The Shining (1980) - Page 146 - Blu-ray Forum

bobbyh64 · 05-03-2018, 08:49 AM

Was Psycho considered a horror movie in the 60s? It seems more like a thriller to me, but maybe what audiences think of when they hear the term “horror” has changed over the years. To me The Shining feels like a horror movie. You have tons of blood flowing out of an elevator, a shot of two girls who were axed to death, an on screen death by axe and a guy chasing his family with an axe (similar to a slasher), the horrific scene with Granny Tub Ghost, and of course, a haunted house with skeletons.

I think since there’s a paranormal element it seems more like horror to me. Also the entire movie has a sense of foreboding and dread, like you’re just waiting for something scary to happen. And the music adds to this uneasy feeling.

I KEEL YOU · 05-03-2018, 08:52 AM

I thought that the difference between horror and psychological thriller wasn't the body count, but:

Horror: Has an element of the supernatural
Psychological thriller: No element of the supernatural

And The Shining can be considered to be both, because we don't know if what they're seeing are ghosts or if it's all in their heads. That's what makes the movie so special and so mysterious that it's one of the most discussed films ever. Had the original ending not been cut, it would've leaned a little too much towards the horror side, which is why I think Kubrick decided to cut it.

bobbyh64 · 05-03-2018, 08:56 AM

I remember renting The Shining on VHS when I was a young teenager. I think it was the first horror movie I had ever seen. I can’t remember what made want to rent it (probably heard about it from a friend), and I just remember feeling a sense of dread throughout the entire thing, especially when Danny first sees the twins and also those quick cuts showing them dead. I don’t think straight-up-thrillers really give this same type of feeling.

Ernest Rister · 05-03-2018, 09:20 AM

"Horror is a genre of fiction whose purpose is to create feelings of fear, dread, repulsion, and terror in the audience—in other words, it develops an atmosphere of horror. The term’s definition emphasizes the reaction caused by horror, stemming from the Old French orror, meaning “to shudder or to bristle.”

Horror literature has roots in religion, folklore, and history; focusing on topics, fears, and curiosities that have continuously bothered humans in both the 12th and 21st centuries alike. Horror feeds on audience’s deepest terrors by putting life’s most frightening and perplexing things—death, evil, supernatural powers or creatures, the afterlife, witchcraft—at the center of attention."

-------------

"Creators and/or film distributors or publishers who seek to distance themselves from the negative connotations of horror often categorize their work as a psychological thriller. The same situation can occur when critics label a work to be a psychological thriller in order to elevate its perceived literary value."

The Shining is a horror film about a man driven to murder by supernatural forces working on his mental state. We good?

Todd Tomorrow · 05-03-2018, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

I thought that the difference between horror and psychological thriller wasn't the body count, but:

Horror: Has an element of the supernatural
Psychological thriller: No element of the supernatural

And The Shining can be considered to be both, because we don't know if what they're seeing are ghosts or if it's all in their heads. That's what makes the movie so special and so mysterious that it's one of the most discussed films ever. Had the original ending not been cut, it would've leaned a little too much towards the horror side, which is why I think Kubrick decided to cut it.

Horror is a wide ranging genre which is more defined by tone than by strict rules. By your definition lots of horror movies which are considered classics of the genre wouldn't be horror films. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes, Wolf Creek, Black Christmas, The Wicker Man, the list goes on and on...

Once Jack gets out of the freezer Kubrick's The Shining is unambiguous about its supernatural elements and by the end Wendy sees the ghosts too.

I KEEL YOU · 05-03-2018, 12:45 PM

Well, what is the "tone" of a thriller, as opposed to horror then? Because I'm sure that I could find some movies that are traditionally regarded as horror, but better fit whatever the definition of a thriller is.

Personally, I think that Kubrick transcends genre anyway.

eiknarf · 05-03-2018, 12:47 PM

What are HALLOWEEN, FRIDAY THE 13TH and those types? Slasher...but, what else

The Sovereign · 05-03-2018, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffOliver

It's both psychological thriller and horror. A movie can absolutely be both, just like a movie can be both horror and comedy (Evil Dead II, ROTLD, etc). It's pretty subjective though.

