What kind of guy knows The Shining so well he can rattle off what's in the food can Wendy is opening in a scene in the Overlook Hotel kitchen?  David Leighton -- the winner of our Ultimate Shining Quiz-- first watched the movie at the age of sixteen while his parents were out. We asked him from his home in Portland, Maine, how he knows so much about the movie.

 1) Why are you an ultimate fan of this movie?
I am a huge fan of The Shining:  I've got the obligatory "Here's Johnny!" print on my wall; I enjoy writing fan fiction about The Shining for a couple of yahoo groups: theshiningplace and theshiningfanfiction; my moniker is caretaker217, the screensaver on my cell is of Jack in the hedge maze, and thanks to ebay- I now own a repro of the final scene of the 4th of July pic. But I won't really consider myself the "ultimate fan" until  I've made the pilgrimage to the Shining mecca - Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood. When I'm standing on those steps I know I will have made it!  

2) What’s your favorite scene?
My favorite scene in the movie is when the Overlook [hotel] is finally revealing itself to Wendy and she sees Horace Derwent being serviced by the guest in the dogsuit. That scene oozes with more sheer horror and depravity for me, than any other in any horror movie before or since.

3) Is it your favorite horror movie? If so, what do you like most about it? If not, what is?
The Shining definitely holds a special place in my heart, but my true favorite is Alan Ormsby's "Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things." It's the last horror movie I watched with my father on the now defunct Scream Theater, and every time I watch the over-the-top acting, horrible make-up, and minimalistic sets, it makes me glad I'm a horror fan. 

4) Did reading other people's responses to this quiz help?
I had already written down my answers on a pad before I realized that others had posted theirs, but I did confer with my wife on whether or not Wendy was opening up a can of pears or cocktail, and at this point I'd just like to say that I think everyone who entered is an Ultimate Fan in my book. Props to Tony, Jack, the cat, et al!

5) If you were going to write the next AMC Ultimate Fan Quiz, which film would you choose, and why?
It would be the State of Horror: fans would need to name each movie from all 50 states, like the easy ones- King Kong- NY, or Texas- The Chainsaw Massacre, or even The Shining- Colorado. But it really takes some sleuthing to name So. Carolina, Idaho, or Wyoming. This is just something I like to do in my spare time and so far I've found all except for Conn.

6) What would you most like to read about on the Monsterfest Blog in the coming months?
I would love to be kept up to date on all the great and not so great 60's and 70's horror movies that might be lost and not make the transition to Dvd. Just lately I've discovered such treasures as Igor and the Lunatics, The Wizard of Gore, and the awesome I Eat Your Skin...I Drink Your Blood.  Or if there is ever any news on a Dvd release of The Shining that restores the original ending, where Ullman visits Wendy in the hospital and reports that Jack's body has still not been found. I think then I could die a happy man!

Thanks again, and  I would like to express what an invaluable resource AMC is and how much I enjoy your site.  -David          

--
Thanks to all of you who took the time to take this week's The Ultimate "The Shining" Fan Quiz - proving wrong those who suggested that the questions were too hard. Many of you came close to getting all of the answers correct. For the answers, check out David's responses in the original post. Look for the next Ultimate Fan Quiz, coming soon.