5 For: Poltergeist (2015)

In this week's Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman conjure up five hauntingly memorable films that connect thematically or spiritually to the 2015 Poltergeist remake (and its vastly superior 1982 predecessor). From analog tech horror and haunted houses to emotionally resonant ghost stories, this list bridges spectral dread and storytelling depth—plus a little Dan Harmon chaos and a found-footage gem that’ll leave you quietly unnerved.

Films Discussed:

1. Poltergeist (1982)

2. Pulse (2001)

3. One Missed Call (2003)

4. Lake Mungo (2008)

5. Monster House (2006)

Topics Covered:

• Why Poltergeist (1982) still hits harder than any remake

• Japanese horror's early warnings about tech-induced soul erosion

• Lake Mungo as one of the quietest, most devastating ghost stories ever filmed

• The tonal whiplash and cursed animation era of Monster House (but it works!)

• Horror as a genre of emotional resonance vs. haunted house theme park rides

Key Takeaways:

• The 1982 Poltergeist is about characters. The 2015 one is about jump scares and... squirrels?

• Pulse remains one of the only films that still scares Landen

• One Missed Call proves Miike can do horror restraint when he wants to

• Lake Mungo is found-footage meets emotional sucker punch

• Monster House is the most thematically faithful Poltergeist remake—and it’s animated

Listener Prompt:
What’s the scariest movie you’ve ever watched? And do you think haunted house movies need more vibes or more jump scares? Let us know using #MovieMemoryMachine.

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