History Trivia / PoltergeistIII

* FatalMethodActing: A near-miss. The car's explosion when Patricia and Bruce are being chased caused the whole set to catch fire - nearly taking out a crew member who was trying to rescue from cameras. Heather O'Rourke arrived on set the next day to hear about the incident. As soon as she confirmed no one was hurt, she asked [[AdorablyPrecociousChild "did you get the shot?"]]

* OldShame: Director Gary Sherman is not fond of the film, primarily because the experience of completing the film despite Creator/HeatherORourke's passing is something he does not want to relive. But he is proud of the special effects shots he did for it.

* RealitySubtext: Creator/HeatherORourke had a noticeably chubby looking face in the movie due to the medication for her Crohn's disease swelling up her cheeks. After filming completed in 1988, she died, at twelve years old, from surgical complications.

** Creator/CraigTNelson declined the request to be in the film, saying "two was enough". There was talk of him appearing in a fourth film, but it was cancelled following Creator/HeatherORourke's passing.

* SayMyName: In this film alone, Carol Anne's name is spoken 121 times! Much has been said about how absurdly often the name is spoken.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Creator/CraigTNelson declined the request to be in the film, saying "two was enough". There was talk of him appearing in a fourth film, but it was cancelled following Heather O'Rourke's passing.

* {{Jossed}}:
** Director Gary Sherman has denied any allegations of there being an alternate ending with Creator/HeatherORourke filmed prior to her death. He insists that the rather rushed ending seen in the finished film, using a double in place of O'Rourke, was the only one shot. Many people in the cast and crew have contradicted these claims, however. The Alternate Ending on the Blu-Ray debunks Sherman's claims.
** There was also a rumor that Jerry Goldsmith was replaced as composer due to budget cuts. In fact, he had disliked the second film and didn't want to return for a third.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Due to budget constraints, seventeen pages of the script were never filmed.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Craig T Nelson declined the request to be in the film, saying "two was enough". There was talk of him appearing in a fourth film, but it was cancelled following Heather O'Rourke's passing.

* SayMyName: In this film alone, Carol Anne's name is spoken 121 times! Much has been said about how often the name is spoken.

* BoxOfficeBomb: Budget, $10 million. Box office, $14,114,488. Killed off the ''Poltergeist'' theatrical movies until a reboot in 2015. Also had the unfortunate situation of being released shortly after the death of its 12-year-old star Creator/HeatherORourke, causing the studio to take great lengths to advertise the film without making it look like they were exploiting her passing.

* WordOfGod: Director Gary Sherman has denied any allegations of there being an alternate ending with Creator/HeatherORourke filmed prior to her death. He insists that the rather rushed ending seen in the finished film, using a double in place of O'Rourke, was the only one shot. Many people in the cast and crew have contradicted these claims, however. The Alternate Ending on the Blu-Ray debunks Sherman's claims.

* RealitySubtext: Creator/HeatherORourke was noticeably chubby in the movie due to the medication for her Crohn's disease. After filming completed in 1988, she died, at twelve years old, from surgical complications.

* BoxOfficeBomb: Budget, $10 million. Box office, $14,114,488. Killed off the ''Poltergeist'' theatrical movies until a reboot in 2015. Also had the unfortunate situation of being released shortly after the death of its 12-year-old star Heather O'Rourke, causing the studio to take great lengths to advertise the film without making it look like they were exploiting her passing.

** The line in the closing credits: "The role of Reverend Kane was previously played by Julian Beck" (he died before ''Poltergeist II'' was finished), might have also served said purpose.
* OldShame: Director Gary Sherman is not fond of the film, primarily because the experience of completing the film despite Heather O'Rourke's passing is something he does not want to relive. He is proud of the special effects shots he did for it.
* PosthumousCredit: Heather O'Rourke died four months before the film was released. The film was dedicated to her memory.
* RealitySubtext: Heather O'Rourke was noticeably chubby in the movie due to the medication for her Crohn's disease. She would later die from surgical complications after filming completed in 1988 at 12 years old.
* TechnologyMarchesOn: If the 80's fashion doesn't date the film to the modern-day viewer, surely Carol Anne playing with a Speak & Spell in the third movie will.

* RealiteSubtext: Heather O'Rourke was noticeably chubby in the movie due to the medication for her Crohn's disease. She would later die from surgical complications after filming completed in 1988 at 12 years old.

** Dedicated in memory of Heather O'Rourke, who tragically and unexpectedly passed away (she was only twelve years old) four months before the film was released.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Sadly, Heather O'Rourke, the girl who played Carol Anne, died suddenly on February 1, 1988, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poltergeist_III before post-production on the film was completed]]. As a result, the ending was hastily rewritten with Tangina offering herself as a sacrifice substitute to rescue the others kidnapped by Kane. A substitute actress filled in for Carol Anne, and her face is hidden from view as Tangina rescues them.

* [[WordofGod Word of God]]: Director Gary Sherman has denied any allegations of there being an alternate ending with Heather O'Rourke filmed prior to her death. He insists that the rather rushed ending seen in the finished film, using a double in place of O'Rourke, was the only one shot. Many people in the cast and crew have contradicted these claims, however. The Alternate Ending on the Blu-Ray debunks Sherman's claims.

* [[WordofGod Word of God]]: Director Gary Sherman has denied any allegations of there being an alternate ending with Heather O'Rourke filmed prior to her death. He insists that the rather rushed ending seen in the finished film, using a double in place of O'Rourke, was the only one shot. Many people in the cast and crew have contradicted these claims, however.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Tragically, Heather O'Rourke, the girl who played Carol Anne, died unexpectedly on February 1, 1988, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poltergeist_III before post-production on the film was completed]]. As a result, the ending was hastily rewritten with Tangina offering herself as a sacrifice substitute to rescue the others kidnapped by Kane. A substitute actress filled in for Carol Anne, and her face is hidden from view as Tangina rescues them.

* InMemoriam: The third film was dedicated in memory of Heather O'Rourke, who tragically and unexpectedly passed away (she was only twelve years old) four months before the film was released.

* [[WordofGod Word of God]]: Director Gary Nelson has denied any allegations of there being an alternate ending with Heather O'Rourke filmed prior to her death. He insists that the rather rushed ending seen in the finished film, using a double in place of O'Rourke, was the only one shot. Many people in the cast and crew have contradicted these claims, however.

* [[WordofGod Word of God]]: Director Gary Nelson has denied any allegations of there being an alternate ending with Heather O'Rourke filmed prior to her death. He insists that the rather rushed ending, using a double in place of O'Rourke, was the only one shot. Many people in the cast and crew have contradicted these claims, however.

* WordofGod: Director Gary Nelson has denied any allegations of there being an alternate ending with Heather O'Rourke filmed prior to her death. He insists that the rather rushed ending using a double in place of O'Rourke was the only one shot. Many people in the cast and crew have contradicted these claims, however.

* HeyItsThatVoice: Kane is voiced by Creator/CoreyBurton.

* InMemoriam: The third film was dedicated in memory of Heather O'Rourke, who tragically and unexpectedly died a few months before the film was released.