1408 (obligatory spoiler alert ... sorta)
Phil and I went to see 1408 the other night. It was a decent-enough flick, carried pretty much by John Cusack and his sheer will to get to the end credits.
It's based on a Stephen King short story that I've never read, but like some of King's other works, it's about a writer and a place with a bad reputation and some spiritual residue, and how those environments can bring out the worst in people — terror, self-doubt, guilt, violence, etc. It was amusing watching Cusack verbally accost the mini-bar, and I got a good wince or two out of the creepy crawly thing in the vent, as well as the dead-daughter-turning-to-ashes bit. Now that's macabre.
I'd like to read the story to see if it's scarier than the film. I still contend that The Shining is the scariest (fiction) book ever written. Okay, maybe not ever written, but at least that I've read. I remember lying in my bed, heart racing during the topiary garden and fire hose scenes, having to put the book down for a while to settle (I was either in middle or high school during my first reading). But I'm open to suggestions of other scary fare. I haven't read a good scary book in a while.
It's based on a Stephen King short story that I've never read, but like some of King's other works, it's about a writer and a place with a bad reputation and some spiritual residue, and how those environments can bring out the worst in people — terror, self-doubt, guilt, violence, etc. It was amusing watching Cusack verbally accost the mini-bar, and I got a good wince or two out of the creepy crawly thing in the vent, as well as the dead-daughter-turning-to-ashes bit. Now that's macabre.
I'd like to read the story to see if it's scarier than the film. I still contend that The Shining is the scariest (fiction) book ever written. Okay, maybe not ever written, but at least that I've read. I remember lying in my bed, heart racing during the topiary garden and fire hose scenes, having to put the book down for a while to settle (I was either in middle or high school during my first reading). But I'm open to suggestions of other scary fare. I haven't read a good scary book in a while.
posted by theogeo | 6/27/2007 01:00:00 PM
7 Comments:
Can I recommend a movie? Try "A Tale of Two Sisters," available at Midtown Video. It's a ghost story about a death in the family. Very, very tense and disturbing but not bloody or gory. And with a twist that'll blow you mind, too. Korean, but subtitled.
I thought 1408 was much scarier in written form, but I enjoyed the movie. Partially because I've always known that John Cusack and I are meant to be together, in some place and time.
And I agree wholeheartedly with your opinion of The Shining.
It's my favorite book ever.
Scary books... I'm always searching for the next really good scary read/movie, myself. Everything's Eventual, the book that 1408 is pulled from, is pretty good if memory serves. I remember there's one story in particular that gave me a goosebump or two, but I can't remember the name. It's about a little boy who goes fishing and basically meets the devil. Creepy.
Pet Sematery scared the bejesus out of me. I had to stop reading near the end and turn on all the lights. Then I couldn't sleep all night because my eyes kept popping open to make sure nothing was there. And I was in my early 20's living alone downtown.
a totally obvious suggestion, but i thought the exorcist - both the movie and the book - was pretty terrifying. i haven't done much horror fiction reading, unfortunately. i've never liked stephen king as a writer very much and never delved into the genre beyond him, unfortunately... but i did read the exorcist in one sitting and was thoroughly happy that i did!
It's the scariest story in that collection. The whole book is good. There's one story about a painting that keeps changing to give a guy a progress report on a maniac coming to kill him. That one's also creepy, but in a bizarre, funzo sorta way.
Mike, I'll check it out. Thanks!
Fearless, I have never mustered up the courage to read The Exorcist, but I think it might be time. :)
I'm gonna have to check out that SK collection, clearly.
Thanks, y'all!
The Shining is the only book that changed tbe way i saw inanimate objects..the only book that ever frightened me. I've read all of King just about, and I've loved many of his books, but the Shining is the scaring champ.
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