On Saturday, May 9, 2026, the Debut Theatre in Buffalo Grove, Illinois hosted a Poltergeist II screening and event. The screening was held in a movie theatre with plenty of seating and dramatic lighting, a nice setting for the latest event in Dead Walk Fest.
Poltergeist II: The Other Side is the sequel to the iconic Poltergeist and had a lot of expectations riding on it. It was lucky that it kept most of its original cast for the sequel. Poltergeist was a smash hit and the follow-up premiered some years later in 1986.
Before the showing of Poltergeist, there was the Midwest premiere of an independent horror film called Capture. The official debut of Capture was one week later, so those in attendance got a real treat seeing it one week early before the public.
Capture was an excellent movie! What indie horror lacks in budget, they sometimes make up big time in plotting, casting, acting, and setting. What we have here in Capture is fine acting, a plot that keeps you riveted, and most importantly, a story that actually frightens. Many of us who have been watching horror movies since forever are usually not scared when watching them. Only occasionally do we find a movie that is genuinely scary after seeing so many of these. Capture is without doubt one of those scary films that will terrify even the most jaded horror moviegoer. It uses clever camera angles and movements to achieve its horrific aspects. The acting was superb, every beat was a hit. Truly recommended!
After an intermission, Poltergeist II was shown on the silver screen. It was a huge jump to be back in the 1980s after Capture, a welcome circumstance since many of us are hugely fond of 80s horror. Poltergeist II had a Steven Spielberg feel to it, and it didn’t repeat much from the first film. It had the same cast for the central family, and Heather O’Rourke as Carol Anne was, of course, perfect again in this movie. There were some new characters and it expanded on what actually happened to the family house where the hauntings occurred and gave explanations as to why all the hauntings took place. It filled in more of a backstory not only on the house but on the characters from the first film. Poltergeist II is a worthy sequel.
Founded by Anthony Cooney to elevate overlooked creators, Dead Walk Fest has evolved from a passion project into a community-driven platform supporting independent horror filmmakers, artists, and musicians. Dead Walk Fest funds expanded screenings, original merchandise, event production, and promotional support, furthering their mission to sustain underground culture and provide a space for independent artists to connect with audiences.
It was fun to cover this event. As always, look to the Crypt for news of horror events in the community and beyond.
