Julian Beck who played Kane was dying from stomach cancer while filming. He died on September 14, 1985. Just a month or two after filming wrapped. Make-up artists didn’t even have to touch him while filming. What a badass. Cancer couldn’t even stop him from doing what he loved until the very end.

A lot of comments about Julian Beck (who played Kane) dying while making this movie, though no one has mentioned more about his life. He was also an abstract painter, poet, and the leader of the Living Theater, which was a radical theater during the countercultural era (there are videos of it on YT--pretty out-there stuff!). He was very literate, spoke French fluently, etc. Knowing this about him, the choice then to cast him as a fundamentalist preacher in "Poltergeist 2" (and also, as a ruthless corporateer in an episode of "Miami Vice") is quite an inspired stroke, as he was quite the opposite of those in real life.

I saw this in theaters when I was a kid. For the longest time my brother and I would scream "YOU'RE GONNA DIE IN THERE!" My Mother was not amused.

Julian Beck, may he rest in peace, as Kane has been voted scariest horror movie villain on multiple occasions, there's obviously not a definitive list or anything, but the fact that he's on top of many peoples list is saying something at least, and I wholeheartedly agree, that guy still gives me nightmares.

That little girl was such a good and natural actress. It's so sad she died so young.

Both Poltergeist films are taken from 2 Twilight Zone episodes. One entitled “Little Girl Lost” & the other where the dead grandma calls her grandson also from a toy phone.

OMG, these movies, esp this one, creeped me the F out when I was a kid. Kane was prefectly casted. The actor was diagnosed with cancer in 1983 and he had to have a voice actor come in during post to loop some of his lines for the movie because died in 1985. RIP.

For me watching these movies on VHS in the early nineties as a young kid was like a golden age of memories

It's kinda interesting that Henry Kane bares a striking resemblance to the white lanky demon that kept Diane from rescuing Carol Ann and Robbie towards the end of the first film. But yeah RIP Julian Beck who was battling cancer while making Poltergiest 2.

In my opinion they should have wrapped up the Poltergeist series on this movie. They even ended Poltergeist II on kind of a happy and funny note. Poltergeist III is still pretty entertaining in a cheesy way and is kind of known for how many times the name "Carol Anne" was hollered through out the movie.

I always enjoy seeing Will Sampson in movies, and he has been in quite a few good ones like "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "The Outlaw Josey Wales," "Orca," and "The White Buffalo."

When I was a kid, Julian Beck who plays Kane, scare the ever loving FUCK out of me. But now as a 40 year old, I can watch back and laugh at myself for being so scared at him hahaha! It’s always great to overcome your fears 🤣

You know, kids who grew up in the 2000s have movies like Saw & Hostel as their first “disturbing movies scenes that stay with you for life”. But for 80s kids like me, we have 24:48.

Great movie. Kane was perfect casting. Still freaks me out

I loved these films as a kid. The first 2 anyway. But as a horror obsessed kid, they never really scared me, I just loved the family. But I had a friend that was TERRIFIED of Kane. All you had to do was say "tem-ple!" like him and she'd be edgy for an hour lol.

The preachers song of "God is in, his holy temPle" was seared into my brain as a child & always quote it to anyone who mentions anything religious, it's muscle memory decades later to do so for my own enjoyment lol.

The 1st movie showcased a mothering instinct wins out over evil. This movie shows the struggles of a man raised in a patriarchal society feeling powerless to provide for his family, has the opportunity to step up to save them when they need him most. Grandma was protecting the family while she was alive...but once she passed, the evil came back

The character was certainly terrifying but what a tremendous performance from Julian Beck, playing the role of Kane while dying from Stomach Cancer.

Will Sampson aka Chief from One Flew Over The Cukoos Nest ❤

The villian in this movie. Julian Beck was in the last days of his life due to terminal cancer. I give him a lot of respect for doing this movie as sick as he was. From what I read, he had to be fed by tube during filming because of his condition. I also read he decided to do the film as a way to face his coming demise. I can't decide what's better/ worse, knowing when your time is coming or not knowing at all. Pros and cons to both I guess.

