Mrs. Massey, aka The Woman In Room 217 (The Shining)
Yes, it’s Room 237 in Kubrick’s masterpiece, but I would argue that the woman is actually scarier in the novel and in King’s mini-series (don’t hate me!). In the novel, King repeatedly mentions her purple skin. The most terrifying passage in the novel is about Mrs. Massy, and it’s the cliffhanger at the end of the chapter when Danny finally enters Room 217: “He was just beginning to relax, just beginning to realize that the door must be unlocked and he could go, when the years-damp, bloated, fish-smelling hands closed softly around his throat and he was turned implacably around to stare into that dead and purple face.” I’ve read The Shining twice, and that passage still gives me the heebie jeebies.
These are just some of our favorites. Let us know yours in the comments below!
