“They’re back”
Some horror sequels try to repeat the original. Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) decides to make everything stranger instead.
The Freeling family may have escaped their haunted suburban home, but the evil surrounding Carol Anne hasn’t finished with them. This time the danger isn’t tied to a house—it follows the family wherever they go, led by one of the creepiest villains to ever appear in a PG-13 horror movie.
Reverend Henry Kane isn’t a masked slasher or a supernatural monster hiding in the shadows. With his unsettling smile, soft-spoken voice, and haunting hymns, he manages to be terrifying while barely raising his voice. Decades later, Julian Beck’s unforgettable performance remains the reason most horror fans remember this sequel.
While it never reaches the heights of the original Poltergeist, Part II expands the mythology, delivers memorable supernatural effects, and reminds us why nobody should ever answer the door when Reverend Kane comes knocking.
 |
Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)The Freeling family faces an even darker supernatural force as Reverend Kane returns to claim Carol Anne once and for all. Watch or Buy on Amazon |
Vault Fact File
Title: Poltergeist II: The Other Side
Year: 1986
Director: Brian Gibson
Runtime: 91 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Tagline: “They’re back…”
Studio / Distribution: MGM
Cast: JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Heather O’Rourke, Zelda Rubinstein, Julian Beck
Vault Quick Stats
Body Count: Low. This sequel prefers psychological torment over carnage.
Family Trauma Level: Off the charts.
Reverend Kane Creepiness: Maximum. Few horror villains have ever done more with a smile.
Possession Factor: High. Carol Anne just can’t catch a break.
Nightmare Fuel: That tequila worm scene still isn’t okay.
Fun Fact: Julian Beck was battling terminal stomach cancer during filming. His gaunt appearance wasn’t makeup—it sadly reflected his real-life condition, making Reverend Kane even more unsettling.
Extra Trivia: The sequel expands the mythology behind the Beast and introduces Reverend Kane, a fanatical cult leader whose followers became trapped in the spirit world.
Legacy: Although it never matched the original’s success, Poltergeist II earned a loyal following thanks to Julian Beck’s unforgettable performance and several genuinely creepy supernatural sequences.
Sometimes the sequel’s greatest special effect is simply opening the front door.
Why Poltergeist II: The Other Side Is Worth Renting
Julian Beck steals every scene as Reverend Kane. He barely raises his voice, yet somehow becomes one of horror’s most unforgettable villains through sheer presence alone. Check out The Scariest Character in a Horror Trilogy to get more in-depth with Reverend Kane.
The sequel also leans harder into supernatural mythology than the original, expanding the story instead of simply repeating haunted-house scares. Some ideas are stranger than others, but the ambition is hard not to admire.
The practical effects remain a highlight, particularly the infamous tequila worm sequence that has traumatized horror fans for nearly forty years.
It may live in the shadow of the original, but Poltergeist II earns another visit for Kane alone.
Rewind or Fast Forward?
Rewind. While it never reaches the classic status of the original, Poltergeist II remains one of the stronger supernatural sequels of the 1980s thanks to Julian Beck’s unforgettable Reverend Kane and a handful of nightmare-inducing scenes.
Watch It
Return to the Other Side and revisit one of the creepiest supernatural sequels of the VHS era. Reverend Kane alone makes this one worth another trip.
Watch Poltergeist II on AmazonPoltergeist II: The Other Side Official Trailer
You Might Also Like
Return to the VHS Vault
Explore more haunted houses, supernatural nightmares, cult classics, and video-store favorites from the 1980s and early 1990s.
Explore the VHS Vault