Poltergeist 2 is my favorite out of the series. The thid one is good too. Just be prepared to count how many time they say her name threw the movie.

Hi You and Me, it's a gutsy move to follow up with number 2, so soon. Even with the actor/character deaths after the first movie this one is still creepy. " Hey! "

In the first movie, and this one, it attacks Robbie as a distraction so it can get Carol Anne. But this time Taylor was there to protect her. I was hoping they would notice/address Dana missing from the story. I know why she is gone - Rest In Peace - but I feel it was weird to just act like she didn’t exist. There could have been mention of maybe she went to stay with a friend or something…

I think the first movie had more of a purity to it, leaving things to the unknown, and this one tried too hard to have a direct confrontation. The clairvoyant turn of the mother seemed forced. But I liked both movies, I just liked the first one more.

H.R. Giger, famous for designing the original Xenomorph in "Alien", designed the monsters in this, mainly the "Smoke Beast"

Julian Beck as Kane was an outstanding actor 👍👍👍love him

"hey Macarena" LOL Kane - Julian Beck - the old man did a great job. very creepy. I believe he passed away before the movie was released. first time I hear someone liked the 2nd better than the 1st. it wasn't bad. have a nice weekend all

That ghost preacher freaked me out as a kid.

This movie is so underrated by many people. Really enjoyed the reaction. As with others, Julian Beck's character, Henry Kane, has always scared me. Just hearing 'God Is In His Holy Temple' gives me the shivers. Oh and watch Return Of The Living Dead. :)

Priest Caine is why we now have a "Stranger Danger" whistle and protocol.

A young man, born with no arms or legs, ( I don’t remember his actual name) played the creature who slimed away after being puked up by Steve Freeling. He was listed in the credits as “Vomit Creature.” I think that would be so cool to have on a resume!

Your whole reaction to the "Let me in" scene was my reaction.

For me, these movies need to be watched more than once to get the entire progression of the movies. There is definitely a clear explanation of everything that started up this poltergeist happening and the attachment to Carolanne. Once you've seen all three films, it's great to start over again when you're wanting to rewatch the film and to me, more and more it reveals what's going on. Even as to Love being extremely powerful, though the mainstream of the world tends to disregard it's power. These are truly more complex than the new one they did most recently. These movies are truly told 80s style. And to all the ones of us who had the privilege to grow up and be here during the greatest era of all times, hello!!!

The great H.R Giger did not just design the "worm-Kane" and "Endmonster/Kane" which were greatly modified by the production team for practical reasons, but he also came up with the design for Kanes's cavern under the house. Unlike his monster concepts , the cavern was made almost exactly in accord to his concept drawings with Shepard Kane's still rotting body on a small mound in the center surrounded by his flock.

I will never forget that song he hummed/sung!!!!!😟

You are the first person I hear say that you liked it better than the 1st one. Part 2 and 3 are usually not so well received. Good for you.

I've flat out forgotten about this movie! I kept thinking of 3 and thought that was 2. Poltergeist 3 used to be on cable TV all of the time back in the day. I've probably seen 3 a hundred times.

I dont know if you know this or not, but the older daughter was not in this film because the actress was tragically murder by a crazy ex-boyfriend.

My step father has a friend called Peter and his dad looks exactly like Kane 😆 he scared the 💩 out of me as a child 🥺

Dominique Dunne who played Dana in the first movie, was strangled by her ex-boyfriend shortly after the film came out. In this movie, Julian Beck (Kane) died shortly after filming wrapped. Will Sampson (Taylor) died a year after it came out. Finally, Heather O'Rourke died shortly after the third movie came out.

Actor Julian Beck was in poor health while filming the movie and I believe he passed away before finishing the movie let alone before it's release. In fact when you get to Poltergeist 3, in the end credits, Julian Beck would get a nod by saying The Role of Reverend Kane was originally portrayed by Julian Beck.

