Poltergeist II: The Other Side
The Freeling family move in with Diane's mother in an effort to escape the trauma and aftermath of Carol Anne's abduction by the Beast. But the Beast is not to be put off so easily and appears in a ghostly apparition as the Reverend Kane, a religeous zealot responsible for the deaths of his many followers. His goal is simple - he wants the angelic Carol Anne; but the love of her family and the power of psychic Tangina once again unite, along with an elderly native American, to fight for her life.
Despite a mid-range budget of $19.0M, Poltergeist II: The Other Side became a financial success, earning $41.0M worldwide—a 116% return.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 1 win & 5 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) exhibits carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of Brian Gibson's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 31 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Steve Freeling
Diane Freeling
Carol Anne Freeling
Taylor
Henry Kane
Tangina Barrons
Robbie Freeling
Grandma Jess
Main Cast & Characters
Steve Freeling
Played by Craig T. Nelson
Patriarch of the Freeling family who struggles to protect his family from supernatural forces while dealing with unemployment and the trauma of their previous haunting.
Diane Freeling
Played by JoBeth Williams
Devoted mother with latent psychic abilities who fiercely protects her children and serves as an emotional anchor for the family during their supernatural ordeal.
Carol Anne Freeling
Played by Heather O'Rourke
Young clairvoyant daughter targeted by the malevolent spirit Kane due to her powerful psychic light that can guide souls to the afterlife.
Taylor
Played by Will Sampson
Native American shaman who guides the Freelings in their battle against Kane, using ancient spiritual knowledge and his connection to the Other Side.
Henry Kane
Played by Julian Beck
Malevolent spirit of a 19th century cult leader who led his followers to their deaths and now seeks to claim Carol Anne's life force to increase his power.
Tangina Barrons
Played by Zelda Rubinstein
Diminutive but powerful spiritual medium who returns to help the Freelings combat the supernatural threat and provides crucial guidance about the Other Side.
Robbie Freeling
Played by Oliver Robins
Teenage son of the Freelings who witnessed his sister's abduction in the first film and now must face new terrors alongside his family.
Grandma Jess
Played by Geraldine Fitzgerald
Diane's elderly mother who lives in Arizona and takes in the displaced Freeling family, providing them temporary refuge from their haunted past.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Freeling family now lives with Diane's mother in a cramped suburban home, attempting to rebuild their lives after the events of the first film. They appear together but displaced, still recovering from their trauma.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Grandma Jess dies suddenly during the night, leaving the family without their matriarch and protector. Her death removes the safety net and makes the family vulnerable to the approaching supernatural threat.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to The family actively decides to stay and fight rather than run. Steven agrees to trust Taylor and participate in the spiritual cleansing ritual, fully committing to confronting the supernatural threat to save his daughter., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Carol Anne is pulled into the other side through a supernatural portal in her bedroom. The false victory of their preparations fails completely. The Beast has successfully taken her again, raising the stakes to their highest point., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Taylor is killed by the Beast, swallowed into the other side. The family's spiritual guide and protector is gone. Steven reaches his lowest point, having lost both his mentor and seemingly any hope of saving Carol Anne. Death has claimed their greatest ally., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 73 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Steven realizes that love and family unity are more powerful than Kane's evil. The spirit of Grandma Jess and Taylor return to guide them. Armed with this synthesis of spiritual knowledge and parental love, the family prepares for the final confrontation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Poltergeist II: The Other Side's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Poltergeist II: The Other Side against these established plot points, we can identify how Brian Gibson utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Poltergeist II: The Other Side within the horror genre.
Brian Gibson's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Brian Gibson films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Poltergeist II: The Other Side takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Brian Gibson filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Thinner, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Mary Reilly. For more Brian Gibson analyses, see What's Love Got to Do with It, The Juror.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Freeling family now lives with Diane's mother in a cramped suburban home, attempting to rebuild their lives after the events of the first film. They appear together but displaced, still recovering from their trauma.
Theme
Grandma Jess tells Carol Anne that she has "a very special gift" and discusses the nature of life and death, establishing the film's theme about confronting supernatural evil and protecting family across spiritual boundaries.
Worldbuilding
Establishing the family's new living situation: Steven is unemployed, Diane is stressed, the kids are adjusting. Taylor the spiritual medium visits and warns them they're still in danger. The mysterious Reverend Kane appears, seeking Carol Anne.
Disruption
Grandma Jess dies suddenly during the night, leaving the family without their matriarch and protector. Her death removes the safety net and makes the family vulnerable to the approaching supernatural threat.
Resistance
Taylor explains the Beast is still after Carol Anne. The family experiences escalating supernatural events. Steven refuses to believe and tries to maintain normalcy. Reverend Kane continues stalking them, and Taylor prepares them for the spiritual battle ahead.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The family actively decides to stay and fight rather than run. Steven agrees to trust Taylor and participate in the spiritual cleansing ritual, fully committing to confronting the supernatural threat to save his daughter.
Mirror World
Taylor reveals the backstory of Reverend Kane, a 19th-century cult leader who led his followers to death and now exists as a malevolent spirit. This B-story provides the thematic mirror: Kane represents corrupted spiritual leadership versus Taylor's genuine spiritual guidance.
Premise
The family battles increasingly intense supernatural attacks: possessed braces, living toys, visions. Taylor guides them through spiritual defenses. Steven undergoes a Native American ritual with Taylor to gain spiritual strength. The promise of supernatural horror escalates.
Midpoint
Carol Anne is pulled into the other side through a supernatural portal in her bedroom. The false victory of their preparations fails completely. The Beast has successfully taken her again, raising the stakes to their highest point.
Opposition
Desperate attempts to reach Carol Anne fail. Kane's power grows stronger. The family fractures under pressure. Steven drinks the tequila worm and has a horrific possession experience. Taylor's guidance seems insufficient against the overwhelming evil force.
Collapse
Taylor is killed by the Beast, swallowed into the other side. The family's spiritual guide and protector is gone. Steven reaches his lowest point, having lost both his mentor and seemingly any hope of saving Carol Anne. Death has claimed their greatest ally.
Crisis
Steven processes Taylor's death and the seemingly impossible task ahead. The family confronts their darkest fears. In their despair, they must find the strength within themselves rather than relying on external guidance.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Steven realizes that love and family unity are more powerful than Kane's evil. The spirit of Grandma Jess and Taylor return to guide them. Armed with this synthesis of spiritual knowledge and parental love, the family prepares for the final confrontation.
Synthesis
The family enters the other side together. Steven confronts Kane directly, rejecting his manipulation. Through combined spiritual power and love, they rescue Carol Anne. The house and Kane are destroyed. The family emerges united and victorious.
Transformation
The family stands together in the ruins of the destroyed house at dawn, intact and reunited. Unlike their fearful displacement at the beginning, they are now spiritually stronger, bound by love, and free from the supernatural threat.