#sidenote I also appreciate they didn't pick some nagging conflict between the couple when there is plenty of good tension to be had elsewhe

[ariadne-mouse]

I adore the mom in Poltergeist. When the chairs start moving she's cancelling dinner plans and marking the floor to test it and get repeated results. When the family is trying to stay calm in the aftermath when their youngest daughter Carol-Ann is missing, she's very matter-of-fact with the paranormal researchers. This woman adapts and gets things done, but she also has her moments of fear and gets emotional when she makes contact with the specter of Carol-Ann. I love the dad too, he is demonstrably soft with his kids - being the one to go comfort them during the storm - and he's silly when he's having fun, but also strong and action-oriented when he climbs the tree and dives into the pool to protect them. Like I know this is a classic horror film lauded for many other reasons but man what lovely and layered portrayals? It was really the first thing that registered for me, the genuine feel of the characters and the emotional connections between them, and it's a great foundation for the rest of it to build on. It feels like a family of real people who care about each other and that's why it matters when upsetting things happen.