The Shining vs. The Exorcist
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Both amazing but The Shining for sure. Jack is incredible and there is nothing else like it. Those little girls still freak me out on the big wheels.
O.K. here it is, I am 51 years old and have nor ever will see the exorcist. I guess I convinced myself to never see it. :crazy: Shining is awesome!!!
I love The Shining, as I'm a huge Stephen King fan. Kubrick took some strange liberties with the film and left some rather important plot details out, but nonetheless it was a good horror film.
As for the best of the two, my vote goes with The Exorcist. It's much closer to the book, for one thing. I'm not sure it's a better filmed movie than The Shining, but I'll say this: The Shining gave me the willies; The Exorcist scared the ever living shit out of me when I was younger. On some level it still does. The idea that someone's innocence, freedom, and will can be removed of them by some unseen, preternatural force is disturbing and, I think, something everyone fears.
As for the best of the two, my vote goes with The Exorcist. It's much closer to the book, for one thing. I'm not sure it's a better filmed movie than The Shining, but I'll say this: The Shining gave me the willies; The Exorcist scared the ever living shit out of me when I was younger. On some level it still does. The idea that someone's innocence, freedom, and will can be removed of them by some unseen, preternatural force is disturbing and, I think, something everyone fears.
That's my take as well. The Shining is scary indeed, and all of the elements combine to a classic psychological thriller, including some intensely messed-up music and cinematography that adds to the suspense. Then you have 3 of the most incredible performances in horror movie history (Jack speaks for himself, Shelley Duvall in a great role for her, and Scatman Crothers is totally underrated and creepy).
BUT... the Exorcist is on another level entirely. When I was a kid, after I saw that movie, I had major sleep disruptions, I couldn't get to bed unless I had a pillow in my hand in case some demon dude tried to abduct me in the middle of the night. My folks had the damn book in the house and I put it in a paper bag and buried it in a box in the attic and STILL thought about it at night. It definitely messed with my mind as a kid, and for good reason because it is some realness. Anybody who grows up in a Christian home - I defy you to tell me that's "just a movie". Then, there's all the creepy stuff that went on during the filming, and so on.
I don't often get a lot of out of pure horror flicks. Once you've learned all you can from fear, then it really has no use anymore whatsoever.
I think The Shining was a better movie though. I like Jack Nicholson, and I understand the concept of "cabin fever" ... I used to visit my brother-in-laws cabin out in the woods during the summer, and it did have that "this cabin is on it's own planet" kind of feeling to it.
and havanarick, you're really not missing anything.
I think The Shining was a better movie though. I like Jack Nicholson, and I understand the concept of "cabin fever" ... I used to visit my brother-in-laws cabin out in the woods during the summer, and it did have that "this cabin is on it's own planet" kind of feeling to it.
and havanarick, you're really not missing anything.
The Shining is hard to match for intensity and use of psychological terror. Stan the Man was an unparalleled director and the acting was incredible for a horror genre movie. The Exorcist was a game-changer in the horror world and had an effect on people when it came out. People were calling their local churches, afraid because they had a Ouija board in their homes. It was this movie (rather than real-world occurrances) that terrified the American public of Talking Boards. In terms of film excellence I would say the Shining. For actual installation of terror in the public, I gotta go Exorcist.
I wish to christ no movies like that were ever produced - there's more than enough negative energy filling the cosmos as it is, without that sort of evil shit compounding it!!!!
Exorcist.
Nothing beats the head turning a 360, projectal vomiting, and creative ways of playing with a cross. :rofl:
Nothing beats the head turning a 360, projectal vomiting, and creative ways of playing with a cross. :rofl:
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