They get to the hotel. Shove the tv outside. the end.