The first thing I thought when I saw this compilation was; 'What an arbitrary coupling of films!'. However, on reflection, maybe it is quite apt in some ways. They are certainly both iconic horror films. They both have reputations for scaring the socks off cinema audiences at the time they were made. They both have casts that include some of the best cinema actors to be found and were both somewhat groundbreaking in their direction and cinematic style. They do, of course, both also deal with demonic possession. Having said that, they tap very different sources of horror in us, sources that have almost been tapped dry since. In the case of 'The Exorcist' it is the shock and awe of demonic evil. With 'The Shining' it is the familiar becoming the dangerous.
The Exorcist (1973) *********** Directed by William Friedkin, this is the story of the demonic possession of a little girl (Linda Blair) who is the daughter of an actress (Ellen Burstyn). On realising that she is possessed, the mother engages the help of a Catholic priest (Jason Miller) who at the time is experiencing a crisis of faith. He in turn engages the help of another priest, expert in exorcism, who coincidentally has had dealings with the demon in question early in his career in the Middle East. The Exorcist is played excellently by Max Von Sydow. The film charts the struggle between the two priests their faith and the demon inside the little girl. Most of the film takes place in the girl's bedroom and much is made of the physical aspects of the possession. At the time the special effects involved were revolutionary and according to legend caused audiences to run screaming from cinemas. These included the girls head doing a 360° turn, projectile bright green vomit and, more shockingly, violent masturbation with a crucifix.
Given that it was made in 1973 the special effects are not as embarrassing as you might expect in these days of CGI. The main horror tool is the juxtaposition of pre-adolescent innocence and true evil.
The Shining (1980) *********** Any film made by Stanley Kubrick is going to be worth watching and make you feel uncomfortable. A Milky Bar advert made by him would probably freak you out! This film is no exception. Starring the sublime Jack Nicholson and the strangely attractive Shelley Duvall, it is an adaptation of a Stephen King novel which is the story of a writer and his family who caretake an isolated hotel during the winter. The hotel carries a lot of demonic baggage and eventually starts to take over Jack Nicholson's writer character. He eventually turns rabid psychopath and makes every effort to murder his family, famously with an axe. It is a 'Stone Tapes' scenario where the tragic history of the hotel , and the building itself, is the demon. Jack Nicholson does his usual flawless depiction of insanity and the way in which Kubrick builds the tension slowly but irrevocably up to a final crescendo has you hiding behind the sofa with a pillow for back-up.
As I said, I initially thought the compilation was odd but in fact changed my mind on watching them back to back. They are both quality films in a genre that really cries out for quality these days. Well worth putting in your collection. This DVD does not include any extras, which is often the case with these compilations. It is being knocked out at a variety of online and high street outlets at between £8.99 and £10.99.
