First Look at 'Poltergeist' Reboot; *Trailer Now Online*

Having not seen the original 1982 horror classic, Poltergeist (though hoping to soon), I'm not sure what to make of a reboot coming 33 years later.

The original film was directed by Tobe Hooper (the original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and was co-written by Steven Spielberg himself.  Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams starred as parents fighting back against an evil spirit who has abducted their daughter (Heather O'Rourke) within their home.

The reboot is being helmed by newcomer Gil Kenan (Monster House) and is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatist, David Lindsay-Abaire.  It's also being produced by horror icon Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead series) whose plan is to mirror key aspects of the original.  Sam Rockwell (Seven Psychopaths) and Rosemarie DeWitt (Promised Land) now star as those parents fighting for their daughter (Kennedi Clements) against the evil spirit.

The director, Kenan, is apparenly a huge fan of the '82 classic and vows to make a contemporary, worthy horror film:

"Whenever someone approaches material that's so beloved, there's a reflexive reaction to be worried.  It's a responsibility we take very seriously.  We're working to make a Poltergeist film that lives up to the original's legacy."

He also states that while he realizes he's making a 'scary movie', he wanted to add a little something extra this time around:

"Unlike the traditional horror film, I wanted to put together a cast to give weight and reality to these characters.  It's the way to anchor the family.  It's such an emotional story at the core. Parents fighting to get their child back from the beyond."

Although the original film centered around one demented television set, to bring the story into the modern world, screens work a bit differently now says producer Sam Rami:

"The original film commented on how we've let television get out of control, babysitting our kids.  It's only gotten worse with the handheld portable devices.  Screens are everywhere."

Finally, Kenan adds that while the family seeks the help of a supernatural researcher and clairvoyant (Jared Harris) once the supernatural terror becomes overwhelming, they eventually come to rely on each other:

"The thing that keeps them a family is what they have to draw on, to stay sane, and also to win Madison back.  The film is super-scary.  And it's scary on its own terms.  I am excited to finally be able to share that with the world."

You can check out the first official images from the reboot below with the first trailer hitting tomorrow.

Poltergeist opens in theaters July 24th in 3D.

Source: USA Today