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Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) movie poster

Timeline

Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1986 · 91 min · English
JustWatch #2,345 11
Directed by
Brian Gibson
Starring
Craig T. Nelson, Will Sampson, JoBeth Williams, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Zelda Rubinstein, Heather O'Rourke

Following their terrifying ordeal, the Freelings seek a fresh start, but the paranormal activity follows them. A shaman and paranormal experts are brought in to investigate the unsettling events, uncovering disturbing secrets about their home. When the malevolent Beast finds Carol Anne, the family must work with the investigators to confront a sinister entity disguised as a reverend and rescue her from a dangerous situation.

Horror Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Poltergeist II: The Other Side
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)

Where can you watch Poltergeist II: The Other Side? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Fawesome and Kanopy: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Poltergeist II: The Other Side Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Cuesta Verde Transformation

    One year after the events of *Poltergeist*, Cuesta Verde is undergoing a significant redevelopment. The location where the Freelings' home stood is being excavated for an archaeological paranormal dig, which draws the attention of psychic Tangina Barrons.

    Where
    Cuesta Verde

  2. Discovery of the Cave

    During the excavation process, a ground crew uncovers an underground cave. This unexpected discovery raises alarms and leads Tangina to contact her friend Taylor, an American Indian shaman, to investigate the cave's disturbances.

    Where
    Cuesta Verde

  3. The Threat of Kane

    Taylor realizes that the malevolent entity, Kane, a demon pretending to be a preacher, has targeted Carol Anne. Understanding the urgency of the situation, he sets out to take action to protect her from this imminent threat.

  4. The Freelings Relocate

    The Freeling family relocates to Phoenix, Arizona, moving in with Diane's mother, Grandma Jess. This transition comes after Steven's loss of his real estate license, forcing him to sell vacuum cleaners door-to-door to support the family.

    Where
    Phoenix, Arizona

  5. Grandma Jess's Departure

    Grandma Jess, who possesses clairvoyant abilities, reassures Diane and Carol Anne of their own gifts before she passes away. In her poignant farewell, she promises that she will always be there for them, providing comfort in a time of loss.

    Where
    Phoenix, Arizona

  6. Kane's Assault Begins

    As Taylor arrives in Phoenix, a malignant force begins to attack the Freeling home. Despite the family having removed televisions, Kane's minions find an alternative way to infiltrate through Carol Anne's toy phone, escalating the situation.

    Where
    Phoenix, Arizona

  7. A Firm Standoff

    Kane confronts the Freeling family at their home, demanding entry. Steven, showing bravery, stands his ground against Kane, impressing Taylor, who then takes him to the desert to teach him the **Power of Smoke**.

    Where
    Desert

  8. Understanding Kane's History

    Tangina visits the family to reveal the dark past of Kane, originally known as Reverend Henry Kane. She recounts how he deceived his followers into the cave, leading to their tragic fate, and details his transformation into a monstrous Beast.

  9. Steven's Possession

    One fateful night, Steven falls victim to possession by a worm sent by Kane. In a moment of terror, he attacks Diane, but her heartfelt declaration of love temporarily frees him from Kane's control, revealing the gravity of the situation.

    Where
    Freeling Home

  10. Battle with the Creature

    As the situation escalates, a gigantic, tentacled creature materializes from Kane's influence. Steven uses the **Power of Smoke** to banish this horrifying entity, yet the family must confront Kane directly soon after.

  11. Return to Cuesta Verde

    The Freelings return to Cuesta Verde to confront their haunted past once more. They descend into the cave where Kane holds sway, ready to face the danger head-on and save Carol Anne, who he has taken captive.

    Where
    Cuesta Verde

  12. Final Confrontation

    In a climactic struggle, Kane seizes Carol Anne, which inadvertently unifies the family against him. With a charmed Indian lance, Steven strikes a fatal blow against Kane, effectively banishing him to the afterlife.

