31 Days of Halloween

11. The Shining



I got a lot out of Room 237, but more than anything I just really wanted to watch The Shining again. Not so much to decode the film our consider the various interpretations, but more simply because The Shining is awesome. It's interesting that the film is commonly considered one of the best horror films of all time given that it some ways feels like the antithesis of a horror movie, at least visually. Instead of having a very dark look, the film has a lot of colour. Red, gold, and even pink are very prominent in the Overlook. Yet Kubrick still manages to create an intense feeling of dread and unease. A big part of this, I think, is the haunting music which underscores a lot of the scenes. Most of the time it isn't overbearing, but it's used just enough to become tense. Then there's the vastness of the Overlook itself, threatening to swallow the characters whole that produces fear. Despite the hotel's seemingly pleasant vibe at the beginning, something still doesn't feel quite right, and the longer the film goes the more that feeling is amplified. Kubrick heightens this tension with some very creepy imagery and moments that have forged a legacy all their own. The Grady daughters, the woman in the tub, the elevator of blood, the Gold Room scenes, and the climax where Jack loses it; it's all excellent.

In addition to the awesome craftsmanship, Kubrick gets really strong performances from his cast. The obvious stand-out is Jack Nicholson whose performance is both endlessly entertaining while still being intense and scary. It's an over the top performance, but he does so many little things in addition to the big that he's a blast to watch. Shelley Duvall gets unnecessary flak; she's solid as the meek (and possibly abused) woman just trying to do the best for her family, and she does a good job being a tormented victim in the third act (possibly because of how Kubrick treated her on set). Phillip Stone is subtly imposing as Grady, and I've always found Joe Turkel's Lloyd's calm and controlled demeanour to be very chilling. Scatman Crothers plays the most normal and reliable character, and his warm presence plays well against all the creepy images. If the cast has a weak link, it may be child actor Danny Lloyd, but his performance is so cold and odd it actually adds to the creepiness so I think it works.

After seeing Room 237, I of course had the various interpretations on my mind, as well as my own theories on what exactly is going on at the Overlook. I have an idea which I develop a little more every time I see The Shining, but I'm not sure if the film is really meant to be understood entirely. I'm sure it can be explained, but the real question is should it. Part of The Shining's greatness comes from the unknown. The mystery really shouldn't be solved. It's best to just sit back, relax, and enjoy a horrific journey by one of cinema's greatest masters.

A+

I don't think the other people are, but I mostly am. I watched three of my movies in August and September, otherwise everything's been during October.

So far, Cloverfield and Identity were watched this past week, and from here on out, all the other movies I cover will be watched during the month as well.  What's so hard to believe about this?

Shelley Duvall's character is so, so bad. It's such an ugly, misogynistic representation of a woman. She's one-dimensional, does nothing but shriek and yell, and lastly, she's lifeless in each and every scene, even when she's "in a panic". A complete departure from the novel. 

I do remember liking that show a lot when I was a kid.  I revisited an episode of it on youtube a while back and I can't say that it really held up too well.  Then again I might have just watched a bad episode or maybe I just had inflated memories.  

Was I the only one who watched the Casper cartoon on Fox Kids?

I remember watching a couple of episodes of that when I was a kid and being annoyed at how silly and fourth wall breaking it was.  Thought it was stupid.

Man, y'all dropped the ball yesterday....


12. Village of the Damned



Creepy children might just deserve their own sub-genre within horror, and Village of the Damned is one of the more notable films of the type. The story follows a bunch of children born under mysterious circumstances on the same day and village. The children are psychically linked, have blonde hair, supernatural powers, and genius intellects. What surprised me most about Village of the Damned is how much of a science-fiction film it was. I expected a lot of the movie to revolve around the children going around causing hell, but in actuality a lot of time is spent detailing the circumstances of how the children came to be and there's some interesting discussions regarding what should be done with them. They're clearly a potential threat, but their intelligence could also be a manager benefit to mankind. The film has a nice eerie atmosphere and is generally an engaging watch. I don't think the film ever matures into something special, but it's a fun movie that should please both horror and science-fiction fans.

B

Hellboy is Del Toro's first major Hollywood production? Mimic or Blade II don't count? I think Del Toro would disagree greatly with that. The movie is okay-ish because the character sucks. Ron Perlman is awesome but the story and characters are as mediocre as you can get. And that sequel was super forgettable.

I meant because no one else posted any reviews.

My Hannibal reviews start tomorrow, and from then on out, I'll be more active.