You may recognize the name from the horror movie franchise 'Poltergeist.' But did you know that a series of macabre events affected the cast after filming? So much so that these episodes became known as the 'Poltergeist curse.'

Skeptical about the phenomenon? Read through the gallery and draw your own conclusions about poltergeists.

0 / 30 Fotos

What is a poltergeist? -

According to Metro, the term derives from two German words: "Poltern," which means to make noise, and "Geist," which means ghost.

1 / 30 Fotos

How does it happen? - The name is associated with paranormal phenomena like banging, moving objects, or even spontaneous combustion.

2 / 30 Fotos

The explanation - These activities are attributed to mocking spirits or demons.

3 / 30 Fotos

Theory - One theory is that ghosts are actually disturbed spirits who use the energy around them to become known. They also manifest when they notice changes in the environment, Metro explains.

4 / 30 Fotos

Differences - But what are the differences between poltergeist activity and a regular haunting?

5 / 30 Fotos

Differences - Hauntings are usually linked to a place or to ghosts that inhabit certain spaces. Poltergeists usually affect specific people.

6 / 30 Fotos

Phenomena -

According to The Paranormal Society, each phenomenon can begin subtly, and then become more intense with voices and apparitions featuring.

7 / 30 Fotos

Targets? - The Paranormal Society adds that poltergeist activity is usually associated with the presence of an adolescent girl.

8 / 30 Fotos

Targets? - When the person associated with the activity is removed, the activity usually stops.

9 / 30 Fotos

Science - Some studies associate these poltergeist with psychokinesis, which is the ability to move things by the power of the mind, The Paranormal Society reports.

10 / 30 Fotos

Supernatural? -

Some people believe that poltergeist activity is associated with disturbing spirits, says Live Science.

11 / 30 Fotos

Possession -

Cases of possession by poltergeist energy have been reported. The person usually isn't aware of the event, Metro reports.

12 / 30 Fotos

Exorcism -

Metro further states that exorcism techniques are used to remove a poltergeist. This is usually a time-consuming and difficult process.

13 / 30 Fotos

Poltergeist -

The poltergeist phenomenon has been portrayed in many movies and some of the behind-the-scenes stories are pretty scary.

14 / 30 Fotos

Classics - These movies became horror classics but also caught the public's attention for the macabre stories that followed filming.

15 / 30 Fotos

Real cases -

Coincidentally or not, many actors died after shooting supernatural movies.

16 / 30 Fotos

Poltergeist -

The movie 'Poltergeist' was released in 1982 and told the story of a family being tormented by poltergeist activity.

17 / 30 Fotos

Tragic episode -

The first tragic event happened the same year the movie hit the theaters. Dominique Dunne, who played Dana, was strangled to death by her boyfriend.

18 / 30 Fotos

Second movie -

'Poltergeist II: The Other Side' was released in 1986, and another tragic event took place that year.

19 / 30 Fotos

Tragic episode - Actor Julian Beck, who played Reverend Henry Kane, died from stomach cancer months before the release of the second film.

20 / 30 Fotos

Tragic episode - A year after the movie premiered, another cast member died. Will Sampson reportedly died of a heart attack.

21 / 30 Fotos

Third movie - But the darkest story happened shortly before the third film, 'Poltergeist III,' hit the big screen in 1988.

22 / 30 Fotos

Main character -

The most-remembered character in the trilogy is undoubtedly Carol Anne, played by the young actress Heather O'Rourke.

23 / 30 Fotos

Tragic episode - Heather O'Rourke died at the age of 12, just before the movie debuted in theaters.

24 / 30 Fotos

Tragic episode -

She died of cardiac-pulmonary arrest and septic shock, due to an undetected intestinal blockage, People reported at the time.

25 / 30 Fotos

Curious fact - Drew Barrymore auditioned to play the role of Carol Anne, according to the Independent.

26 / 30 Fotos

Poltergeist curse - The tragic stories surrounding the film franchise became known as the Poltergeist Curse. Oliver Robbins, who played Robbie, says the curse is nothing but a myth, reports the Mirror.

27 / 30 Fotos

Poltergeist: new version -

In 2015, another version of 'Poltergeist' hit the big screen. The movie directed by Gil Kenan tells the story of a family tormented by spirits.

28 / 30 Fotos

Explanation -

Mind power? Spirits? Demons? Imagination?What do you think poltergeist activity really is?

29 / 30 Fotos

The terrifying truth about poltergeists -

0 / 30 Fotos

What is a poltergeist? -

According to Metro, the term derives from two German words: "Poltern," which means to make noise, and "Geist," which means ghost.

