Poltergeist (1982)
* The Freelings:
* Steven: Survived the events of the film, but it's heavily implied he was traumatized and haunted by the experience.
* Diane: Survived, but likely also traumatized.
* Carol Anne: Survived and was rescued from the spirit world.
* Robbie: Survived, though he was seemingly less affected by the events than the others.
* Dana: Was a recurring character in the film, but her fate was never explicitly stated. She wasn't seen in the sequels, and it's unclear what happened to her.
* The Medium: Was killed by the spirits, though the specifics of how she died were never fully explained.
Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)
* The Freelings:
* Steven: Still haunted by the events of the first film, he struggles with his mental health and eventually disappears.
* Diane: Continues to deal with the aftermath of the first film and the subsequent events.
* Carol Anne: Is targeted by the spirits again and seeks the help of a new medium.
* Robbie: Continues to grapple with the trauma of the events, and his age is unclear in this film.
* Tangina: The new medium, is able to help the Freelings, but is also threatened by the spirits.
* The "Beast": The evil spirit that orchestrates the events of the sequel. Its ultimate fate is unclear, but it seems to have been destroyed or banished.
Poltergeist III (1988)
* The Freelings:
* Carol Anne: Is now living in a new city with her aunt and uncle, but is targeted by the spirits again.
* The rest of the Freeling family: Their fate is unclear, and they are not featured in this film.
* The "Beast": Returns from the first film and attempts to manipulate Carol Anne.
* Other characters: Several new characters are introduced in this film, most of whom are either killed by the spirits or simply vanish from the story.
The "Real" Poltergeist Controversy:
Adding to the mystery of the Poltergeist movies is the real-life tragedy that surrounded the original film. Heather O'Rourke, who played Carol Anne, sadly died at the age of 12 from a rare intestinal condition shortly after the filming of Poltergeist III. This, coupled with the alleged use of real human skeletons in the film, has fueled rumors and conspiracy theories about the "curse" of Poltergeist.
It's important to note that the "curse" claims are unsubstantiated and largely attributed to speculation. However, the tragic deaths of two child actors in the franchise (Dominique Dunne, who played Dana in the first film, was murdered in 1982), certainly add a layer of unsettling reality to the eerie events of the films.
Overall, the Poltergeist movies are known for their tragic endings and the unsettling sense of dread they evoke. While some characters survive, they are often left scarred and traumatized by their encounters with the supernatural.