Trivia / Poltergeist III

• Box Office Bomb: Budget, $9.5 million. Box office, $14,114,488 (US). Killed off the Poltergeist theatrical movies until a reboot in 2015. Also had the unfortunate situation of being released shortly after the death of its 12-year-old star Heather O'Rourke, causing the studio to take great lengths to advertise the film without making it look like they were exploiting her passing.
• Creator Backlash: Director Gary Sherman is not fond of the film, primarily because the experience of completing the film despite Heather O'Rourke's passing is something he does not want to relive. But he is proud of the special effects shots he did for it.
• Died During Production: Heather O'Rourke died during post-production, requiring the ending to be reshot with a stand-in.
• Enforced Method Acting: Corey Burton smoked half a pack of cigarettes before recording his lines as Kane - in order to make his voice suitably raspy. He continued smoking throughout filming.
• Fatal Method Acting: A near-miss. The car's explosion when Patricia and Bruce are being chased caused the whole set to catch fire - nearly taking out a crew member who was trying to rescue the cameras. Heather O'Rourke arrived on set the next day to hear about the incident. As soon as she confirmed no one was hurt, she asked "did you get the shot?"
• In Memoriam:
  • Dedicated in memory of Heather O'Rourke, who tragically and unexpectedly passed away (she was only twelve years old) four months before the film was released.
  • The line in the closing credits: "The role of Reverend Kane was previously played by Julian Beck" (he died before Poltergeist II: The Other Side was finished), might have also served said purpose.
• Posthumous Credit: Heather O'Rourke died four months before the film was released. The film was dedicated to her memory.
• Reality Subtext: Heather O'Rourke had a noticeably chubby looking face in the movie due to the medication for her Crohn's disease swelling up her cheeks. Filming lasted from April to June of 1987. In early 1988, Heather died at only twelve years old, from surgical complications.
• Technology Marches On: If the 80's fashion doesn't date the film to the modern-day viewer, surely Carol Anne playing with a Speak & Spell will.
• What Could Have Been:
  • In the original ending, when Patricia jumps through the glass pane into the apartment, she finds Carol Anne, Donna, Scott, Bruce and Tangina frozen and dying. She then also becomes imprisoned in ice and gets attacked by Kane and her evil mirror reflection who want the necklace. Patricia tries to repel them and declares unconditional love for her family, but trips over frozen Tangina and falls to the floor. Suddenly, Tangina frees her arm from the ice and grabs the necklace. She convinces Kane that she is the one who can take him to the other side, not Carol Anne. Kane puts his hand on the necklace, but instead of ascending, his face cracks and he explodes. The blast frees everyone, but annihilates Tangina and causes a violent thunderstorm. Patricia, Carol Anne, Donna, Scott and Bruce finally leave the mirror dimension. Carol Anne sees a reflection of smiling Tangina in the mirror who waves at them and sheds a tear.
  • Craig T. Nelson declined the request to be in the film, saying "two was enough". There was talk of him appearing in a fourth film, but the idea was quickly cancelled following Heather O'Rourke's passing.

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