Imagine discovering that the skeletons in a horror movie were real human remains—wouldn’t that send shivers down your spine? That’s exactly what happened during the making of Poltergeist, and it’s just one of the jaw-dropping revelations from the cast. But here’s where it gets controversial: while the film terrified audiences, the behind-the-scenes stories are equally chilling—and not always for the reasons you’d expect. Let’s dive into the eerie world of this iconic movie, as told by the stars themselves.
JoBeth Williams, who played Diane Freeling, initially turned down the script when her agent mentioned it was a horror film. ‘I’m not interested,’ she recalled saying. But when she learned Steven Spielberg was producing—and had written the script—she gave it a chance. ‘I fell in love with the family dynamic and the strong female characters,’ she explained. Diane, Dr. Lesh, and Tangina the psychic were all powerful roles, with Zelda Rubinstein’s portrayal of Tangina standing out as a force of nature. Despite Spielberg’s involvement, Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) directed, though Spielberg was often on set, juggling Poltergeist with his prep for E.T.
And this is the part most people miss: the cast’s chemistry wasn’t just acting—it was genuine. They’d improvise scenes to capture the authenticity of family life, with cameras rolling as they chatted and joked. Craig T. Nelson, who played Diane’s husband, brought his stand-up comedy background to the role, improvising a hilarious ‘before/after/before’ routine with his stomach during a bedroom scene. Young Heather O’Rourke, just five years old at the time, was a natural talent. ‘If I cried in a scene, she’d cry too,’ JoBeth recalled. ‘She was a trooper, never complaining, even when covered in cold goo.’
One of the film’s most iconic moments—Diane discovering chairs stacked impossibly fast in the kitchen—was achieved in a single, uninterrupted take. Crew members scrambled out of shot to replace the chairs, creating a seamless effect. ‘They sounded like a herd of elephants,’ JoBeth joked. ‘The sound was re-dubbed later, but my challenge was keeping a straight face.’
Later, Diane’s scene being dragged across the ceiling was filmed on a rotating set called a gimbal. The cameraman, strapped in, had to spin repeatedly, eventually stepping off due to nausea. ‘It was like a Ferris wheel for him,’ JoBeth quipped.
Here’s the truly unsettling part: the skeletons in the pool scene were real human remains—a detail JoBeth only learned later. ‘I’d have been even more disgusted if I’d known,’ she admitted. At the time, her bigger concern was the risk of electrocution from the lights and fans. Spielberg even waded into the pool to reassure her: ‘If you get electrocuted, it’ll kill me too.’
Martin Casella, who played Dr. Marty Casey, shared his own eerie experiences. Poltergeist was his first film, and he was starstruck working with Beatrice Straight, who played the parapsychologist Dr. Lesh. ‘The house hates my character because he’s the skeptic,’ he explained. The infamous steak scene, where the meat crawls like an inchworm, was achieved with chopsticks operated from beneath the counter. And the maggots in the chicken leg? Handlers ensured none were harmed.
For Marty’s bathroom mirror hallucination, a $10,000 dummy was created—just for one unrepeatable shot. ‘I couldn’t bring myself to rip its face off,’ Martin admitted. Spielberg stepped in, using Martin’s ring to make it look like his character’s hands. But here’s the twist: when Martin later filmed additional scenes, the makeup artist applied prosthetics to the wrong side of his face, mirroring the original shot. Oops!
The film’s rating was another battle. Without the PG-13 rating (introduced later), the gruesome scenes nearly pushed Poltergeist into R territory. A deleted scene, where Marty is bitten by a ghost, was cut not because of its ‘ghost semen’ effect, but because it distracted from JoBeth’s powerful performance as Diane sensing her daughter’s plight. ‘Steven couldn’t cut away from her,’ Martin noted.
So, what do you think? Is Poltergeist a masterpiece of horror, or does its behind-the-scenes drama steal the show? And how do you feel about using real skeletons in films? Let’s debate in the comments—this is one conversation that’s sure to haunt you!