    Where
    Cuesta Verde Cave

  13. Grandma Jess's Intervention

    Just as the Freelings are about to be pulled into the afterlife, the spirit of Grandma Jess intervenes. She guides Carol Anne back to her family, ensuring their reunion and safety from impending danger.

    Where
    Cuesta Verde Cave

  14. Gratitude and Escape

    The Freeling family emerges from their terrifying ordeal, forever changed yet grateful. They express their sincere thanks to Taylor and Tangina for their support and guidance throughout their harrowing journey.

    Where
    Cuesta Verde

Last updated: November 03, 2024 at 13:33

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Timeline questions answered

Poltergeist II: The Other Side Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Steven lose his real estate license?

After the traumatic events of the first film, Steven lost his real estate license, which forced him to take a job selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door to support his family. This added financial stress to the family's situation, making their relocation to Phoenix even more difficult.

  • steven freeling
  • job loss
  • financial trouble
  • vacuum cleaner salesman
Q2

What was the Power of Smoke that Taylor gave Steven?

The Power of Smoke is a spiritual force granted by Taylor, the American Indian shaman. It allows the recipient to repel and cast out demonic entities. Steven uses this power first to banish a tentacled creature that manifests during Kane's possession, and later to help confront Kane directly in the cave.

  • power of smoke
  • taylor
  • shaman
  • spiritual power
  • exorcism
Q3

Who was Reverend Henry Kane in Poltergeist II?

Reverend Henry Kane was a demonic entity who had masqueraded as a preacher during his lifetime. Tangina reveals that he lured his followers into the cave beneath Cuesta Verde, where they met their deaths. Over time, his malevolence grew into the monstrous Beast that haunts the Freelings, targeting Carol Anne specifically.

  • reverend henry kane
  • demon
  • preacher
  • tangina
  • bEAST
Q4

Why did Kane target Carol Anne specifically?

Kane specifically targeted Carol Anne because she possessed strong psychic abilities, making her vulnerable to his influence. As a child with natural clairvoyant gifts, she served as his primary conduit to cross over from the Other Side into the physical world. Her sensitivity to the supernatural made her the ideal vessel for his malevolent presence.

  • carol anne
  • psychic
  • gifts
  • demon
  • target
Q5

How did Kane enter the house through the toy phone?

After the family removed all televisions from their home to prevent Kane's interference, his minions found an alternate entrance through Carol Anne's toy phone. This demonstrates Kane's adaptability and his ability to exploit any portal, supernatural or technological, to reach the family.

  • toy phone
  • kane
  • entrance
  • possession
  • portal
Q6

Why did Steven get possessed by the worm?

Steven became vulnerable to possession because he was emotionally and physically weakened from stress and alcohol. Kane sent a worm-like entity to infiltrate Steven, using his compromised state to gain control. Once possessed, Steven attacked Diane, though her declaration of love momentarily broke Kane's hold.

  • steven
  • possession
  • worm
  • kane
  • attack diane
Q7

How did the Freelings defeat Kane in the cave?

The family returned to Cuesta Verde and descended into the cave where Kane held dominion. Steven, armed with a charmed Indian lance provided by Taylor, delivered a fatal blow to Kane, banishing him to the afterlife. This weapon was specifically designed to destroy the demonic entity.

  • cave
  • battle
  • indian lance
  • steven
  • defeat kane
Q8

How did Grandma Jess save the family from the afterlife?

After Kane was defeated, the family nearly got pulled into the afterlife themselves. However, the spirit of Grandma Jess, who had died earlier in the film, intervened and guided Carol Anne back to her family. Her promise to "be there" was fulfilled through this protective intervention.

Foreshadowing: Grandma Jess had promised to always be there for her family before her death.

  • grandma jess
  • spirit
  • afterlife
  • save carol anne
  • rescue
Q9

Why did Grandma Jess die in Poltergeist II?

Grandma Jess passed away naturally while living with the Freelings in Phoenix. Before her death, she reassured Diane and Carol Anne about their clairvoyant gifts, telling them she would always be there for them. Her death served as both an emotional loss and set up her later spiritual intervention.

