10 Craziest Movie Myths (That Turned Out To Be True)
7. Real Skeletons Were Used In Poltergeist
Poltergeist is a movie with plenty of strange behind the scenes tales. Theres the eternal rumour that Steven Spielberg really directed it and not Tobe Hooper (a claim some of the cast back up), or the persistent Poltergeist curse story.
The movie clearly had a lot of craziness going while it was being made, which might explain why real skeletons were used for one sequence instead of plastic ones. Seriously. This was apparently a cost saving measure as plastic skeletons would have cost more, so real human remains were used instead. Actress JoBeth Williams had no trouble looking terrified when she had to come face to face with them in the swimming pool scene.
Strangely this happened again on the sequel, where the crew was so horrified to discover they were working with real bodies they demanded an exorcism on set. Actor Will Sampson - who was an Indian shaman in real life - was allowed to perform a blessing for them.