The Shining DVD > Reviews > Don't let this guy babysit your kids!!!

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	Jack Nicholson at his very best .  .  . and worst !  !  !
Disadvantages:	Just a tiny bit slow to start with

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I don't know about you but I've always thought of Jack Nicholson as a little bit creepy and unstable at the best of times. Even in comedy roles he always gives the impression that the characters he plays could always "FREAKOUT!!!" at the flick of a switch. I truly believe that there is this little bit of madness that resides in our old friend Jack and I believe that Stanley Kubrick detected this when he cast Nicholson for the role of Jack Torrence, the unstable and ever maddening caretaker of the Overlook Hotel. Its a pity that the managers of the Overlook Hotel weren't as observant as young Stanley when they hired Jack Torrence to look after their vast isolated and haunted dwelling.

Picture the scene...haunted hotel, a history of madness linked to cabin fever and a former caretaker slaughtering his own family with an axe. I'm not being funny but If I was interviewing someone for a caretakers position, knowing the history of the hotel and that the only people who would keep our Jack company were a bulging eyed wife and a creepy floppy haired kid intent on talking to his own finger, I would somehow pass on the opportunity to hire eager Jack. He would be quickly jostled out of the front door and straight back to the job centre or the nearest "Psycho's R Us". Fortunately for us mad Jack is hired and Kubrick gives us one of the most creepy, shocking and horrific films to come out of the 20th century.

Jack Torrence is an out of work author with a brief history of domestic violence. Whilst being interviewed for the vacant caretakers job at the Overlook Hotel his wife Wendy is at home caring for their one and only child Danny who incidently sees things linked to the past and future. This is what we later learn to be called "Shining". Like most kids Danny has a magic finger called Tony but, unlike most kids and their magic fingers Danny talks to his rather than sticking it up his nose, ears and mouth, and it is Tony who shows Danny horrific visions of the past and future of the Overlook hotel.

We learn that the previous caretaker, Delbert Grady had a history of mental illness and soon developed cabin fever. This inevitably leads to the slaughter of his own family and the suicide of the former floor sweep. We are also introduced to the head cook of the Overlook Hotel, Mr Dick Halloran, who like Danny has the ability to "shine". He warns Danny about the Overlook and its haunted past and warns him to keep an eye over his shoulder 'so to speak'. Jack and his small family are shown around the Overlook and Jack is introduced to the caretaker role with the help of his new employers. Of course Jacks wife, Mrs Torrence is shown around the kitchen and Danny is left to fend for himself in the games room. Its only when we see young Danny brushing up on his darts skills that we are met with a vision of the former caretakers 2 daughters. 'Now you see them, now you don't' and poor Danny is traumatised for life. Now if I was young Danny the first thing I would do Is throw a major wobbler in front of my parents and be pretty insistant on going straight back home. Instead our Danny is more than happy practising his treble 20 and bullseye finish!! So now we have it, Jacks well clued up on all his caretaking duties, Mrs Torrence has been chained to the sink and all the employees of the Overlook Hotel are off to spend a well earned break away from the worst winter in an ice age. Just what Jack needs to concentrate on his new masterpiece of a novel, peace and quiet at the Overlook. Somehow I don't think so!! We are now left to watch Nicholson turn in a masterful performance of a deranged lunatic, slowly exposed to the previous horrors of the Overlook Hotel.

We witness how Jack, tormented by visions of the past, the belief that his faithful wife is against him and the feeling of total isolation turn him from quite sane to totally insane!!! Believe me, you don't want to be around when Jack gets out of bed the wrong side. You kind of feel pretty sorry for Mrs Torrence, she's trying to take an interest in Jacks new role and forthcoming epic novel but I feel there is this little bit of fear within her. She knows that Jack's a good man but don't tread on his toes or he'll have ya!! Shelly Duvall plays the part of Wendy Torrence to a tee. Nervous, a little afraid but ever protective of her only son Danny.

For over 2 hours Kubrick shocks and startles us with brilliant direction and masterful camera work that really does put a chill down your spine. You do really feel the vast depth and emptiness of the Overlook and can quite understand how Jack slowly goes downhill. I partically enjoyed the part where Wendy decides to catch a brief glimpse of Jacks promising new book and is overwhelmed when to her horror every page has been hand-typed 'ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY' "Amazing stuff" thinks Wendy, " I wonder what its gonna be called?" Excellent stuff.

All in all I believe this to be some of Nicholson 's and Kubrick's best work to date but unfortunately for Shelly Duvall, I believe she'll will always be seen as 'Mad Jack's wife', so good is the role that she plays. Miss this at your peril!!

I've been critised in other reviews for telling the ending of the film and consequently my reviews have been marked lower than I'd hoped so I leave this one to your goodselves to find out, but lets just say that Mrs Torrence definately won't be going to "Iceland" for her weekly shopping in future!!