I agree with that, but if I had to split the difference, I'd say it's horror.

Cherokee Jack · 05-03-2018, 01:52 PM

Well, but Kubrick seemed to consider it 'horror':

He was also quite clear that the film is a 'masterpiece'.

RCRochester · 05-03-2018, 02:54 PM

The Shining is without a doubt a horror film. The driving force behind it is to scare or creep audiences out.

For me a psychological thriller would be something along the lines of The Silence of the Lambs or Se7en. They may contain elements of horror, but the driving force is that they are detective mysteries that happen to take place in dark and frightening worlds.

Todd Tomorrow · 05-03-2018, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

Well, what is the "tone" of a thriller, as opposed to horror then? Because I'm sure that I could find some movies that are traditionally regarded as horror, but better fit whatever the definition of a thriller is.

Personally, I think that Kubrick transcends genre anyway.

I didn't say all genres are defined by tone, I said horror was. Kubrick may well transcend genre, but he wasn't above it and he enjoyed exploring different genres.

Bronson13 · 05-03-2018, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cherokee Jack

Well, but Kubrick seemed to consider it 'horror':

He was also quite clear that the film is a 'masterpiece'.

One of the greatest movie posters ever.

RedHarvest · 05-03-2018, 04:24 PM

To me, the Shining is the scariest film ever made. Something about it, the feeling it gives you from the first frame. Something isn't right. It has a strange power. It is obviously filled with secret meaning and magic. We may never know all its mysteries, but it will always resonate with me as a deep rooted horror film.

MifuneFan · 05-03-2018, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eiknarf

I tend to think psychological thriller. Not so much horror, because, there's only one death scene in the entire movie. One killing! On paper, one kill scene doesn't seem like horror when compared to other '80s horror films which showed killing after killing

You don't need a single death in a movie to be classified as a horror, I have no idea why you think that's relevant.

Ernest Rister · 05-03-2018, 05:13 PM

C'mon, we all know The Shining is a Romantic Comedy. Just look at the trailer...

eiknarf · 05-03-2018, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

You don't need a single death in a movie to be classified as a horror, I have no idea why you think that's relevant.

True.
I'm just trying to differentiate between the Halloween and Friday the 13th movies, which basically just had teens getting killed in numerous ways, and The Shining.

The films today most similar to Halloween and Friday the 13th would probably be, Wish Upon, Final Destination and the like. "Let's see how we can kill people". Movies that populated the "horror section" at the old local video stores.

But The Shining is beyond that. Meaning, I'm dropping it a huge compliment on being unlike those films I just mentioned.

I'm thinking you'd agree with me that The Shining shouldn't be compared to those inferior horror movies

.

Axl Rose · 05-03-2018, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

C'mon, we all know The Shining is a Romantic Comedy. Just look at the trailer...

The Shining (happy version) - YouTube

and its still creepy.

P-Rock · 05-03-2018, 06:32 PM

This one's pretty funny too:

ravenus · 05-03-2018, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-Rock

This one's pretty funny too:

[Show spoiler]

I'd pay to see that

Dr. Pavel · 05-03-2018, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cherokee Jack

Well, but Kubrick seemed to consider it 'horror':

He was also quite clear that the film is a 'masterpiece'.

i've always wondered, but never researched, just what the f.ck is that face?

p.s. i'm quite positive those taglines come from either marketing team or critics.

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05-03-2018, 08:49 AM	#2901
bobbyh64 Blu-ray Knight Member since:Apr 2016 Location:Los Angeles	Was Psycho considered a horror movie in the 60s? It seems more like a thriller to me, but maybe what audiences think of when they hear the term “horror” has changed over the years. To me The Shining feels like a horror movie. You have tons of blood flowing out of an elevator, a shot of two girls who were axed to death, an on screen death by axe and a guy chasing his family with an axe (similar to a slasher), the horrific scene with Granny Tub Ghost, and of course, a haunted house with skeletons. I think since there’s a paranormal element it seems more like horror to me. Also the entire movie has a sense of foreboding and dread, like you’re just waiting for something scary to happen. And the music adds to this uneasy feeling.

