It’s time yet again to Social Distance the heck out of this epidemic and watch a movie together while still staying in three different states: North Carolina, Florida, and California. Next up for the Tri-State Watch Party, we’re going with The Shining. (With multiple references to the Simpsons’ version too.)
The Netflix Watch Party app ended up being a little complicated, so we just set a time to hit “play” and then chatted through instant messenger. Click the jump to read some highlights from the conversation.
The Players: Elizabeth, Hannah, Kathryn, Nathan, and the parents (Parents represented here by Marian, because Dad would chisel a message in a stone tablet before typing anything on a phone.)
Hannah
Eep, 2.5 hours. Strap in
Elizabeth
Ready when yall are
Hannah
We’re here
Elizabeth
I recently watched the Simpson’s version, this’ll be fun
Hannah
SHH D’YEH WANT TO GET SUED
Elizabeth
Nathan
Kathryn
No beer and no TV make Homer something something.
Elizabeth
Go crazy?
Hannah
DON’T MIND IF I DO
Nathan
Ready if y’all are.
Elizabeth
Ready!
Hannah
Yep ready
Elizabeth
Hitting play!
Kathryn
Playing
Hannah
Nathan
Kathryn
Ooo, I don’t remember the creepy zoom over the wilderness here.
Elizabeth
Very Kubrick
Nathan
Who here’s read the book?
Elizabeth
Me me
Kathryn
Me!
Elizabeth
Movie has the better ending ????
Kathryn
Nathan was just saying that Nicholson comes across as way more maniacal here than the character is in the book.
Elizabeth
I was okay with this as a choice this week, but now I’m really getting hyped up ????
Kathryn
I think this is probably the most respectable Jack’s looked in a long time.
Nathan
Could you imagine being stuck somewhere with Jack Nicholson for several months? ????
Elizabeth
. shivers .
Hannah
Sounds like Kubrick was the bigger nightmare…
Elizabeth
Agreed
Nathan
Apparently, Kubrick was horrible to Shelley Duval, deliberately, in order to get the right level of anxiety and helplessness for her role.
Hannah
Yeah, they talked about that on Best Pick
Elizabeth
God forbid he should’ve just let her act
Nathan
I believe he also only fed Nicholson egg salad sandwiches, which he hates, in order to keep him on edge. ????
Hannah
Give us the Monkees biopic with Jack as Mickey Dolenz you cowards!
Elizabeth
hahaha
Kathryn
I already have to suspend my disbelief that anyone would look at Jack and those eyebrows and not see a dangerous lunatic.
Nathan
Hannah
Hahaha indeed
Product placement: This scene sponsored by Stuart Ullman LLC
Elizabeth
Any relation to Tracey?
Nathan
Hannah
Out of curiosity, does anyone ever just put one barrel of the shotgun in their mouth?
Pretty sure only one shoots at a time, but still…
Elizabeth
Trick shot? (…sorry..)
Hannah
HAH
CREEPY FUCKING KID
Kathryn
Just knowing that elevator shot existed kept me from seeing this movie for YEARS.
Hannah
That’s odd, the blood usually gets off at the second floor…
Elizabeth
I was JUST GOING TO SAY THAT
Kathryn
Danny just fainted and he has an imaginary person who hides in his stomach. But it’s completely normal. Sure.
Hannah
She looks SO MUCH like a British voice actor I follow (who coincidentally writes for Tracy Ullman)
Elizabeth
This so carefully constructed story about the arm
Kathryn
If this story Wendy’s telling was in a scene in a movie nowadays, it would be the start of her courageous story of LEAVING HER HUSBAND.
Nathan
In the days before child safety seats.
Hannah
Nathan
Wow! That’s a strong likeness.
Elizabeth
I thought that WAS her, wow
Hannah
DONER, PARTY OF SIX
Kathryn
GOOD GOD JACK STOP SMILING.
Elizabeth
Heath Ledger was great as the Joker but Jack Nicholson didn’t even have to pretend.
