--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I saw 'The Shining' in eighth grade. I…" description: "\"I saw 'The Shining' in eighth grade. I watched it on VHS at a sleepover and was petrified, totally petrified. And I didn't really start to digest the m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/mike-flanagan-10114_filmmaking_i-saw-the-shining-in-eighth-grade-i-watc_3115897.jpg" --- # I saw 'The Shining' in eighth grade. I watched it on VHS… ![“I saw 'The Shining' in eighth grade. I watched it on VHS at a sleepover and was petrified, totally petrified. And I didn't really start to digest the movie properly and understand it from a filmmaking perspective until I got older. But it pretty much defined what it meant to be scared of a movie…” quote by Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/mike-flanagan-10114_filmmaking_i-saw-the-shining-in-eighth-grade-i-watc_3115897.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/mike-flanagan-10114_filmmaking_i-saw-the-shining-in-eighth-grade-i-watc_3115897.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/mike-flanagan-10114_filmmaking_i-saw-the-shining-in-eighth-grade-i-watc_3115897.jpg) > “I saw 'The Shining' in eighth grade. I watched it on VHS at a sleepover and was petrified, totally petrified. And I didn't really start to digest the movie properly and understand it from a filmmaking perspective until I got older. But it pretty much defined what it meant to be scared of a movie for me.” [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early exposure to horror can create lasting fear, but deeper appreciation often comes with maturity and technical insight. **In simple terms:** First scares fade, understanding grows. Key Takeaway Rewatch with a critical eye. Themes fear film appreciation growth Mood anxious curious Type reflective analytical When to use this quote - movie nights - film classes - personal reflection Key Concepts psychology cinema studies Questions to Reflect On - How does age change your perception of horror? - What technical aspects reveal new meaning? A Different Perspective Mature analysis may still trigger anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Filmmaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaking/) [Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) ## Related quotes > [Being scared by a movie offers a safe catharsis, because the terror is confined to the screen. It's an adrenalin spike, and when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/being-scared-by-a-movie-offers-a-safe-catharsis-because-the-terror-is/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [Why are we scared of a '50s weepie? Why are we scared of a movie that pulls you in and punches you in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/why-are-we-scared-of-a-50s-weepie-why-are-we-scared-of-a-movie-that/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [“that being brave didn’t mean you weren’t scared. Being brave meant you were scared, really scared, badly scared, and you did the right thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/that-being-brave-didn-t-mean-you-weren-t-scared-being-brave-meant-you/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“was terrified, and logic meant nothing when you were scared.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/was-terrified-and-logic-meant-nothing-when-you-were-scared/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [I saw 'The Shining' when I was too young with my dad in San Francisco in the hotel room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-zovatto/i-saw-the-shining-when-i-was-too-young-with-my-dad-in-san-francisco/) [Daniel Zovatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-zovatto/) > [“I have the sick fantasy that whatever I see at the movies is going to happen to me at home. My bladder capacity increased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-white/i-have-the-sick-fantasy-that-whatever-i-see-at-the-movies-is-going-to/) [Bailey White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-white/) > [When I was around 12 or so, I saw 'The Shining.' I just remember that being a turning point for me, where I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/when-i-was-around-12-or-so-i-saw-the-shining-i-just-remember-that/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) > [I saw 'The Shining' really young. I don't think it scarred me, but I had a paper route, and I delivered to some apartment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-livingston/i-saw-the-shining-really-young-i-don-t-think-it-scarred-me-but-i-had/) [Ron Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-livingston/) > [The best horror walks a line that's completely on a psychological level, not needing the typical tropes of traditional horror filmmaking, then also having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karyn-kusama/the-best-horror-walks-a-line-that-s-completely-on-a-psychological/) [Karyn Kusama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karyn-kusama/) > [When horror is about something - capital-A about - that's when it's really landing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/when-horror-is-about-something-capital-a-about-that-s-when-it-s/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [That's what I learned most about directing on my own - you've got to build a family, a filmmaking family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/that-s-what-i-learned-most-about-directing-on-my-own-you-ve-got-to/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I love the way the long scenes feel - one of the characteristics of '70s filmmaking is that you don't cut around a lot;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genndy-tartakovsky/i-love-the-way-the-long-scenes-feel-one-of-the-characteristics-of-70s/) [Genndy Tartakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genndy-tartakovsky/) > [All drama is conflict. Without conflict, there is no action. Without action, there is no character. Without character, there is no story. And without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/all-drama-is-conflict-without-conflict-there-is-no-action-without/) [Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/) > [I earn my living by teaching film, mostly filmmaking but also teaching courses on current cinema. I'm interested in movies. I hope that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-andersen/i-earn-my-living-by-teaching-film-mostly-filmmaking-but-also-teaching/) [Thom Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-andersen/) > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) ## More by Mike Flanagan > [I think in a lot of ways, 'The Shining' is about alcoholism and 'Doctor Sleep' is actually about recovery. They go together pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/i-think-in-a-lot-of-ways-the-shining-is-about-alcoholism-and-doctor/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [It's a wonderful thing to watch an actor just act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/it-s-a-wonderful-thing-to-watch-an-actor-just-act/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [I like to say that Hollywood is one of the most democratic entities in the world and the reason why is every ticket is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/i-like-to-say-that-hollywood-is-one-of-the-most-democratic-entities/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [When horror is about something - capital-A about - that's when it's really landing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/when-horror-is-about-something-capital-a-about-that-s-when-it-s/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [For me it's about creating and sustaining tension for as long as possible, and I'm not generally