Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Two words, delivered in a flat, singsong whisper to a TV, and they sum up the film's idea that what you let into your living room is now in your house. AFI later ranked it the 69th-greatest movie quote. Fans say it, drawn out and ominous, whenever guests, bugs or deadlines arrive, usually while pointing at a screen.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for PoltergeistShow the scene
In Poltergeist (1982), directed by Tobe Hooper from a story by Steven Spielberg, five-year-old Carol Anne Freeling is found one night talking to the family television, which is showing nothing but post-broadcast static. The next night she talks to it again, and a ghostly white hand emerges from the screen, followed by a violent earthquake. As the family is shaken awake, Carol Anne, played by Heather O'Rourke, turns to face the TV and eerily announces the line. The next day the house turns strange: a glass of milk breaks by itself, cutlery bends and furniture moves on its own.
Sources (2)
- Wikipedia: Poltergeist (1982 film)Plot and ReceptionReference checked
- Wikiquote: Poltergeist (film)Carol Anne Freeling sectionReference checked
Context reviewed