How Scary is The Shining?

[laureng]

It depends how you handle horror stories. My mom tried to read it when she was in the house alone and she was scared out of her mind, so she never read it again. I however loved it! I also felt that the movie wasn't as scary as people made it out to be, but then again I also enjoy horror movies.

[mahbub]

I think The Shining could be a literate and extremely tense horror film. whereas it's not as gory and brutal as a lot of fashionable horror films, like "Saw", it's still very alarming, particularly for kids. there's language and nakedness likewise.

[Wndr_Wmn]

How have I not read this! I'm on it!

[kimgreen]

I have been wondering this same question.... It's on my "to-read" list but I just can't muster up to it for some reason!

[ytombstone]

It's a classic, I can read this or watch the movie whenever it's on.

[Ropis]

I found the book to be quite haunting and creepy. The film, although scary, didn't live up to the book in my opinion. I loved the book and think it is one of Stephen King's finest.

I agree.

[sflaherty42]

It's more eerie and psychological. A lot if the scariness of the movie was visually based whereas the book really got inside your head. The author included creepy situations that the movie makers didn't incorporate. It is a great book and I highly recommend it. It may ruin the movie for you though because it is better and you will be constantly comparing the two

[salberson 10]

I have been wondering if it was worth a read - enjoyed this forum - I think I will pick it up and give it a shot

[SparklingOne]

I thought Salem's Lot was scarier than The Shining.

[Grarodkay89]

SPOILERS, yo!

How scary is The Shining? Huh. Not as "omg, why am I reading this near nightfall???!!" scary as Salem's Lot.

There are two parts that really scared me: when Jack goes to check what scared Danny and he ALMOST opens the bathroom door, but turns away and as he does so...he hears something from within step toward the bathroom door to let him IN. Holy cow. That horrified me.

Also, the scene out on the grounds with Jack and the animal-shaped hedges. You'd think that such a setting would be comical, but no. No. The SUSPENSE!

It's weird because both Danny and Jack experienced the bathroom lady and the hedges, but the encounters that adult Jack faced scared me more than what "helpless" kid Danny faced. Shouldn't I have been more frightened for the kid?

[SparklingOne]

SPOILERS, yo!

How scary is The Shining? Huh. Not as "omg, why am I reading this near nightfall???!!" scary as Salem's Lot.

There are two parts that really scared me: when Jack goes to check what scared Danny and he ALMOST opens the bathroom door, but turns away and as he does so...he hears something from within step toward the bathroom door to let him IN. Holy cow. That horrified me.

Also, the scene out on the grounds with Jack and the animal-shaped hedges. You'd think that such a setting would be comical, but no. No. The SUSPENSE!

It's weird because both Danny and Jack experienced the bathroom lady and the hedges, but the encounters that adult Jack faced scared me more than what "helpless" kid Danny faced. Shouldn't I have been more frightened for the kid?

I think the book made you scared for Jack because you knew the place wanted him. The kids paranormal stuff was mostly visions until bathroom lady and the hedges.
Did you know Doctor Sleep is the sequel to the Shining? It's pretty new so still pricy.

[muggle]

I thought the Shining was pretty scary, especially the "hedges". the follow-up to The Shining, Doctor Sleep was an excellent book.

Still, one of the scariest from King IMHO was "IT". I will never look at Clowns the same again.

[L Brox]

I am currently half way through The Shining - I don't find it scary at all.

Next on my list is IT - I love the IT film scared me senseless as a kid so I am hoping the book does the same.

[Mangotea1988]

It's scary in that watching Jack's slow, painful slide is plausible enough to be terrifying. The hotel is only intensifying what's already there and one of the themes is the effects addiction and violence has over generations, so some of the worst parts (to me) are the flashbacks of the way's Jack's life has already been poisoned. The actual supernatural stuff is definitely creepy but is almost more like a symptom than a cause of Jack's degeneration.

[akm10c]

Loved the book and movie. Salem' s Lot is another great novel by King, and to me far outperforms the movie adaptation.