The Shining declared 'scariest horror film ever'
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The Shining has been declared the scariest horror film every made by top film website Totalscifionline.com.
Starring Jack Nicholson, the horror scared off fierce competition from Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby and British cult classic The Wicker Man. Other films that crept into the website’s top ten include Psycho, Jaws and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Based on the novel by famous horror writer Stephen King, The Shining tells the story of a frustrated writer who tries to murder his family in an isolated hotel where they are snowed in for the winter. Following mixed reviews on its release in 1980, its reputation has steadily grown over the years, eventually elevating the film into an iconic classic.
“Nearly 30 years after its initial release, The Shining remains an unparalled study in isolation, madness and paranoia,” says Matt McAllister, editor of Totalscifionline.com. “The expansive sets, surreal visuals, and an intense performance from Jack Nicholson add up to a film guaranteed to give viewers a sleepless night.”
A measure of the film’s success is the proliferation of its dialogue in popular culture. The repeated phrase “All work and no play make a Jack a dull boy” and Jack Nicholson leeringly announcing ‘Here’s Jonny!’ in the unforgettable scene where he smashes through a door wearing a sadistic smile have cemented the film’s reputation.
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Comments
Never less than a hoot.
and as a poster said no Exorcist!
If we are confining ourselves up to the 70s how about THX1138, Rollerball, Silent Running or the Time Machine all sci fi but scarier than most of the films above - and not just because the scary aspects have come to pass.
The Haunting (Wise 1963)
The Changeling (Medak 1980)
Ringu (Nakata 1998)
Kairo (Kirosawa 2000)
The Company of Wolves (Jordan 1984)
The Woman in Black (ITV 1989)
Suspiria (Argento 1977)
Session 9 (Anderson 2001)
Night of the Demon (Tourneur 1957)
Don't Look Now (Roeg 1973)
I heard it when I was a child in the '60's.
so weird and disturbing that it gets really scary sometimes!
1. The Shining - poor realisation of a pretty good book who's central character was THE BOY. Not scary.
2. Rosemary's Baby - A hip sixties thing. Not in the least bit scary, and Farrow used a body double.
3. The Wickerman - A great atmospheric film but not scary.
4. The Bride of Frankenstein - Is this a joke? Preferred the remake with Marge and Homer.
5. Psycho - OK I'll go with this. But the scary bits were the lunge across the top of the staircase and the superimposed skull at the end. The shower scene was pure comedy.
6. Alien - The only one I'd have in my top ten. Pure class.
7.8. 9 All slashers ie NOT SCARY. I've yet to see a slasher movie that's scary.
10 Jaws - No. Just no. I don't even think it's a good film. Too full of Spielberg cliches.
Much prefer steerpike66's list. Nice to see Night of The Demon in there. From the M R James short story "Casting of The Runes". James is a rich vein of source material who is badly overlooked.
I would add "Freaks". I also liked the Cameron remake of "The Thing".
Damn you stubby finger syndrome.
Or how about Korean movie Oldboy?
The east has far better horror movies than we do. I watched The Shining the other day and can't see what all the fuss is about. Guy goes crazy in snowstorm.