The Shining (1980) - Will's Review

It isn't the popular opinion, but to my mind, Kubrick and Nicholson are two of the most over-rate done trick ponies in cinema. The former can do only slow-paced pieces which are generally far less clever than they think they are, the latter plays unhinged brilliantly, but little else.

But in the shining, the slow-build of tension and the just-below-the-surface insanity create somewhat of a perfect storm. Kubrick attention to detail shines through, adding so many touches which have become iconic; even the foul way he treated his actors pays of in Shelly Duvall's genuine distress captured on screen.

The deviations from the source material are perfect for the medium - for proof see 1997's faithful, but dreadful, TV adaptation!

The effects, though sparing, stand up well even 35 years later, and even the overpass hotel was wonderfully cast, with the long corridors and sharp corner allowing for the famous shots of Danny on his tricycle, and the ballroom provides the perfect setting for both the deserted scenes with Jack drinking alone, and the busy flashbacks to the hotels decadent glory.

The films dream-logic could so easily have been a negative point, but manages to walk the line perfectly, with our never-quite knowing the full story managing to be interesting, rather than annoying.

As has become common now that we are so far up the list, there's a very good chance you've seen this classic movie; if you haven't, go do so now.

Week 213 - Psycho (1960)

Reviews / Author Comments due: forget about it

Position on Timeout List: 4

More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB

DVD:Link

Psycho (1960) - Will's Review

Once again, I'm going to assume that if you're reading this you have either seen Psycho, or absorbed enough horror knowledge to have had it spoiled for you.

On the off chance that you are in that 0.01% of the population who do not know what surprises the movie holds, please I BEG YOU go and see it now... You camera check out my spoiler-free notes on my own blog HERE, but please, please, read no more on the subject than that until you have seen this masterpiece.

Halloween (1978) - Will's Review

First let me make it clear that I do not worship at the alter of John Carpenter, I find him to be one of horror's most inconsistent figures; at his best, he's undeniably a genius, but for every The Thing, there's a Ghosts of Mars...

Still, if you're reading a horror blog, there's really no point dragging out any suspense about this one; Halloween is an amazing movie, which cemented the slasher as a sub-genre, and inspired directors for the next 30 some years.

Frankenstein (1931) - Lisa's Reviews

Frankenstein is always a story I've loved.  This is 1 of my 2 favourites, the other being the 1994  version with Kenneth Branagh.  There are different things to love about each movie.  With this 1931 version, there is a romanticism.  Even though the story is a horrific, frightening and even sad one, it manages to be beautiful all at the same time.

Boris Karloff is the perfect monster and has the iconic image we all know and love.  I've also always felt empathy for the monster and the plight he finds himself in.  Obviously that's the general idea, but of all the movies I watch, the character of the monster is one that has always fascinated me.  His downfall has always left me feeling incredibly upset as I suppose there is a real affection for him.

Dawn of the Dead - Will's Review

Many people will tell you that this is the best of Romero's original dead trilogy... For my money it's a distant 3rd.

Frankenstein - Will's Review

Before James Whale cut loose in the previously reviewed Bride of Frankenstein, he adapted (parts of) Shelly's famous novel in this 1931 masterpiece.

Not scary to a modern audience, it's hard to understand the effect this had on audiences over 7 decades ago. What today is a classic movie which seems more horror-inspired than actual horror, once had audiences fleeing theatres in terror.