BobO'Link

I've never read the book (don't care for King's writing/stories in general) and have seen both the Kubrick film and the TV miniseries. While I like the miniseries I like Kubrick's film more. I mainly got a copy of the miniseries *because* I'd read it was more in sync with the book. Both are the only movies I've ever seen which are based on King's work that I like enough to re-watch on my own.

Undeadcow

I keep being led astray by genre labelling on streaming services so now going into my second wildcard in a challenge Ive never used wildcards on. Closet Monster, a seething coming of age film with glbt themes, and Jallikattu, a kinetic vibrant film about a rampaging buffalo, are both superior films but a real stretch to call either of them 'horror.' Maybe Im being too much of a purist in a genre with more subtlety and range than I'd considered before but I suppose it's most likely some streaming services have so many films they can't correctly label them all or some distributors are more shameless in trying to capitalize on horror trends.
Activating 'cross check IMDB mode' now.

Chad

I'm a Mick Garris fan, read the book twice and watched the film countless times, but couldn't stand the mini-series. Despite it having King's creative control and staying true to the novel, it just served as a testament that Kubrick was the master of knowing what did/didn't translate from page to screen. The topiary animals scene is probably the best example of several. I don't care if we're talking shitty 1990s TV budget GG or today's effects, that was one of several that just didn't work on screen, IMO. I was a fan of Steven Weber's performance, though.

On a similar note I'm sad to hear Mike Flanagan's Shining prequel is no more.

jacob_b

I plan on watching it as the original was really well done and curious how the American one does. On that note, what other movies currently streaming are a good watch? I need suggestions.

coyoteblue

Good time to repost this:

Shocker Internet Drive In -- They're not all horror, but there are over a hundred double features and most of them are horror

BobO'Link

Well... that's not too unlike several collections of horror movies that include movies that aren't truly horror... I'm watching Tower of London as it's in one of the Universal Horror collections (OK... two - a DVD collection and a BR collection) though it's *not* a horror movie. It's Historical Drama. I don't know if it's gotten stuck in the horror genre stuff due to Vincent Price *and* Boris Karloff being in the cast or Karloff's character being a sadistic executioner (the more likely reason). Whenever I watch it during this challenge (not often and this year only because the BR collection it's in is a new purchase) I feel like it doesn't belong, but count it anyway all because of the name of the collection. And I have another such film, also in a new Universal Horror collection, coming up... Night Key. And it's all because Karloff's in the film.

Spiderbite

I cannot recommend enough the documentary Woodlands Dark And Days Bewitched: A History Of Folk Horror (2021). It is a massive, expansive and fantastic 3 hr. 12 min. documentary. It is never dull and is teeming with fascinating film history with tons of uncommon ones referenced. All talking heads are experts in their fields and are not obnoxious celebrities trying to crack a joke every moment they are on camera. All interviewees add substantial information to this barely discussed subject.

Excellent! ****1/2 out of *****

jholmes

I watched this when it first appeared on Shudder and I agree-- it's really worth watching.

There are so many new releases this month, I'm practically giddy. I'm really excited to see Mr. Harrigan's Phone (today, Netflix), Beast (Peacock Oct 7), the new Let the Right One In series (Oct 7 Showtime), Significant Other (Oct 7 Paramount+), The Midnight Club (Oct 7, Netflix), Werewolf by Night (Oct 8 Disney +), The Curse of Bridge Hollow (Oct 14, Netflix) -- looks light and I'll be up for that by then, V/H/S/99 (Oct 20 Shudder), and Hunted (Oct 25 VOD).

I'm trying to work in a lot of brand new releases this year. If you see anything good, please post about it. So far I'm loving the new Interview with a Vampire (AMC+) and I enjoyed SIssy (2022), which counts for female director and county of origin: Australia if you're working on the checklist.

