Psycho vs The Shining

Which of these two films actually hits harder as horror? I mean, which one feels more intense or leaves a deeper psychological mark that sticks with you long after the credits roll?

p.s. ...I've seen both, but it's been ages since I caught Rosemary's Baby on TV. Can someone refresh my memory on how that ending actually played out? Specifically, what did they do to the baby's eyes... and why did they never show the kid's full face?
Rosemary's Baby left a much stronger impression on me. I don't know why, but I couldn't sleep for nights after watching it.🤣

Cheers

They’re both great in their own way, but I’d say The Exorcist hits a bit harder than Rosemary... It deals with this primal, physical evil trying to break into our world, whereas Rosemary's Baby feels more like a psychological erotic thriller—it's claustrophobic and strangely grounded, which actually makes it feel a little less terrifying

I could totally see Omen fitting in right here. Honestly, I’d slot it right between those two—and then put The Shining on top of everything else. Either way, we're talking absolute classics.

wiredtiger10 said:Honestly, Psycho would fit right in here. I’d probably slot it between those two, with The Shining taking the top spot. Either way, we're talking about absolute classics.

Yeah, I agree they're both great... and Omen is fantastic too (though only the original version for me)

If anyone actually remembers the specifics of what went down in Rosemary's Baby—because I've honestly blanked on that one part—I'd appreciate the help. 👍

Psycho vs The Shining... hmm.
Honestly, both of them are pretty weak when it comes to horror, but if I had to pick one that actually stands out, I'd go with Rosemary's Baby.
And yeah, I'm with you on Omen.

briskbison41 said:Psycho vs The Shining, huh...
Both are pretty weak as horror movies, though I’d say Psycho edges out The Shining.
And I’m with you on Omen.

I actually disagree that those two are "weak" horror films. They’re pretty heavy hitters for me, specifically because of the psychological aspect. The plots make you wonder if that kind of thing could actually happen to anyone. It’s happened in real life—I remember reading an article online about parents killing their child because they thought the kid was possessed by a demon. Plus, everyone knows there are plenty of cases involving people who genuinely believe they're possessed...

That's exactly why it's scary; you know this stuff exists or has actually happened in the real world.

shadowjackal27 said:Personally, I wouldn't go so far as to say those two movies are weak horror films. They’re actually pretty heavy-hitting, at least from a psychological standpoint. The plots really make you stop and wonder if that kind of thing could actually happen to anyone. I remember seeing an article online about actual cases where parents killed their own child because they were convinced the kid was possessed by a demon. Plus, everyone knows there are plenty of documented cases involving possession out there...

That's exactly why they're scary—because you know this stuff exists or has happened in real life somewhere.

Sure, they stand out psychologically, and true horror is way more engaging anyway (if you ask me).
As for the whole possession thing, yeah, it happens in the world, but that isn't exactly a reason to live in fear.
You're probably scared because you think it could happen to you, but what are the odds of you specifically being possessed by a demon? Honestly, zero.

I guess in Rosemary's Baby, it's all about her figuring out the conspiracy involving everyone around her—her husband, the neighbor, the doctor, and that whole crew. They basically just used her to bring that little devil into the world, like in that scene where she catches them having their session in the apartment next door.
I guess they didn't actually show the kid looking like a monster, they just left that part up to our imagination. But at the end, she still smiles and accepts him exactly as he is. Maybe the whole point is just that a mother's love is infinite and beats everything else.

I believe there was a fleeting shot of the child's eyes right at the end that’s easy to miss if you aren't glued to the screen. Personally, I find The Exorcist much more terrifying than Rosemary's Baby. While both fall under the horror genre, they don't even rank that high when you compare them to other films.

I’ve always found Rosemary's Baby to be the better, more intense movie because you aren't entirely sure until the very end if she’s just losing her grip or if everything is actually happening to her... To me, The Exorcist always felt a bit over the top, almost like a dark comedy, though maybe that's just because it's been parodied and quoted so many times since

shadowjackal27 said:Which of these two films left you with a stronger sense of horror? Specifically, which one was more intense or "heavy" in terms of leaving a deep psychological impact that stuck with you long after...

p.s. ....I've seen both, but I watched Rosemary's Baby a long time ago on TV... if anyone can tell me how the ending actually went down, what they did to the baby's eyes... and why they never showed the baby's full face in the movie...
Rosemary's Baby left a much stronger impression on me. I don't know why, but I couldn't sleep for nights after watching it.🤣

Cheers,

Rosemary's Baby isn't about brainwashing (the baby? Give me a break!), The Exorcist is far more effective. And like someone mentioned, there's Omen.
I don't take any horror movies seriously. Films like Silence of the Lambs shake me much more—they don't rattle me, but they hit hard. You know, those mass murderers and the naive girl walking right into the house of a suspect known for skinning people alive.🤣

Personally, I think *The Exorcist* takes the win on the horror front. Sure, it drags a little bit at the start while it’s just setting the stage, but once things really kick off with that little girl... man, it's intense. All those supernatural occurrences just hit different. With *Rosemary's Baby*, you're basically just sitting there in suspense, constantly waiting for someone to jump out from behind a corner or for something to happen. I'm with shadowjackal27 on this one—*Rosemary's Baby* leans way more into the psychological side of things...

My bad, I typed "delal" when I totally meant "dalal."

Both are absolute classics of cinema. While The Exorcist might lean a bit harder into pure scares, Rosemary's Baby left a much more profound impact on me—there was this mounting sense of dread that just kept building as the film reached its climax.

cosmicraven2 said:Both are top-tier films. While The Exorcist might be more overtly terrifying, Rosemary's Baby left a much deeper impression on me—that creeping sense of dread that just builds until the very end.

Exactly. I've always been more drawn to psychological horror than the loud stuff—you know, the typical slashers or zombie flicks like Friday the 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or Dawn of the Dead.

And I totally agree that Rosemary's Baby falls squarely into that psychological category.

Also, regarding that final shot in Rosemary's Baby where you catch a glimpse of the baby's eyes—it's subtle, barely showing the face. Honestly, it’s better that way; it forces you to use your imagination to fill in the blanks.

shadowjackal27 said:...and why didn't they ever show the baby's full face in the movie..

Because what you imagine in your own head is way more terrifying than anything you could actually see on screen. It's pure psychology.
☕

I still haven't worked up the nerve to watch The Exorcist because, honestly, I'm terrified. Rosemary's Baby is fantastic, though. It’s way more biting than all those other horror flicks and stuff like that.

They’re both absolute classics 🙏, though it’s such a shame we don't see much of that caliber of horror these days... nowadays, when people hear the word "horror," they usually just think of those tired tropes involving guys on motorcycles and some screaming, brainless girls running around without even wearing a bra 🙂

A difficult choice, really. However, I find myself leaning toward The Exorcist. It is a film that leaves a profound and lasting impression on any true cinephile, particularly those of us with a penchant for horror. A masterpiece of its genre, and quite frankly, of cinema at large.

crimsondriver54 said:That’s a tough one. I think I’d have to go with The Exorcist. It’s just one of those films that leaves a massive, unforgettable mark on any true cinephile, especially horror fans. It’s a total masterpiece of the genre, honestly.

Also... actually, if you ask me, these two are basically the best horror movies ever made. I guess "The Shining" falls slightly behind them (if it even counts as being behind), and while "Psycho" is great, these two just feel closer to my heart.