In Search of the Darkness - The Shining / Shudder

I started In Search of Darkness this afternoon, and I hope to add little blurbs to my blog over the course of Saturday as I move through it.

 While I wish The Changeling got a bit more time when the documentary was moving through the 1980 set of films discussed, I was intrigued by the spate of differing views for The Shining (1980). But when you cruise through thousands of comments for this Kubrick film, you will see that it isn't always (and often isn't) as well regarded as it would seem. Yes, I personally agree with director Joe Dante (who I was sooooooo glad was interviewed this because I'm such a Dante fan) that I, like him, can stop by it at any time and start watching it at a moment's notice. But it was particularly interesting to see director Larry Cohen bring up the missing "breath" oxidation when Jack is chasing after his son in the maze after the Overlook is besieged by winter. And Mick Garris (another I was happy to see involved in the documentary as a scholarly voice), who directed King's own adaptation of the novel for a mini-film starring Webber and De Mornay (that is not well liked, although I did enjoy it more than most), brings up -- as does the documentary-- King's aversion to the Kubrick vision of his book. Covering The Shining in a few minutes is just going to leave dissatisfaction, especially considering the amount of talent available for the documentary. I could listen to Joe Dante talk about The Shining for thirty minutes. I mean, Larry Cohen discussing The Shining...sign me up! 

This one received considerable more interest than The Fog (with Tom Atkins adding such appealing/charming substance to it, while Carpenter appeared to have PTSD from his bad experiences making it)

Back briefly to The Changeling...I was so appreciative of Barbara Crampton and Jeffery Combs for their comments of the film. I personally LOVE this film more than The Shining, so it was nice to have the Re-Animator/From Beyond horror icons giving it some love, too.