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Re: scary films

Posted: Fri May 09, 2003 7:16 pm
by Officer Dibble
Has everyone forgotten Kubick's masterpiece of horror 'The Shinning?'

This is possibly Stephens King's finest and scariest story, which was conceived in the period before he started repeating himself. Though the film is quite excellent as far as Hollywood horror goes I actually found reading the book an even more terrifying experience. Thankfully, both book and film dispense with the usual idiotic horror nonsense - the ubiquitous mad slashers and the absurd monsters 'n' ghosts. Instead they set you down right bang smack in the middle of the remote brooding Overlook Hotel. Not another human soul for miles except for a couple of dependant family members. You are alone - all except for the evil malign presence that is the vile corrupt soul of the Hotel.

The reason it's so scary is that it's believable; the story puts you in the shoes of Jack Torrance, Wendy and their little boy. You feel their mounting horror and terror as they realise they are not alone and due to the blizzard cannot escape. You feel like you're there.

Hey, one day you just might find yourself in charge of a remote hotel like The Overlook or a large house in the wilds. It?s not beyond the bounds of possibility. Then, maybe, as you lie in bed and the stairs creak in the dead of night you'll think of Jack Torrance, his family, and Grady the caretaker.

Dibble.

Re: scary films

Posted: Fri May 09, 2003 7:31 pm
by woodgnome
"the shinning" - a little known kubrick masterpiece in which jack nicholson goes on the rampage, kicking his terrified victims in a very painful manner...

Re: scary films

Posted: Fri May 09, 2003 7:36 pm
by magoo
The Shining was indeed a great film and book of course. I used to read all of Stephen Kings books but stopped buying them after Stark and Misery which was when he lost the plot IMHO.

Usually the films based on Kings books are dire with the odd exception such as The Shining and Stand By Me which was adapted from his short novellete The Body which was part of a collection of four storys in one book called Different Seasons. Another story in that book was Rita Hayworth And Shawshank Redemption later turned into an excellent movie.

Two examples of really good SK books turned into shite films would be Pet Sematary(sic) and It. It was a brilliant book but shite film.

Stephen King

Posted: Fri May 09, 2003 7:39 pm
by magoo
I hate to say it but some of the worst adaptations to film were the ones where he did the screenplay. Not always though.

Re: Kronos

Posted: Fri May 09, 2003 8:33 pm
by Goater
Yes, it's actually called 'Cronos' and it's Mexican. Great stuff

Re: scary films

Posted: Fri May 09, 2003 8:35 pm
by Goater
ALL Argento's stuff is cool but best to stick to Europe. 'Deep Red' is my personal fave is it's a mystery that doesn't cheat.

Re: scary films

Posted: Fri May 09, 2003 8:37 pm
by Goater
Have to say, Pete that i disagree with others here and think Carpenter's stuff is drivel but 'The Thing' is as good a reworking as i've ever seen.

Re: scary films

Posted: Fri May 09, 2003 8:39 pm
by Goater
Another of my faves, DC. I don't like films purely for gore but can take either way and TCM is just class. Don't you think that an unknown cast on a low budget always works better tha 20 familiar Hollywood faces in a big, squeaky clean budget?

Re: scary films

Posted: Fri May 09, 2003 8:43 pm
by buttsie
Southern Comfort

Another candidate or 2

Posted: Fri May 09, 2003 8:49 pm
by Goater
So many to name but orignal 'Invasion of the Bodysnatchers' was an excellent piece of paranoia and it still fills 70 mins today when i can't stay up long enough to see a 2 hour job. Would love to have seen the original 'King Kong' at the time of it's release. Now that really must have been something. Never seen it but wish i could have seen 'London After Midnight' aka 'The Hypnotist' with Lon Chaney. Got some great pics of him in that get up. Unfortunately it's lost forever now. Oh, and 'Cannibal Holocaust' was a magical, haunting, graphic, brutal depiction of the 'civilised' world. 'Black Christmas' remains the best i've seen though