05-03-2018, 08:52 AM	#2902
I KEEL YOU Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:May 2011 4K collection:67 Blu-ray collection:458 DVD collection:42	I thought that the difference between horror and psychological thriller wasn't the body count, but: Horror: Has an element of the supernatural Psychological thriller: No element of the supernatural And The Shining can be considered to be both, because we don't know if what they're seeing are ghosts or if it's all in their heads. That's what makes the movie so special and so mysterious that it's one of the most discussed films ever. Had the original ending not been cut, it would've leaned a little too much towards the horror side, which is why I think Kubrick decided to cut it.

05-03-2018, 08:56 AM	#2903
bobbyh64 Blu-ray Knight Member since:Apr 2016 Location:Los Angeles	I remember renting The Shining on VHS when I was a young teenager. I think it was the first horror movie I had ever seen. I can’t remember what made want to rent it (probably heard about it from a friend), and I just remember feeling a sense of dread throughout the entire thing, especially when Danny first sees the twins and also those quick cuts showing them dead. I don’t think straight-up-thrillers really give this same type of feeling.

05-03-2018, 09:20 AM	#2904
Ernest Rister Blu-ray Prince Member since:Jan 2008 4K collection:100 Blu-ray collection:590 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	"Horror is a genre of fiction whose purpose is to create feelings of fear, dread, repulsion, and terror in the audience—in other words, it develops an atmosphere of horror. The term’s definition emphasizes the reaction caused by horror, stemming from the Old French orror, meaning “to shudder or to bristle.” Horror literature has roots in religion, folklore, and history; focusing on topics, fears, and curiosities that have continuously bothered humans in both the 12th and 21st centuries alike. Horror feeds on audience’s deepest terrors by putting life’s most frightening and perplexing things—death, evil, supernatural powers or creatures, the afterlife, witchcraft—at the center of attention." ------------- "Creators and/or film distributors or publishers who seek to distance themselves from the negative connotations of horror often categorize their work as a psychological thriller. The same situation can occur when critics label a work to be a psychological thriller in order to elevate its perceived literary value." The Shining is a horror film about a man driven to murder by supernatural forces working on his mental state. We good?

05-03-2018, 12:45 PM	#2906
I KEEL YOU Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:May 2011 4K collection:67 Blu-ray collection:458 DVD collection:42	Well, what is the "tone" of a thriller, as opposed to horror then? Because I'm sure that I could find some movies that are traditionally regarded as horror, but better fit whatever the definition of a thriller is. Personally, I think that Kubrick transcends genre anyway.

05-03-2018, 12:47 PM	#2907
eiknarf Blu-ray Baron Member since:Feb 2011 Location:New York Blu-ray collection:393 DVD collection:10 Trading Score:2	What are HALLOWEEN, FRIDAY THE 13TH and those types? Slasher...but, what else

05-03-2018, 01:52 PM	#2909
Cherokee Jack Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2017 Location:Arizona Trading Score:171	Well, but Kubrick seemed to consider it 'horror': He was also quite clear that the film is a 'masterpiece'.

05-03-2018, 02:54 PM	#2910
RCRochester Banned Top contributor Member since:Sep 2017 Trading Score:9	The Shining is without a doubt a horror film. The driving force behind it is to scare or creep audiences out. For me a psychological thriller would be something along the lines of The Silence of the Lambs or Se7en. They may contain elements of horror, but the driving force is that they are detective mysteries that happen to take place in dark and frightening worlds.

05-03-2018, 04:24 PM	#2913
RedHarvest Blu-ray Guru Member since:Feb 2017 Location:Old Hickory, TN 4K collection:542 Blu-ray collection:3459 DVD collection:383 Digital collection:1 iTunes collection:1	To me, the Shining is the scariest film ever made. Something about it, the feeling it gives you from the first frame. Something isn't right. It has a strange power. It is obviously filled with secret meaning and magic. We may never know all its mysteries, but it will always resonate with me as a deep rooted horror film.

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