Nathan
Hannah
Did anybody ever see the CANNIBAL! movie from Trey Parker and Matt Stone?
Kathryn
No, is it worth a look?
Hannah
It was a college project in Colorado. Inspired by the Doner party
Haven’t seen it since TIP but I remember it was .quite. irreverent
It’s a musical
Kathryn
With a name like that it would have to be.
Hannah
I did not realize the hotel would be actually nice. I was thinking it was stodgier
NOPE NOPE NOPE
Elizabeth
I don’t think I’d seen Twin Peaks the first time I saw this, I didn’t know it would feel so similar
Kathryn
Creepy twin alert.
Hannah
This dude needs more rings
Kathryn
Darn it, I want to go to a hotel that has a hedge maze.
Hannah
No, that mattress is not firm enough
I’ll bet I could panic pretty quickly in a hedge maze
Elizabeth
Especially if it was snowy, but that may just be because of this movie
Hannah
(There’s an interesting recent ep of The Truth that has a corn maze)
Kathryn
Hey Elizabeth, it’s Jazz!
Elizabeth
Transformers fans pour one out for Scatman Crothers.
Hannah
Aw
Nice walk-and-talk, Stan
Kathryn
Would all of that frozen meat really still be good after seven months?
Elizabeth
FDA says meat that stays frozen is good “indefinitely.” I looked it up on account of a turkey I got for work.
Kathryn
Huh, didn’t know that
Hannah
But freezer burn is still a thing (I had the same thought)
Elizabeth
Yep, they said it might not TASTE as good, but it won’t kill ya ????
Hannah
Dried raisins?
Nathan
Isn’t that an oxymoron?
Hannah
Redundant at best
Kathryn
Was this before the concept of Stranger Danger really took hold? ‘Cause I’m not sure sending your child off with someone offering ice cream is an awesome idea.
Hannah
You’ve got that…shin…
Elizabeth
But it’s Scatman, I’d trust him anywhere
Hannah
Yeah, and he’s kind of already introduced himself to them
Although I dunno why this kid can’t tell his parents about Tony but can tell the stranger
Elizabeth
Maybe Tony told him it was okay?
Kathryn
Or he can tell this person is like him and won’t think he’s crazy.
Hannah
Yeah, that’s fair
Stephen King and hotel rooms automatically makes my hands sweat after 1408
Kathryn
Oh God, right?
Elizabeth
I love the tracking shot with the big wheel, partly because it’s a nice shot, partly because YES that would be fun
Hannah
EXACTLY!
Kathryn
I know I’d be freaked out because of this movie, but I also love the idea of getting a hotel to myself for a month or so.
Hannah
Did they have steady cam back then?
“Looks almost normal when his eyes are closed” says Ma
Elizabeth
heh
Hannah
Also I’m not trekking half a mile to deliver your damn breakfast.
Elizabeth
Mm. Bacon.
Hannah
NO WRITING BEFORE COFFEE
Nathan
Kathryn
Ahahaha!
Elizabeth
Hee
Nathan
She’s got a Polaroid!
Kathryn
No WAY would I be able to work with a whole ballroom looming over me.
Hannah
omg that gif
This is how my writing goes and I feel attacked
Elizabeth
Wow that maze is WAY BIGGER than I thought it was
Hannah
That is such a nope
Kathryn
AAA, title crash.
Elizabeth
The Simpsons nailed that one
Nathan
That’s a lot of fruit salad!
Hannah
Holy shit no kidding
Nathan
Why would a hotel room have double doors?
Elizabeth
Huh, I never noticed that.
Hannah
I like how he jump-started the big wheel with his hand there
Elizabeth
I like how he casually flips the paper over so she can’t see it
Kathryn
So in the book it took a while for him to lose it. But here it looks like he was nutso from the second he walked in the door of the hotel.
Elizabeth
It’s true, we went from the breakfast scene to this pretty quick
Droppin F bombs everywhere
Kathryn
We never really get the scrapbook history of the hotel here do we?
