R-Rated Films Mistakenly Given a PG

Poltergeist

The horror elements of this film in of itself would have earned this a higher rating, and we haven't even addressed the pot smoking scene yet.

One of the paranormal investigators runs cold water on his face, and for a moment we see it begin to melt off, revealing most of his skull. Not the goriest sequence existing in today's world, but graphic enough where this scene alone could have propelled us into R territory.

The giant rotting skull which confronts Craig T. Nelson in the doorway is another one. Before Carole Anne drops from the ceiling covered in fetal goo, Craig holds on for dear life from being sucked into the netherworld in which his home was unfortunately built on top of.  The skull screams at him, angry at his family for having settled over a sacred burial ground. It's frightening, and again I ask--why PG?

Then there's the clown. In my opinion, this film provoked the generalized fear of them. And with reason! The thing grows limbs and strangles the son, another horrifying segment which again has me questioning the judgment of the MPAA in '82.

Lastly we come to the pot smoking sequence. JoBeth Williams rolls up a fatty in the marital bedroom and the couple proceed to get stoned. They engage in some foreplay and then there's the son at the door, afraid of the clown trying to kill him in the other room.

The language in this one may not be as crude or colorful as in Jaws, but Poltergeist definitely compensates in scares and substance abuse.

Not for children.