I have not actually seen this, so I downloaded it last night and will watch it now. It's directed by Spielberg, so I think it's got to be pretty damn good.
Spielberg was involved but he didn't direct. That was Tobe Hooper, who did the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre".
Yeah, my parents brought me to the movies to see this when I was like 11. Fucked me up pretty good. One of the most deceiving PG ratings ever. :: No idea if it's held up over the years though.
While Spielberg was the producer (his very first job solely as producer) and Tobe Hooper was the director, there is this HUGE suspicion that Spielberg was producing it very, very closely breathing on Hooper's neck. This movie SCREAMS Spielberg: the bright lights, the toys, the cute children, the jokes, the middle class setting, etc. Besides Hooper NEVER ever again directed anything remotely similar to that Poltergeist style of filmaking. So I'll go with the flow that Spielberg coached Hooper on how to direct his baby almost on a daily basis.