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Late to the Party: The Shining (1980)

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Nekromantik 1&2

Now, don’t lynch me. I know, how dare I call myself a horror fan without having seen Stanley Kubrick’s take on Stephen King’s novel The Shining?

Well, to be honest, I’ve never been impressed by Stanley Kubrick’s work, and I’ve never been a big fan of Jack Nicholson. I have read the book though, and thoroughly enjoyed Stephen King’s novel of isolation and insanity.

The Shining really isn’t just a horror movie though. It’s a piece of history and a cultural icon. No matter what you do, you can’t actually see The Shining with virgin eyes. It’s been parodied and referenced in so many other movies and television shows that even if you’ve never seen the movie itself, you still feel like you have. I mean, when you get an episode of The Simpsons based around your movie, you pretty much know you’ve made it big, even if they don’t want to use the episode’s subject by name.

Image courtesy of giphy.com

As the movie opens, I’m honestly struck by how bright and clean everything is. It starts, without introduction, with Jack Torrance, played by Jack Nicholson. The scene is innocuous enough. He’s on an interview to become the caretaker for the Overlook Hotel while they’re closed for the winter, but it serves to give us some insight into Torrance’s character, as well as a taste of the dark history of the hotel itself.

From there we have some blackboard scene changes to introduce us to Wendy Torrance, Jack’s wife, played by Shelly Duvall, and their son, Danny, played by Danny Lloyd. We also have a little introduction to Tony, which is the entity that shows Danny visions and is an aspect of his ‘shining’.

It made me chuckle that on their drive up to the Overlook, they had a conversation in the car about the Donner party.

Image courtesy of TheGuardian.com

I was expecting the hotel to have much more of the creepy vibe we’re used to with dark hallways, flapping curtains next to a closed window, that kind of thing. Instead, the entire hotel is brightly lit, with pastel colors that give the scenes a soft feel to them. Maybe that’s what made me notice Nicholson’s very hard features. All the lines on his face are very stark and his facial expressions are very emotive. I think it sets up a nice contrast which really brings out Nicholson’s portrayal of Torrance’s descent into madness.

Image courtesy of denofgeek.com

The descent itself is pretty easy. Not sleeping during the night, passing out to nightmares during the day, leading to hallucinations of a bartender, and then to a ballroom full of people where he meets a past custodian of the hotel. Torrance then becomes convinced that he has to teach his errant wife and son “a lesson”, ie. hit them both repeatedly with an ax.

As Wendy discovers her husband’s spiral into insanity, she fears for her son and for herself and locks them into her room. I think we all know the scene that comes next.

Image courtesy of fact.co.uk

Danny escapes, while Wendy gets a reprieve when Hallorann, the head chef of the Outlook during the summer, played by Scatman Crothers, returns, summoned by Danny’s ‘shining’. Hallorann then gets an ax to the chest, but delivers Wendy and Danny’s escape vehicle. But first, Danny has to escape his psychotic father in the Outlook’s hedge maze.

Like I said in the beginning, while I’d never actually seen The Shining before, there really was no way to watch it with fresh eyes, and I’m honestly a bit disappointed at that. I can certainly see why some people view it as a work of art, and you can watch documentaries like Room 237 to see how other people have analyzed it and found ways that Kubrick was expressing his opinions on Native American massacres and the like.

I’m equally a bit disappointed in how the movie turned out compared to the book. There was a lot they had to leave out due to time constraints, but still. Hallorann (the only character in the movie I really liked) had a larger role.

Likewise the Outlook itself was more of a character. The movie makes it seem more like we’re just dealing with a man going insane, rather than a building that’s thickly haunted to the point it almost has a life of its own. We do get a glimpse of the Overlook’s spirits in Wendy’s final race through the building looking for the exit, but it really feels disjointed from the rest of the movie.

Image courtesy of horrorfanzine.com

If you haven’t seen The Shining, it’s worth it. This is considered a classic for a reason and with as much as it gets referenced and parodied, it’s worth seeing and knowing why and where it’s coming from.

For more Late to the Party articles, try here.

Check back next week to see what Justin Eckert thinks of 1979’s Zombie.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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