This time, on GenreList: plunging temperatures, blowing snow and fast-darkening skies set the scene for mysterious murders and alien oddities as we bring chilling thrillers to your local library.
Feeling isolated by the cold? Are the howling winds and sub-zero temperatures driving you a bit batty? The Torrance family gets you in a big way. In The Shining, a semi-suspecting family finds that isolation, writer's block and a hotel full of ghosts make for a lethal combination. A tense and visually evocative film, occasionally punctuated by Jack Nicholson's memorable maniac performance. The novel, widely considered one of Stephen King's best, is an almost gothic ghost story that explores the frailty of the human mind under strain.
John Carpenter's The Thing plays on the same feelings of snowy isolation, but adds body horror and eerie alien encounters to the mix. One of the all-time great monster effects films, The Thing features jaw-droppingly intense transformations and horrific creatures that put most modern CG effects to shame. The 2011 version is part reboot, part prequel and a noble attempt to recreate the visceral horror of Carpenter's masterpiece for modern audiences. The fact that the 1982 version retains its scare power after 30 years of VFX development is a testament to the vision and craftsmanship that went into the classic.
Know another wintery thriller we missed? Post your favorites in the comments below and help Chicago survive the arctic season!
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