Oftentimes, there are moments in a story which really feel like a reset; as if telling it’s you to neglect the whole lot that you’ve got believed concerning the story and its characters, to this point, as a result of issues are going to alter, lots and lots too rapidly. That second in Poltergeist is the “They’re right here” scene. A TV, a mysterious smoke, and little Carol Anne—it nonetheless offers me goosebumps, each single time!.
On this article, we’re analyzing how that one legendary scene and quote single-handedly amplifies the horror in a blink of a watch whereas underscoring the looming risk to the household.
The Scene
It was a tragic and quiet night time for the Freeling household. Their pet fowl had mysteriously died earlier that morning. Whereas the eldest daughter, Dana, was asleep in her room, dad and mom, Steven and Diane, have been sleeping of their bed room with their two young children, Carol Anne and Robbie. Carol Anne is woken up by the brilliant mild of the TV that has turned on by itself, displaying static on the finish of the day’s broadcast. She climbs away from bed and walks to the TV.
All of a sudden, a ray of sunshine emerges from the TV. It escapes the TV set, twirling within the air like glowing smoke. Carol watches in amazement because the glowing smoke slowly fills the room, lastly starting to converge at a degree on the wall, proper above the pinnacle of their mattress. As quickly as the sunshine ray diminishes, the complete room begins shaking violently. The wild tremors wake the others up. They discover Carol standing in entrance of the TV. Because the tremors cease, Carol whispers, “They’re right here.”
Decoding “They’re Right here”
So, what makes this line so iconic and horrifying? Let’s break it down.
1. Terror in Suburbia
The movie begins with a cheerful household of 5 who reside in a suburban housing improvement of Cuesta Verde, California. Life is nice till in the future, their younger daughter Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke) begins sleepwalking. At first, the younger dad and mom don’t suppose a lot of it, however quickly they discover that she is having seemingly one-sided conversations with the TV set, turned on however with no sign. Earlier than they realize it, mysterious occasions start disrupting their regular life, beginning with the sudden mysterious loss of life of their pet fowl.
‘Poltergeist’ (1982)Credit score: MGM/UA Leisure Co.
The setup of the suburb is essential right here as a result of there was a time when American middle-class households have been made to consider that suburbs have been the most secure locations to reside, away from the chaos and crime of the town. Poltergeist can be a scary film no matter the place it was set, however the truth that it takes place in a quiet suburb is a stinging reminder that security is nothing however a fleeting second, and also you’re secure nowhere.
2. The Authentic Sin
The assertion “They’re right here” is ironic. Whereas it appears like an announcement for somebody’s arrival, the spirits have been already residing there lengthy earlier than the household moved in. Because the film progresses, we study concerning the origin of the homes within the suburban housing developments: the residential space was constructed on Native American burial grounds.
‘Poltergeist’ (1982)Credit score: MGM/UA Leisure Co.
The corporate irresponsibly took over burial lands and constructed residential properties over them, with out even clearing out the useless our bodies beneath the bottom. All they did was take away the headstones. This spiritually outrageous act stirs up the paranormal forces of nature, inflicting them to wreak havoc within the mortal dimension.
3. Carol Anne’s Tremendous Scary Supply
‘Poltergeist’ (1982)Credit score: MGM/UA Leisure Co.
The road can be drenched in horror, particularly as a result of approach younger O’Rourke delivers it. That creepy smile, with a shine of pleasure in her eyes, as an alternative of concern—creepy! The ominous tone of the assertion turns a easy sentence right into a warning. It lets each the household and the viewers know that the chaos is right here. To me, it additionally seems like a declaration of battle towards the mortals by the spirits, voiced by their goal herself, Carol.
4. The Worry is Psychological
The concern of the unknown has been innovatively utilized in a wide range of films, and in Poltergeist, these two phrases within the scene intention to evoke the same feeling of unease and dread. Not figuring out what the risk is makes it unattainable to arrange for it. Thus, the road is at least a mockery—it’s like doing you soiled whereas providing you with a heads-up proper earlier than each step.
The anomaly of the quote additionally elevates the horror manifold. By withholding primary data, reminiscent of what “they” need or what “they” are going to do, the 2 phrases solely push the viewers additional in direction of an abyss of paranoia. Topped with the little youngster’s chilly, impassive supply of the 2 phrases, the scene is likely one of the most spine-chilling moments of the film.
“They’re right here” is broadly thought-about to be a cultural touchstone in horror, acknowledged because the 69th best film quote of all time by the American Movie Institute. A line that singularly captures the movie’s central message, the intrusion of the unknown, and the sensation of hazard in a single’s own residence, “They’re right here,” embodies horror in one in all its purest kinds.
Which is your favourite second from Poltergeist?
