Poltergeist (trope): Difference between revisions

 

While the term itself comes from German, poltergeist activity has been reported in nearly every culture, becoming part of the folklore in India, the United States, Japan, Brazil, and other countries. Several scientific theories regarding poltergeist activity have been proposed, including tremors, air currents, ultra-infra sound waves or unexplained losses of gravity, though true believers maintain that there is no stable scientific explanation for poltergeists. The, uh, ''not so scientific'' theories vary between ghosts and [[Power Incontinence|nonconscious, uncontrolled]] [[Mind Over Matter|telekinesis]].

 

 

* In ''[[Ghost Hunt]]'', one character's desire to be noticed ends up manifesting a poltergeist that injures several characters.

 

* In ''[[The Sixth Sense]]'', Cole Sear is often the target of poltergeist-like activity from the ghosts who are trying to get his attention.

* The title character of ''[[Beetlejuice]]'', most likely.

* In ''[[Ghost (film)|Ghost]]'', most dead spirits can't touch things by default, but with enough practice, a sufficiently determined (or angry) spectre can beat the crap out of you with ordinary household objects.

 

* In the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' series, a poltergeist named Peeves inhabits Hogwarts Castle.

* In the ''[[Odd Thomas]]'' series, a very few particularly strong ghosts have been observed to cause poltergeist activity when they get riled up enough. One notable example is [[Frank Sinatra]].

 

* Many "ghost hunting" programs request such behavior in their living-impaired quarry, in an effort to record proof of their presence.

 

* ''[[Wraith: The Oblivion]]'' gives us poltergeist powers in the form of the Outrage Arcanos, which allows a wraith to affect physical objects, often through brute force. The semi-sequel, ''[[Orpheus]]'', gives us the Poltergeist, a Shade (or class of ghost/projector) with a talent for throwing about objects with telekinetic force and boosting the physical capacities of their ectoplasmic bodies.

 

* In the first ''[[Splatterhouse]]'' game, a poltergeist boss attempts to drop a chandelier on your head.

* In [[Mega Man Battle Network]], you can get a chip called "Poltergeist" that replicates a poltergeist's common traits by picking every item on the battlefield and flinging them at enemies. It's very deadly if you have enough items on field at once.

* The Prismriver sisters of ''[[Touhou]]'' are poltergeists. Something of a cross between the 'ghost' and 'uncontrolled psychokinesis' theories; they're artificial ghosts created by an unstable girl.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Our Ghosts Are Different]]

[[Category:Film Series]]

[[Category:Paranormal Tropes]]