The Chilling Legacy of the Poltergeist 2 Poster and Reverend Kane

The Iconic Poltergeist 2 Poster

The poltergeist 2 poster has become one of the most iconic images representing the classic 1980s horror sequel. With its ominous depiction of the villainous Reverend Henry Kane reaching through the doorway, it captures the creepy tone of the film perfectly.

The Story Behind the Reverend Kane Poster

The poster features actor Julian Beck in costume as Reverend Henry Kane, the undead villain hellbent on claiming young Carol Anne's soul in poltergeist 2. Kane was a sinister preacher who led his 19th century doomsday cult to their deaths in the cave beneath Cuesta Verde. Now, over a century later, Kane seeks to escape the cave by kidnapping Carol Anne.

The poster depicts Kane as a ghoulish, undead figure dressed in preacher's clothing. His bony arm is reaching through a doorway to grab someone, with the tagline "He's back...and he's mad as hell!" This captures Kane's ruthless determination to capture Carol Anne no matter what the cost.

Why the Poster Stands Out

There are several reasons why the Reverend Henry Kane poster has become so iconic over the years:

• The ghostly, undead image of Kane is incredibly creepy and unsettling
• It captures the film's blending of horror and supernatural themes
• The sight of Kane's skeletal hand reaching through the doorway is chilling
• The tagline perfectly encapsulates Kane's anger and villainous motives
• It represents 1980s poster art at its most dramatic and gripping

Altogether, the visual design choices make this one of the most memorable and spine-tingling posters from 1980s horror. It does an excellent job enticing viewers with its ominous depiction of the Reverend Henry Kane.

The Legacy of Poltergeist 2

While not as acclaimed as the original 1982 Poltergeist, the sequel has gone on to gather a loyal following over the years. The return of the menacing Reverend Henry Kane has a lot to do with that lasting appeal.

Expanding the Poltergeist Mythology

Whereas the first Poltergeist centered on the Freeling family and their suburban home built on disturbed burial grounds, the sequel expanded the mythology.

Poltergeist 2 introduced the backstory of Reverend Kane and the Cuesta Verde cave cult. This underlying ghost story gave the sequel a more complex supernatural foundation. Seeing Kane's evil spirit return allowed the franchise to grow into a clash between good and evil.

Julian Beck's Iconic Performance

Without question, actor Julian Beck's creepy performance as Reverend Kane leaves a huge impression. Despite being ill at the time, Beck manages to portray Kane as a very threatening, larger-than-life villain.

With his skeletal appearance, hypnotic eyes, and otherworldly voice, his Reverend Kane lives up to that menacing poster image. Whenever he appears, Beck steals all the attention with his chilling depiction of Kane's profound malevolence.

Influence on Pop Culture

The character of Reverend Henry Kane has proven influential as well. Many horror films since have used the creepy, undead preacher as inspiration for similar villains. His skeleton-like appearance and evil religious motivations have inspired many a cinematic boogeyman.

Beyond movies, Kane and the poster have crept into pop culture too. Images parodying the iconic poster can be seen across the internet and on all kinds merchandise. The haunting sight of Kane reaching through the doorway remains etched in viewers' memories.

The Reverend Kane Sketch Card

Considering his enduring pop culture impact, it only makes sense Reverend Henry Kane sketch cards exist. These one-of-a-kind sketch cards capture Julian Beck's Kane in all his ghoulish glory.

Horror Sketch Cards

Sketch cards have become popular collectible variants for trading cards sets over the years. Sketch cards feature original artwork actually drawn directly on the cards themselves. This makes them unique compared to typical plastic-wrapped trading cards.

Horror movies and their iconic monsters feature frequently in sketch cards. Reverend Kane seems a natural fit given poltergeist 2's reputation as a horror classic. Kane's creepy, villainous nature translates extremely well into a detailed sketch card portrait.

Capturing Kane's Evil

The Reverend Kane sketch card perfectly encapsulates everything that makes him such a great villain. His skeletal face, dark hat, and period preacher clothing are on display. The card captures him mid-scream, with his haunted eyes wide and arms raised high.

It vividly mirrors those unforgettable scenes in poltergeist 2. We can imagine Kane backing Carol Anne into a corner, moments from claiming her soul for his underworld domain. The sketch card preserves the reverend's personality and evil motives for fans to treasure and collect.

A Must-Have Item for Fans

For fans of the character and franchise, the Reverend Kane sketch card is a must-have collectible. It freeze-frames this iconic 1980s villain in his most terrifying, dramatic moment. Horror collectors and poltergeist fans alike need this card in their collection to appreciate up close.

As long as Reverend Kane lives on in pop culture infamy, horror sketch cards help keep his evil spirit alive for fans. And the image of him reaching menacingly through a doorway will no doubt haunt moviegoers for decades to come!

FAQs

Who is the villain featured on the Poltergeist 2 poster?

The villain featured prominently on the iconic Poltergeist 2 poster is Reverend Henry Kane. Played chillingly by actor Julian Beck, Kane is an undead preacher who once led a doomsday cult that died in a cave beneath the Cuesta Verde housing development.

Why does Reverend Kane look so creepy and skeletal in the poster?

The film establishes that Kane died with his followers in the cave over a century before the story takes place. So when he returns as an evil spirit, his appearance is that of a ghoulish, undead corpse. The special effects make-up makes him seem incredibly skeletal and creepy looking.

What is Reverend Kane trying to do in Poltergeist 2?

Kane's goal throughout the sequel is to abduct young Carol Anne Freeling and bring her soul back to the underworld of the cave. As a psychic medium, Carol Anne is the only one who can free Kane from his ghostly imprisonment. So he stalks and terrorizes her family relentlessly.

Why does the poster show Kane reaching through a doorway?

The doorway image captures Kane's uncanny ability to manifest himself within the Freelings's new home. Several times he extends his ghostly arms through illuminated closets and portals to try grabbing Carol Anne. So the poster references his invasion of their home and lives.