I first saw this movie when I was little (much younger than 13) and was somewhat mentally scarred by it for a while... My mother instantly regretted having me see the movie, even though we watched it together... She had forgotten how terrifying it is, I forgive her.
As an adult, watching this again, I am reminded and terrifyingly surprised just how scary it is.
In the beginning, the movie begins as a somewhat satirical overlook of cookie-cutter "McMansion" American suburban life. The father of the story's family is depicted as a stereotypical simple-minded middle-aged and middle-upper class American male, pregnant with the trademark "beer belly."
As the events unfold however, Steven Spielberg's writing, along with the rest of the production, shine through... With horrifying special effects, sound design, and nightmarish imagery make this film unforgettable and captivatingly sublime. The cast performs well and suits their characters near perfectly.
The end result is a masterclass surrealist horror that is by far one of the best, if not the best, ghost movies ever made.