In the original Poltergeist film, the haunted family’s surname is Freeling.
Poltergeist, released in 1982, follows the Freeling family after supernatural disturbances begin in their suburban California home. The family includes parents Steve and Diane, their children Dana, Robbie, and Carol Anne, and the paranormal events that initially seem playful before becoming increasingly threatening. Carol Anne’s famous announcement that they are “here” becomes one of the film’s signature moments.
The surname is sometimes confused with families from other supernatural horror films. The Lutz family appears in The Amityville Horror, the Lamberts belong to Insidious, and the Warrens are paranormal investigators in The Conjuring series. Poltergeist was produced and co-written by Steven Spielberg and directed by Tobe Hooper, which has led to long-running discussion about how credit for the film’s distinctive style should be understood.