Favorite part of the book.
Elizabeth
I have no memory of that. Time for a reread!
Hannah
He mentioned a little bit during the tour
Nathan
I need to read it, too. Been a long time.
Kathryn
“And the Red Death held sway over all.”
Hannah
“Oh, phew, thank God that’s over”
Elizabeth
“MY HUSBAND IS ON A MURDEROUS RAMPAGE, over.” “oh, whew, I’m glad that’s over, I was worried for a sec.”
Hannah
Hahaha
Elizabeth
Can you imagine Kubrick doing some location scouting and dancing in glee at this place?
I mean I’m sure some of it’s a set but..
Nathan
Elizabeth
Skin….crawling..
Yeah, that Mr Halloran thing with Tony, he liked him.
Hannah
That kid was born 5 days before you
Elizabeth
Oh no way!
Kathryn
Has he done anything else other than this?
Hannah
Just Dr. Sleep, apparently
Kathryn
Wait, he was in Doctor Sleep?
Nathan
They made a movie of that?
Elizabeth
Did he do Dr. Sleep? They got the same actor?
Came out last year I think, getting over 7 points on imdb so it apparently doesn’t suck
Nathan
Huh.
Hannah
No, he’s billed as “spectator”
Elizabeth
Ah, cameo.
Hannah
Yeah
Kathryn
Stunt casting. I like it.
Elizabeth
It would’ve been wrong to NOT put him in there somewhere.
Hannah
“Never” you mean “not again”
Elizabeth
Yeap
Hannah
Literally LOLed at the pep talk
Kathryn
Hotel hallways are inherently creepy, but this one goes to extremes.
Hannah
That Apollo 11 sweater would be great for Halloween
Elizabeth
In case Kathryn ever decides to give up crochet for knitting…
Kathryn
Ooo…
WHY AREN’T YOU RUNNING WENDY.
Elizabeth
Back slooowly away Wendy….
Marian
Phone was plugged in. Catching up. I read the book
Kathryn
Did this movie pretty much establish Nicholson’s career as “The guy you hire to play the crazy person”?
Hannah
I mean, Cuckoo’s Nest…
Elizabeth
I guess Cuckoo’s Nest would recommend him for this
Hannah
Ok so there is good reason behind Kubrick’s reputation as a filmmaker. These shots are amazing
Waste ya family I’ll give ya a drink
Elizabeth
Oh I’m happy, I’m very happy, La la la la la la la
“The ol sperm bank upstairs.” Ew ew ew.
Hannah
Eww indeed
I like how maybe As Good As It Gets is like if Jack Torrence grew old in NYC
Kathryn
Him looking around to see if anyone in the empty hotel is somehow even creepier than his conversation with the bartender who isn’t there.
Hannah
WHAT is that POSTER
Elizabeth
Scatman you old dog you
Kathryn
Pretty impressive fro, right?
Hannah
Pretty impressive… everything…
Okay that’s definitely bowling alley carpet
Nathan
Looks like peacock feathers.
Elizabeth
Anybody else think they’d totally eat it on a set of stairs inside a hotel room?
Hannah
I mean, I think I have done…
Kathryn
Ahhhhhh! Nope nope nope nope
Elizabeth
Rated R rating, earned.
Hannah
We have entered Act Bobbies
BOOBIES
Elizabeth
Bewbs
Kathryn
I have no memory of this.
Hannah
Bewbs n pewbs
Elizabeth
Someone get that chick a twinkie
Hannah
HI MOM
Kathryn
Elizabeth
hahaha
Hannah
Yeah, no, that’s not healthy
Elizabeth
YIPE
Hannah
She’s got an ass that quit during the Nixon administration
Hannah
ACK
Nathan
And that’s why you stay out of room 237!
Hannah
HOW IS THIS MOVIE FAMOUS AND I’VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE
Elizabeth
I must have watched a Network TV version I swear
Kathryn
Just going to suggest that.
