The end of the story, where the protagonist sees the Mangler marching down the street, is scary when you read it but a silly image when you get some distance from it.

That's actually my answer for "what has Hooper directed that was good?" I know people love TCM, but it's really sloppy and ineffective in my experience.

Yea he was best known for Jaws and Indy at the time.

Few filmmakers have ever been on the high Spielberg was in the early 80's. Raiders, Poltergeist and E.T. all in 2-3 years.

Lol good troll.

I forgot he wrote the film, too.

Yea. The level of technical achievement and artistry in Poltergeist always pointed to Spielberg. Especially in this run in the 80's, he's just the superior craftsman.

Heavens forfend!

He's ready to get out of the family at the start for sure. He gets homicidal due to the Overlook (the movie's real villain).

I disagree that we don't care about the family. Wendy and Danny always interest me. Jack is clearly checked out on the whole "father and husband" role from the beginning, so how we read his character is intentional.

Yea I've always heard that story.

Maybe Hooper wasn't a member of the DGA at the time.

This story says he was very much involved and had creative input.

Another entry in the "female lead in a Spielberg movie" debate we were having a few weeks ago.

Um…Sheryl Lee is amazing in the movie. That line blew up your whole comment.

Yeah it was.

Yeah disagree 100%.

Boooo

All Wes Anderson movies make it to Criterion. This is well-known.

Yeah, despite being the most "art film" of almost any American filmmaker, I've found that Lynch's best work is strangely accessible to many moviegoers who don't traffic in that type of thing usually. Mulholland Dr., especially, is intoxicating.