ETA: I'm still waiting on NOPE to come down in price on Amazon or appear on Peacock. It's Halloween season guys! Come on.

clckworang

The 4k edition of Bodies Bodies Bodies is a Best Buy exclusive. Ugh. Fine, take my money.

numbercrunch

I agree. the original Shining film is fantastic. i can't really think of any great films that are also faithful to the book with the exception maybe of Fassbinders Berlin Alexanderplatz and maybe Lord of the Rings? But , look at the run times in order to accomplish it

brainee

Polanski's Rosemary's Baby is one of the most faithful-to-the-book adaptations I've ever seen. But it's a case of a fairly short novel, with a straight-forward writing style (almost screenplay-like) turning into a relatively long movie.

Crocker Jarmen

Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist are extremely faithful to the novels. So much so that when I read them, I couldn't believe they weren't novelizations written after the films. Even that amazing falling-asleep-and-into-the-dream sequence in Rosemary's Baby, a purely cinematic moment, comes directly from the book, where Levin starts doing this weird experimental form of writing that creates the effect of shifting consciousness from being awake to dreaming.

lrend

There's also the new Hellraiser coming out on Hulu on Oct 7 and Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities on Netflix Oct 25.

Indy24LA

Weighing in on The Shining discussion, I enjoy them both and think of them more separately than comparing the two. I like King's book, mostly the parts about the history of the hotel and how it came to be haunted. As to Kubrick's cinematic interpretation of it, I appreciate how he took the essence of the novel but made it his own thing, as he is wont to do. I realize that's a slippery slope (looking at you Lawnmower Man), but c'mon man, it's Kubrick.

WillieMLF

So, regarding Tower of London.... It’s also firmly entrenched on the TSZDT list, so lots of people consider it horror.

mallratcal

I watched it last night and thought it was really good. However I haven't seen the original, so I've got nothing to compare it to.

alyxstarr

Makes me think of this DVD collection:



♫ One of these things is not like the others... ♫

MysterioMan007

Watching Mr. Harrigan's Phone on Netflix. Still waiting for the "horror" to set in, but the main character, Craig, just found Mr Harrigan dead. Kind of heartbreaking. Jaeden Martell seems more comfortable in his role here than he did in It. I'm just hoping this bully character gets a horrible death.

Chad

Well, my first equipment malfunction occurred Monday when my modem crapped out, which meant no streaming due to a connection that would disconnect every few minutes. That lasted for 3 days thanks to my cable company's "prompt" response. I'm happy to say I'm now back at it, and very thankful that I'm predominantly a physical media viewer during this challenge. That being said, I'll take that 3-day ordeal any day over my recent viewing of Superbeast.

Toddarino

It only clocks in at 57 minutes, but if anyone wants a so bad it’s bad watch you can check out a movie I made. It’s my first. The link is in my signature. It was supposed to be a short in order to learn the new equipment. Alcohol will help… sorta.

jholmes

I just finished it. I really enjoyed it. It's definitely horror-lite, and some people might be disappointed there's not more of a dramatic payoff in the end. But I read the short story some years ago so I sort of knew what to expect, and I got into the gentler vibe of it. It was a nice change after already watching quite a bit of harder core stuff this challenge. I appreciate the relationship between Craig and Harrigan and, yeah, it got to me when he found him dead too. I gave it 4/5 stars. Like Stand By Me, this is definitely more of a coming-of-age vibe film than a gore film.

MysterioMan007

Yeah, it wasn't bad, even if "horror" is a stretch for the genre. A lot more low-key than I was expecting, for sure. It's a movie that sticks with you after it's over.

Dimension X

I got my prize pack already! Thank you again, IBJoel.

Here's what I got, for those who are interested.

Darth Maher

My sentiments exactly!

Crocker Jarmen

Watched The Hills Have Eyes last night, and was shocked it had a completely different ending than the one that had been burned into my memory when I saw it back in the 90s. I remember the movie ending in the middle of a fight, on a close-up of the family man as he savagely beat the hill-person to death, only for it to freeze-frame, then turn a deep red before cutting to credits. The lack of any narrative resolution made it really disturbing, I don't believe I'd ever seen a film end like that before.
The ending now is more conventional, and probably satisfying, but I was waiting for the ending I remember, and surprised it never happened. I did a Google check to make sure this wasn't something I remembered incorrectly.