This New Poltergeist Trailer Will Creep You The Hell Out

New version of the horror classic is due May 22nd.

By Brendon Connelly /

I don't like dolls and I really don't like clowns. The end of this new Poltergeist trailer features a clown doll, and so I didn't watch it. I watched the back of my hand instead. And turned the volume down low. But I can vouch for the rest of the footage. There's a lot of trickery here to put scares - jump scares, that's all, but still effective - into the trailer where they won't exist in the film. But if spooking you out is the mission objective, I think this promo hits the target in the bullseye.The screenwriter of the new Poltergeist is David Lindsay Abaire, a playwright with a great understanding of how to draw complex, believable and changing interpersonal dynamics. He could make this family interesting even if the supernatural wasn't going to get involved. Gil Kenan, the director, also made Monster House and City of Ember, both of which had their charms. I've been keen to see what he would do next. And so it I'm thinking Poltergeist is likely to be well worth our time. Both UK and US audiences will find out for sure, from May 22nd.