Steven Spielberg Calls Poltergeist His ‘Land Jaws’

ET sat down with Steven Spielberg to discuss the making of ‘Poltergeist’ in this 1982 interview. Spielberg said there’s a similar ‘relentless terror’ in both the suburbia horror film and his very first blockbuster ‘Jaws,’ which celebrated its 45th anniversary this year. Spielberg opened up about the challenges of producing this movie at the same time he was directing ‘E.T. – the Extra-Terrestrial.’ Overall, Spielberg said ‘Poltergeist’ is about ‘tightening your stomach muscles’ amid the film’s many terrifying scenes.