'God, he's horrifying!!' Yep!

Trivia: 1. According to the script the older daughter Dana was not in the film because she was off at university, but in truth the actress Dominique Dunn was murdered by her boyfriend shortly after Poltergeist. It was decided by the filmmakers to retire the character and not recast her out of respect to the actress and her family. 2. Julian Beck (Reverend Kane) died from stomach cancer shortly after filming finished. Several of his lines were dubbed in post-production by voice actor Corey Burton. 3. (at around 34 mins) Steve (Craig T. Nelson) comments on Taylor (Will Sampson) perhaps being an escapee from an asylum. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Sampson played an asylum inmate who escapes. 4. The film had an original running time of 131 minutes before being edited down to 91 minutes. Some have surmised that MGM rushed production and ordered the cuts, e.g the final battle with Kane lasts all of two minutes. Zelda Rubinstein in particular was furious about this, as she felt her best scenes were removed from the final cut. Several scenes that appeared in press stills and promotional posters were cut from the film, e.g. one in which Kane tries to get into the house a second time and confronts Tangina (this omission angered Rubinstein as she felt that was one of her best scenes); one in which Steve and Diane see a flying toaster during a breakfast scene, etc. 5. Beatrice Straight was asked to reprise the role of Dr Lesh from the first film, but she was ill and not willing to work at the time. Richard Lawson was also asked to reprise the role of Ryan, but his schedule clashed with MGM, because he was busy filming Under the Influence (1986). 6. The International Extended Play laser-disc features a new scene from the original cut; after Tangina comes to the house and Diane has just had a vision, Kane makes a second attempt at getting into the house. The scene plays out at five minutes, but edited down to a mere eight seconds in the film (Kane is just seen walking past the house but doesn't go near it ). In the scene, Kane tries to torment Tangina and Diane tells him to leave them alone. Kane says he remembers Diane as the one who took Carol-Anne away from him. He says "You won't win this time. I'm always watching and I will take Carol-Anne from you and there is nothing you can do about it!" Tangina retorts by saying Taylor knows how to stop him, because he's more powerful, and he will find a way to banish Kane and his followers forever, in which Kane looks rather worried. All Kane has to say to that is "I will find a way into this house and when I do...I will kill you all!" And with that, he walks off into the distance. 7. Several scenes cut from the film would have explained and clarified things that are left vague in the series. It was elaborated that Taylor is the reincarnation of Ben Lagou, a Native American who was a member of Kane's cult but broke off upon realizing how evil Kane had become, thus explaining why Taylor is out to defeat Kane and why they seem to know one another. It also revealed that the ghosts in first film, the ones from the cemetery, were trapped and unable to go to the light due to Kane's powers and were forced under his control. The film originally ended with the family freeing all of the spirits Kane had ensnared, including his cult. The spirits of Kane's followers and the cemetery ghosts go to the light while Kane was to be sucked down a dark tunnel to hell. 8. The worm at the bottom of Steve's tequila bottle is a Mezcal worm.

Oddly enough, I believe the casting director said to Julian Beck, "God you're horrifying. You're hired!" Side note: I really like the first Poltergeist, but I actually think part 2 is better. Those worm effects? So sick!

The opening shot was Canyon De Chelly, in Arizona on Navajo Nation. And no drones back then, they used helicopters.

Freaky fact: The suit actor for the Kane worm was a triple amputee.

Poltergeist 2 is my favorite R. I. P. Beautiful Angel Heather O'Rourke

the actor who played the preacher was dying of cancer while this was being filmed, he was death.

All three movies had someone die After each movie was finished. The first movie the actress that played the older daughter I believe was murdered by her boyfriend. This movie the actor who played the ghost/Rev. Kane died of Cancer and the third the young actress who played Carol Ann died of a rare disease. Many people believe these movies were cursed.