Elizabeth
well the other explanation is YOU did it dude but NEVER MIND
Hannah
Just use that…shin… of yours
Can we pause at 10 for weewee?
Nathan
Sure!
Marian
Yes
Kathryn
I always thought “Your money’s no good here” should imply they’re not allowed to buy anything, not that everything’s free of charge.
Elizabeth
I think it depends on tone
Hannah
Heh, me too, but I think that’s the joke maybe?
Marian
Nope. Means someone else is paying or it is on the house
Kathryn
That is a damn red bathroom there.
Hannah
Target flashbacks
Nathan
We should hold a fish & goose soiree!
Elizabeth
I was thinking I want to go to a big party that’s 20s themed with a Shining twist
Hannah
Okay, pause mid-wipedown?
Elizabeth
Pausing!
Nathan
What’s everyone’s time stamp? We seem to be a bit ahead of the rest of you.
Elizabeth
1:27:32
Kathryn
Huh, you’re ahead of us by about 15 secs.
Okay, now we’re caught up
Nathan
I’d paused it a bit ago. You must have overtaken us then.
Hannah
Hah, we were right along with Kathryn and Nathan
Elizabeth
I probably goofed it, I’d clicked the link to see if I knew Lloyd from anywhere else (I didn’t) which paused the video, so I jumped forward ten seconds to make up. Mistake, apparently
Kathryn
Are we all set?
Elizabeth
Ready!
Nathan
Hannah
Nope, mom got distracted
Elizabeth
hahaha
Kathryn
Hee.
Hannah
Ready!
Elizabeth
Ready!
Nathan
Kathryn
Playing!
It’s pretty bad when even your hallucinations think you’re crazy.
Elizabeth
Or drunk.
Nathan
Or both.
Hannah
Urinals are wired
Weird
Ffs
Elizabeth
“You’ve always been the caretaker.”
Hannah
I wonder if that actor is British or just fancy American
Elizabeth
Ack N WORD ALERT
Hannah
Eep
All of the colors amplify the mania
Nathan
Elizabeth
“Danny’s not here Mrs. Torrence.”
Kathryn
eep
Hannah
ACK
Elizabeth
Does Nathan have thoughts on the radio components?
Hannah
I was just gonna ask…
Nathan
Looks like an old tube unit. Not sure what he pulled out, though.
Elizabeth
I was totally pulling from the Simpsons for this, I had no idea he had to fly there.
Hannah
LOOK HOW BIG THOSE SEATS ARE
Elizabeth
hahah
Nathan
SERIOUSLY!
Elizabeth
Do not miss driving in the snow.
Hannah
I’d love a Durkin’s durnut right about now
Elizabeth
heh
Nathan
Elizabeth
Larry’s good people.
Marian
Which means he will be killed.
Elizabeth
Woof. Nice touch with a semi overturned on a car.
Hannah
Yikes
Right
Kathryn
How come we never heard the Road Runner theme song when we were growing up?
Nathan
I remember it!
Elizabeth
I don’t remember a Road Runner song at all!
I remember every other sound effect I hear though
Kathryn
Maybe the song was a couple of years before our time
Nathan
Only remember it being in one cartoon, but I definitely remember hearing it.
Elizabeth
The sticking-the-tongue-out “boing boing boing” is my favorite
Kathryn
“Feeling fine”
Elizabeth
“Well this is less encouraging.”
Nathan
You have to feel for the intern Kubrick made type all that out.
Hannah
This is so wonderfully filmed. Are there any other Kubrick movies that won’t upset me or bore me to tears?
Kathryn
I remember this bit really getting to me. The idea that he’s been crazy the ENTIRE TIME.
Nathan
Dr. Strangelove.
The Killing is another good one.
Also Paths of Glory.
Kathryn
I’m super impressed with the last ten minutes of 2001
Hannah
Oh and I don’t hate the first part of Full Metal Jacket
Nathan
I like 2001, but you’d be bored by it.
Elizabeth
I wish I liked 2001 but never could get past the pace.
