Truely Scarriest Horror Movies Ever?

[Rackhir]

Well for traditional horror movies, I'd say

The Ring - Wish I could mash the japanese and american versions together. Both have some great elements that is missing in the other.

Hellraiser I & II - The cenobites are a really fascinating creation, they aren't evil or even cruel in the sense that Freddie or Jason are. They just have a very alien perspective on things from humanity's viewpoint.

Bob Roberts

I found Event Horizon to be immensely frustrating. I know there was a really scary creepy movie in there someplace that just didn't make it into the final movie. There is probably going to be a special edition coming out at some point. Hopefully that will bring out the potential that seemed to be there. I have a suspicion that this movie started out as a Hellraiser sequel, but got diverted at some point. I mean take a look at the design of that drive room. Talk about gothic horror!

http://www.themovieblog.com/archives/2004/12/event_horizon_dvd_to_get_full_special_edition_treatment.html

 

[Hijinks]

For those of you who cite "The Shining," what did you think of the miniseries version that Stephen King produced a few years ago? He never liked the Jack Nicholson version, from what I hear/read. I though the miniseries version was a better film than the film version, but the blood coming down the walls in the original version always has - and always will - creeped me the heck out.

"Come play with us Danny!

For ever ...

*flash to blood-spattered corpses*

And ever ...

*flash to the two creepy little girls*

And ever!"

*flash on the corpses*

Gaaaa!

 

[Kanegrundar]

For those of you who cite "The Shining," what did you think of the miniseries version that Stephen King produced a few years ago? He never liked the Jack Nicholson version, from what I hear/read. I though the miniseries version was a better film than the film version, but the blood coming down the walls in the original version always has - and always will - creeped me the heck out.

"Come play with us Danny!

For ever ...

*flash to blood-spattered corpses*

And ever ...

*flash to the two creepy little girls*

And ever!"

*flash on the corpses*

Gaaaa!

I liked it. It was a LOT more faithful to the book than the Nicholson movie ever was. It wasn't really scary, which was a shame. A better director could have done more, I think. The acting in the mini-series was a lot better than the movie I thought. Nicholson was too over the top for Jack. Jack in the book was pretty much as Weber played him: an overall good guy trying to rebuild his life that slowly goes insane. Nicholson looked crazy from the first second he appeared on the screen.

King's books never really translate well to movies and TV. He builds suspense and tension with his words soooooo much better than can ever be conveyed on screen.

Kane

 

[Hijinks]

It wasn't really scary, which was a shame.

One of the problems with the original version is that it was made to appear that Jack was merely an alcoholic, and he went on a drinking binge, which spurred the violence. It concentrated more on the hotel wanting Jack than Danny. The hotel didn't give a crud about Jack, it only wanted Danny's Shining. The original version doesn't show how the hotel possesses Jack; it makes everything look like he's having major alcoholic hallucinations, instead of actual ghosts.

 

[DonTadow]

The shining mini-series I liked more than the movie, this could be because I was young when the shining came out and was more into the pyscho killer movies than the pyschological killer movies.

But the miniseries had enough time to make me care about particlar characters and had many spooky moments.

 

[WayneLigon]

One of the problems with the original version is that it was made to appear that Jack was merely an alcoholic, and he went on a drinking binge, which spurred the violence. It concentrated more on the hotel wanting Jack than Danny. The hotel didn't give a crud about Jack, it only wanted Danny's Shining. The original version doesn't show how the hotel possesses Jack; it makes everything look like he's having major alcoholic hallucinations, instead of actual ghosts.

See, now I always assumed it was ghosts or, as I realized later because of the final shot of the photo, it was the hotel itself that wanted Jack. Having never read the book, I never could figure out the purpose of Danny when the entire movie centered around Jack's descent into madness. So, what did the hotel want Danny for? What would it gain?

 

[Darthjaye]

Yeah, the miniseries was better than the movie in my opinion. I agree with you guys completely on Kings stuff not translating well to the screen. Same problem Koontz has. Kings movies have been sub par compared to the books. The Stand read really well, but the miniseries kinda hurt to watch. It was an great book, that almost worked as a movie, but alas the ending so let it down on many levels. I know some people don't like Koontz, but I think he makes some great stuff personally. Unfortunately his movies et such bad scripts that it hurts them. Phantoms was such a good book that could have made a better movie had they stayed closer to it. It's like they take every third rate actor and director and give them these horror book translations.

 

[Kanegrundar]

Essentially the hotel wanted Danny to increase it's own power. With a psionic (for lack of a better word) of Danny's power at the hotel's disposal there's little it couldn't do. Granted, what that entails was foggy in the book as well. As you knew is that if the hotel got Danny it would be bad. Very bad.

Kane

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Let's Scare Jessica to Death. Saw it on t.v. at 4 in the afternoon in the 1970s. Wish it was out on DVD.

I remember that. That is one messed up vampire movie.

That's probably why I have such fond memories of it.

It's got the whole "is she crazy? or is this really happening" theme which, for a child of 12 anyway, really makes you wonder.....but then you see those townspeople with the scars on their necks....and her friend, driving the tractor....and the lake....

Maybe I should start one of those lame internet petitions to get this released on DVD!

 

[Hijinks]

Koontz's earlier stuff was spot-on freaky, like Phantoms and Twilight Eyes. Nowadays his writing is stunted (in my opinion), taking 4-5 paragraphs to describe a character that can all be combined into one easily readable paragraph. I think he's stretching the length of the book out, and I don't like feeling manipulated like that. Phantoms was an awesome idea and the movie definitely didn't do it justice. Watchers 1 & 2were horrible. I'd like to see Twilight Eyes made into a film.