interested in allowing that tension to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/for-me-it-s-about-creating-and-sustaining-tension-for-as-long-as/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [A movie studio has to answer to a marketing department, and to shareholders, to ensure the broadest audience possible for its product; it tends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/a-movie-studio-has-to-answer-to-a-marketing-department-and-to/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [For me, 'The Haunting of Hill House' is a series about life after a haunting, what happens after the credits roll in most horror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/for-me-the-haunting-of-hill-house-is-a-series-about-life-after-a/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [A viewer's imagination is a powerful storyteller, and can often come up with things way more frightening than what you can explicitly show in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/a-viewer-s-imagination-is-a-powerful-storyteller-and-can-often-come/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [Midnight Mass' is kind of my baby; I've been working on that for six years. I started writing it while 'Oculus' was in preproduction,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/midnight-mass-is-kind-of-my-baby-i-ve-been-working-on-that-for-six/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [Whenever I would see horror movies I would be traumatized and I'd have to watch them behind my hands or behind the couch sometimes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/whenever-i-would-see-horror-movies-i-would-be-traumatized-and-i-d/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [Depending on how 'Doctor Sleep' does, we'll see what movie opportunities there will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/depending-on-how-doctor-sleep-does-we-ll-see-what-movie-opportunities/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [Well, as a kid I did all the Bloody Mary games and using a mirror to scare yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/well-as-a-kid-i-did-all-the-bloody-mary-games-and-using-a-mirror-to/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [I'm sure many more people saw 'Hush' in the first weekend it was on Netflix than saw 'Oculus' in theatres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/i-m-sure-many-more-people-saw-hush-in-the-first-weekend-it-was-on/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [Well when I hear 'slasher' I think about the 80s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/well-when-i-hear-slasher-i-think-about-the-80s/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [I think it was in sixth grade, though, when I picked up my first Stephen King book, which was 'It,' that knocked me over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/i-think-it-was-in-sixth-grade-though-when-i-picked-up-my-first/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) [Explore all 67 Mike Flanagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) ## More Filmmaking quotes > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [I earn my living by teaching film, mostly filmmaking but also teaching courses on current cinema. I'm interested in movies. I hope that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-andersen/i-earn-my-living-by-teaching-film-mostly-filmmaking-but-also-teaching/) [Thom Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-andersen/) > [All drama is conflict. Without conflict, there is no action. Without action, there is no character. Without character, there is no story. And without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/all-drama-is-conflict-without-conflict-there-is-no-action-without/) [Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/) > [I love the way the long scenes feel - one of the characteristics of '70s filmmaking is that you don't cut around a lot;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genndy-tartakovsky/i-love-the-way-the-long-scenes-feel-one-of-the-characteristics-of-70s/) [Genndy Tartakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genndy-tartakovsky/) > [That's what I learned most about directing on my own - you've got to build a family, a filmmaking family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/that-s-what-i-learned-most-about-directing-on-my-own-you-ve-got-to/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [For me, it doesn't matter what kind of role I am doing. I just enjoy the process of acting and filmmaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshaye-khanna/for-me-it-doesn-t-matter-what-kind-of-role-i-am-doing-i-just-enjoy/) [Akshaye Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshaye-khanna/) > [Filmmaking seems more difficult but theatre comes with its own challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/puneet-issar/filmmaking-seems-more-difficult-but-theatre-comes-with-its-own/) [Puneet Issar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/puneet-issar/) > [I've always traveled with the films because I want the audience to be my teacher so that I can learn for the next one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-potter/i-ve-always-traveled-with-the-films-because-i-want-the-audience-to-be/) [Sally Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-potter/) > [I love writing, but I stopped because I felt I was more effective approaching filmmaking from a different vantage point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-love-writing-but-i-stopped-because-i-felt-i-was-more-effective/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [The new 'Avatar' BluRay is a lesson in filmmaking. It really is inspiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/the-new-avatar-bluray-is-a-lesson-in-filmmaking-it-really-is-inspiring/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [Sometimes it wasn't even when we were knocking on doors, it would be, the phone would ring and somebody would say, "God told me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/sometimes-it-wasn-t-even-when-we-were-knocking-on-doors-it-would-be/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [I studied English in college and approached filmmaking from a writing background while trying to learn as much as I could about the technical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-fogel/i-studied-english-in-college-and-approached-filmmaking-from-a-writing/) [Susanna Fogel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-fogel/) > [Mostly it's like, I get inspired by something and I want to learn that part of filmmaking, I want to delve into that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/mostly-it-s-like-i-get-inspired-by-something-and-i-want-to-learn-that/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I don't know if it's fair to say that it's a bad time for movies. It seems to me that throughout the entire history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-fair-to-say-that-it-s-a-bad-time-for-movies-it/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [If you look at most mainstream filmmaking, to be honest, some of these films aren't even asking questions anymore at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karyn-kusama/if-you-look-at-most-mainstream-filmmaking-to-be-honest-some-of-these/) [Karyn Kusama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karyn-kusama/) [Browse all 978 Filmmaking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I saw 'The Shining' in eighth grade. I watched it on VHS at a sleepover and was petrified, totally petrified. And I didn't really start to digest the movie properly and understand it from a filmmaking perspective until I got older. 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