  • grandma jess
  • death
  • passed away
  • clarivoyant gifts
Q10

Why did Tangina investigate the Cuesta Verde dig site?

Tangina Barrons, the psychic from the first film, became involved when the excavation crew discovered an underground cave at the former Freeling home site. Recognizing this as a potential new threat, she contacted her friend Taylor, the shaman, to investigate the disturbances and protect Carol Anne from Kane.

  • tangina
  • cuesta verde
  • cave
  • dig site
  • taylor
Q11

What happened to Carol Anne when Kane took her?

During the final confrontation in the cave, Kane seized Carol Anne and attempted to pull her into the afterlife with him. This actually unified the family against him, as they fought together to rescue her. Steven's attack on Kane with the charmed lance freed her from his grip.

  • carol anne
  • kidnapped
  • cave
  • rescue
  • family unity

Movie threads

More Movies Like Poltergeist II: The Other Side, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Poltergeist II: The Other Side tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about families fighting evil like Poltergeist II: The Other Side

Stories of ordinary families uniting to fight extraordinary paranormal threats. If you liked the family dynamic in Poltergeist II: The Other Side, this list features similar horror and supernatural thrillers. Discover movies where the love and resilience of a family are their greatest weapons against demonic forces, hauntings, and otherworldly threats.

  • familial bond
  • supernatural dread
  • desperate
  • protective
  • haunting
  • good versus evil
  • Tone: tense, desperate, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, escalating threat
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with a family experiencing a disruption to their normal life by a paranormal presence. The threat often targets a vulnerable member, like a child, forcing the family to seek help and ultimately rely on their own courage and connection to survive and vanquish the evil.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the family as both the target and the solution to a supernatural crisis. They blend high-stakes horror with the heavy emotional weight of familial love and protection, creating a uniquely tense and emotionally resonant experience.

When the Lights Went Out movie poster

When the Lights Went Out

2012
Poltergeist movie poster

Poltergeist

1982
Poltergeist II: The Other Side movie poster

Poltergeist II: The Other Side

1986
Satan’s Playground movie poster

Satan’s Playground

2006
Thirteen Ghosts movie poster

Thirteen Ghosts

2001
Home Sweet Home: Rebirth movie poster

Home Sweet Home: Rebirth

2025
Insidious movie poster

Insidious

2011
Children of the Corn: Revelation movie poster

Children of the Corn: Revelation

2001

Tense and oppressive horror movies like Poltergeist II: The Other Side

Unrelenting horror films where characters are trapped by a persistent evil presence. Fans of the relentless dread in Poltergeist II: The Other Side will find more chilling tales here. These films feature a steady, high-intensity pace, a tense tone, and a feeling of being under siege by a malevolent force, perfect for viewers seeking an unrelenting supernatural horror experience.

  • oppressive
  • unsettling
  • anxious
  • claustrophobic
  • supernatural dread
  • relentless
  • Tone: tense, unsettling, oppressive
  • Pacing: steady, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The pattern involves a malevolent force establishing a persistent presence that continuously harasses the characters. The pacing is steady, moving from one frightening encounter to the next, building a sense of inescapable doom. The focus is on survival and breaking the siege, often requiring outside expertise or spiritual intervention.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared oppressive mood and steady, high-tension pacing. They deliver a consistent experience of supernatural dread, minimizing relief to maintain an anxious, claustrophobic feel from which the characters must desperately fight their way out.

23:59 movie poster

23:59

2011
Insidious movie poster

Insidious

2011
When the Lights Went Out movie poster

When the Lights Went Out

2012
Sound of Horror movie poster

Sound of Horror

1966
Interior movie poster

Interior

2014
Death of a Ghost Hunter movie poster

Death of a Ghost Hunter

2007
Them movie poster

Them

2007
In Fear movie poster

In Fear

2014

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Every angle

Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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