NL Beeld

1 / 30 Fotos

How does it happen? - The name is associated with paranormal phenomena like banging, moving objects, or even spontaneous combustion.

2 / 30 Fotos

The explanation - These activities are attributed to mocking spirits or demons.

3 / 30 Fotos

Theory - One theory is that ghosts are actually disturbed spirits who use the energy around them to become known. They also manifest when they notice changes in the environment, Metro explains.

4 / 30 Fotos

Differences - But what are the differences between poltergeist activity and a regular haunting?

5 / 30 Fotos

Differences - Hauntings are usually linked to a place or to ghosts that inhabit certain spaces. Poltergeists usually affect specific people.

6 / 30 Fotos

Phenomena -

According to The Paranormal Society, each phenomenon can begin subtly, and then become more intense with voices and apparitions featuring.

NL Beeld

7 / 30 Fotos

Targets? - The Paranormal Society adds that poltergeist activity is usually associated with the presence of an adolescent girl.

8 / 30 Fotos

Targets? - When the person associated with the activity is removed, the activity usually stops.

9 / 30 Fotos

Science - Some studies associate these poltergeist with psychokinesis, which is the ability to move things by the power of the mind, The Paranormal Society reports.

10 / 30 Fotos

Supernatural? -

Some people believe that poltergeist activity is associated with disturbing spirits, says Live Science.

NL Beeld

11 / 30 Fotos

Possession -

Cases of possession by poltergeist energy have been reported. The person usually isn't aware of the event, Metro reports.

NL Beeld

12 / 30 Fotos

Exorcism -

Metro further states that exorcism techniques are used to remove a poltergeist. This is usually a time-consuming and difficult process.

Shutterstock

13 / 30 Fotos

Poltergeist -

The poltergeist phenomenon has been portrayed in many movies and some of the behind-the-scenes stories are pretty scary.

NL Beeld

14 / 30 Fotos

Classics - These movies became horror classics but also caught the public's attention for the macabre stories that followed filming.

15 / 30 Fotos

Real cases -

Coincidentally or not, many actors died after shooting supernatural movies.

NL Beeld

16 / 30 Fotos

Poltergeist -

The movie 'Poltergeist' was released in 1982 and told the story of a family being tormented by poltergeist activity.

Getty Images

17 / 30 Fotos

Tragic episode -

The first tragic event happened the same year the movie hit the theaters. Dominique Dunne, who played Dana, was strangled to death by her boyfriend.

Getty Images

18 / 30 Fotos

Second movie -

'Poltergeist II: The Other Side' was released in 1986, and another tragic event took place that year.

NL Beeld

19 / 30 Fotos

Tragic episode - Actor Julian Beck, who played Reverend Henry Kane, died from stomach cancer months before the release of the second film.

20 / 30 Fotos

Tragic episode - A year after the movie premiered, another cast member died. Will Sampson reportedly died of a heart attack.

21 / 30 Fotos

Third movie - But the darkest story happened shortly before the third film, 'Poltergeist III,' hit the big screen in 1988.

22 / 30 Fotos

Main character -

The most-remembered character in the trilogy is undoubtedly Carol Anne, played by the young actress Heather O'Rourke.

NL Beeld

23 / 30 Fotos

Tragic episode - Heather O'Rourke died at the age of 12, just before the movie debuted in theaters.

24 / 30 Fotos

Tragic episode -

She died of cardiac-pulmonary arrest and septic shock, due to an undetected intestinal blockage, People reported at the time.

NL Beeld

25 / 30 Fotos

Curious fact - Drew Barrymore auditioned to play the role of Carol Anne, according to the Independent.

26 / 30 Fotos

27 / 30 Fotos

Poltergeist: new version -

In 2015, another version of 'Poltergeist' hit the big screen. The movie directed by Gil Kenan tells the story of a family tormented by spirits.

NL Beeld

28 / 30 Fotos

Explanation -

Mind power? Spirits? Demons? Imagination?What do you think poltergeist activity really is?

29 / 30 Fotos

The terrifying truth about poltergeists

The paranormal phenomenon that inspired horror movies

03/05/25 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Poltergeist

You may recognize the name from the horror

movie franchise 'Poltergeist.' But did you know that a series of macabre

events affected the cast after filming? So much so that these episodes became known as the 'Poltergeist curse.' Skeptical about the phenomenon? Read through the gallery and draw

your own conclusions about poltergeists.