They don't mention the tree trying to eat Robbie because boys in the 80s were taught to suck up the pain, so being eaten by a tree is a just a rite of passage. :P

the actor Julian Beck was dying of cancer while he filmed this movie. he knew his appearance would give it the creepy effect. God bless him rest in peace Julian

Some studio executive saw the original Poltergeist and thought "Needs more Manitou"

The man playing Kane was terminally ill during filming.

Funny how you said it feels more like Night of the Living Dead. One of the cast members from the first Poltergeist was in the first Return of The Living Dead movie.

Mrs movies plucking a chest hair in the middle of the movie was funny lol

The poltergeist franchise is actually filled with tragedy in real life. Dana Freeling (Dominique Dunne, 22 yrs old) was killed by an obsessive violent ex-boyfriend, Carol Anne Freeling (Heather O'Rourke, 12 yrs old) died of congenital stenosis of the intestine, Kane (Julian Beck, 60 yrs old) died of stomach cancer, and Tangina Barrons (Zelda Rubinstein, 76 yrs old) died of an heart attack. Dominique Dunne didn't appeared in Poltergeist II because she was killed, Julian Beck died before Poltergeist II was released (he was so ill that he didn't had to use makeup during the film to look scary) and Heather O'Rourke died the same year Poltergeist III was released.

I remember I begged my parents to see Poltergeist II outside the theater, even though we had come to see a completely different kid friendly movie lol. I was only 8 at the time but I loved the first one so much. Ofc we watched that one in the comfort of our own home on VHS. The 80’s were an all together different time lol. My dad finally said ok, but this meant my mother had to take my sister to the kids movie, and my dad took me into Poltergeist. Going to the movies as a kid in the 80’s was a major event for us. I can still remember all the smells and sounds. The excitement and fear walking down the aisle finding a seat while the previews were playing. I remember being so scared of this one we had to walk out. Kane was absolutely terrifying. The whole “God is in his holy temple” and “YOU’RE GONNA DIE IN THERE!!” Shook me to my core coming out of the loud speakers. I had nightmares about him.. it was a whole thing Lol. Lessen learned. I absolutely love both 1 and 2 now though. Come to find out the poor man who played Kane was dying of cancer during the shooting, which ofc is why he looks so scary. Apparently he was a sweetheart of a man though. I guess he died a few weeks after finishing the movie. RIP Julian Beck, Heather O’Rourke, Dominique Dunne, Zelda Rubenstein, and Will Sampson

Old preacher dude was dying during this. Which makes his appearance even more scary.

That old man scared the shit outta me as a kid, I saw someone that resembled him once when I was little in town and freaked out!

Took me half way through the video just realized the Native American is from One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

You might want to give "The Osterman Weekend" a watch. Craig T Nelson was in that, as well.

The explanation for the 1st movie was they built the neighborhood on a graveyard (which was supposed to have been moved but they only moved the headstones). Of course that wasn't revealed until late in the movie.

17:25 Julian Beck mad a great job as Kane...unfortunately he died before the movie was realeased...

the perfect backdrop split between you 2 in the medium wide shot almost feels like y'all are in 2 different rooms and have edited it into a 1 shot..messes with my brain!

17:31 you are so right! He looks that way because the actor Julian Beck was actually dying of stomach cancer. I believe he died just after production ended.

Just like I said in the 1st Poltergeist reaction, May the souls of Julian Beck, and Will Sampson Rest In Peace. 2 more losses to such an underrated series.

you can really hear Mr. Incredible in Nelson's performance

The actress who played the oldest daughter died shortly after the first movie, so they just wrote her out. The actor who played Carol Ann died during the filming of the third movie.

I cared for the original film more, because it presented the afterlife, or the other side, in an alien, complex way. In the original Poltergeist film, the “other side” has both good, bad, and neutral sides. There are ghosts who are indifferent to the living, and ghosts who are mad at the living. Poltergeist 2 gives us a main villain and a more good vs evil story. These films are similar to Star Trek the Motion Picture and Star Trek 2. Star Trek the Motion Picture involved a powerful alien intelligence that was indifferent to humans but was creating unintentional destruction its quest to find meaning in life, similar to humans not hating ants when we build a house on an ant hill. Because of this story, many people found the first Star Trek film to be boring. Star Trek 2 had a great human villain who could state snappy lines and emote on camera, and many more people liked Star Trek 2.