Hannah
Also two spaces after the period makes Hannah an angry AP user
Elizabeth
hahahah
Kathryn
God if I was Wendy in this scene I’d just start flailing with the bat now and never stop.
Nathan
The kids facial expressions are spot on.
Hannah
Jabbing with the bat is the best technique
Kathryn
“Darling? LIGHT of my LIFE.”
Hannah
GIMME THE BAT, MARGE
Elizabeth
POW
Kathryn
Don’t stop hitting him NOW.
Hannah
Can’t murder. Eating.
That camera angle on Jack is… terrifying
Elizabeth
That snow scene outside the door too, yipe
Kathryn
The musical stings here are really reminiscent of 2001
Elizabeth
Lissen Homer, me and the other ghouls were talking..
Hannah
The Heinz product placement here is… intense
Elizabeth
Tang spotted on the shelf too!!
Kathryn
I just saw that!
Nathan
I’m suddenly having a craving for pimento pieces and sliced peaches.
Elizabeth
hahaha
Hannah
OREO
Country Time lemonade, too
Elizabeth
Nilla Wafers! No wait those are boring. TANG
Hannah
Go shovel the driveway, honey, mommy’s sleeping
Kathryn
How sore must this kid’s throat have been after this scene?
Hannah
SIXTY MINUTES
Elizabeth
Classic, this whole scene
Nathan
Kathryn
Flashback to seeing that face on the cover of a VCR tape every time we went to 7-11.
Hannah
That is a proper motherfucking axe right there
Elizabeth
AAAAAA
Huh, who knew that scene in Jurassic Park was an homage to this?
Hannah
Right?
Nathan
Never thought of that.
Hannah
Also my phone wants it to be Judaic Park. Go figure.
Elizabeth
Fitting
Kathryn
I’d watch that.
Nathan
Well, of course it does!
Hannah
THIS IS INDEED A DISTURBING TIMELINE
Elizabeth
Hee
Kathryn
Okay, I KNOW they needed Halloran here to bring the snowmobile and to have someone die who wasn’t Danny or Wendy.
Hannah
I love it when the Foley artists give them tap shoes
Kathryn
But to do it like that is just silly.
His character becomes useless this way. Insta-kill.
Elizabeth
OH I DON’T REMEMBER THIS EITHER
Hannah
WELP
Elizabeth
KNOCK IT OFF KUBRICK THAT’S JUST BEING WEIRD FOR WEIRD’S SAKE
Hannah
Chuckie Cheese Fellatio is my metal band
Kathryn
Really, anyone who hasn’t read the book or forgot the basis for that will be so lost.
Elizabeth
I read the book and have forgotten the basis for that, I’m lost.
Kathryn
It’s not even that big of a section in the book, not sure why Kubrick included it.
Elizabeth
Huh, props to him then, I thought he was just all “Ghost in dog mask fellating the staff WHY NOT”
Nice job Danny
Hannah
Composer: I dunno just give the strings meth?
Nathan
TENSION!!
Kathryn
And tape their fingers together.
Elizabeth
hahahaha
Hannah
Windy-ass maze
Kathryn
LESS HUGGING MORE RUNNING
Elizabeth
That article you found about freezing to death keeps jumping to mind…
Bad decisions that take too long…
Hannah
Getting warm from exercise…
Nathan
Ever read the Jack London story about a guy freezing to death?
Elizabeth
Ooo, no, never did.
Nathan
It’s good, but terrifying.
Kathryn
I have, yikes
Elizabeth
I forgot that you barely get ten seconds with that shot
Nathan
Supplemental viewing:
It’s a documentary about various fan theories about the hidden meanings in this film.
There are some real whack jobs out there!
Ha! We could have had Robin Williams in The Shining!
Elizabeth
That would’ve been….interesting…….
Hannah
Heh, Robin would not have tolerated egg sandwiches or abuse of his costars
It should be said, re: The Shining, that you do not need to explain the scary stuff
I’m no expert on horror, but that’s a hypothesis I continue to support
Nathan
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