I enjoy each of the installments for different reasons but damn if I don't cry every time I watch the third one, at the end, thinking about how she died so young irl.

Did you know that the actress Domonique Dunn who played the oldest child Dana in the first Poltergeist movies, was murdered by her boyfriend. Thats why her character went to " college" in the second movie.

This movie is one of those rare occasions where the sequel is better than the original. Rev. Kane is scary af in large part because the actor, Julian Beck was dying of cancer during the filming. He freaked me out with this brilliant performance.

Kane is one scary you know what, whoa. He definitely take the cake in this sequel, cool reaction as always Mr. & Mrs Movies, you both take care and have a great weekend

The Native American actor is from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest"

The concept artist for Poltergeist II was H.R. Giger, who also was the concept artist for Alien.

Imagine the week of that casting call for the creepy old man. 7:38

19:12 - Today we learned the MRS has chest hair. hahaha

That movie was cursed, from the real skeletons in the pool in part 1, to Dominique Dunn being murdered in between 1 and 2, Julian dying after this one, and Will Sampson also dying

I know her quote is, super, but I always crack up with her dramatic, oh no.

I believe that the actress that had played the older daughter had been murdered by this time.

Julian beck was on the cover of Anthrax Among the living album 😊

24:26, look at Mr. Movie's face, that scene got to him. Bet you won't want to ever drink Tequila now.

I do like this better than the first. This is where that uptick in quality ends, though :D The actor playing Kane (creepy guy) gives a fantastic performance. Sad part is that he actually was suffering long term stomach cancer at the time, which is why he looks so gaunt. He died after wrapping this shoot, before the film even aired in theaters. On the mother not being open to her gift: I think it's just plain fear because she knows the other side is after her daughter. It's the same fear that dad also fights against believing. This thing tried to take their daughter once and kill them all. They just want it to be over, which is completely understandable. The worm sequence is the most gross. I don't know about the scariest, but yeah, it's the moment that sticks with you (ither than really every moment Kane is on screen). I do love the look of the proto-Kane that comes out of it. It's very reminiscent of Frank coming back in Hellraiser.

I really like this one because it's got some good humor in it. And I love Taylor. Will Sampson was great.

im guilty to say i love poltergiest 2 more then tthe original i love the score more i love the cast more and yes henry kane was a scary as shit

I wondered if Craig T Nelson was legit terrified by Julian Beck's performance

Julian beck aka uncle baby Billy. Same soul.

@5:30 Ridin' the rails, Hayden, clickeddy clack, clickeddy clack!!!

The man playing the evil Priest in this film knew he was sick and dying, he dyed before this film was released in theaters.

It'd be cool if his little girl was casted as the ballerina in the upcoming John Wick film "The Ballerina" (even though I love Ana de Armas casting in it) simply for this line "Will it help me be a ballerina"

Carollanne was GBBG. Given Back By Grandma.

Any one else shouting pinch it off when the wormy thing came out?

Please watch The Omen (the original) - especially if you check out the curse around the film too.

I really need to get this trilogy on Blu-ray awesome series! I actually like this one better than the first.

Julian was very sick while filming this.

Poltergeist 2 is my favorite. I love the indian & the humor. Kane was a great villain too. Carol Anne is in part 3, but the rest of the family isn't which is why I don't like it as much. Great reaction!

5:32, one of my favorite scenes of the movie. The freaky Freelings whose house disappeared.

24:25 Looking at his reaction. Yeah, me too bro! 😬

Incredibile cone Julian Beck abbia preso parte in un film del genere. Volto cmq perfetto x quel ruolo. Inquietantissimo. Qualcuno pubblichi un DVD restaurato almeno in HD .🙏🙏🙏🌟🎥🎞️

Julien Beck was dying of cancer during the making of this film. He passed away several months before the film was released