The Shining is genuinely one of the most terrifying horror films ever made. Adapted from Stephen King's faultless novel of the same name, the film opens with writer Jack Torrence (the ever immaculate Jack Nicholson), his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and their only son Danny (Danny Lloyd) who travel to The Overlook hotel for the winter months, so Jack can act as the live in caretaker, whilst finishing his latest novel. Upon arriving at the (sinister) hotel, the chef recognizes a telepathic ability within Danny, which at first is ignored. And they are warned to stay away from room 237. As the days and nights progress jack develops writers block, and it seems as though the hotel is sucking all creativity and imagination from him. Meanwhile, Danny after seeing an apparition of 2 young girls on the first day, finds room 237. The weather (snow) blocks the family in the hotel for the winter, and Jack begins to go insane. Having delusional episodes and hallucinating about people that aren't actually there. Including a conversation he has with the bartender in 'The Gold Room', where the party taking place is actually happening in 1921! Or is it? This is where the film really kicks off, and the horror kicks in, Kubrick style.
To continue further would spoil a fabulous twist, but lets just say that the ending is genuinely spine-tingling.
The soundtrack is beautiful and adds to the tension, as the score, primarily composed by Krzysztof Penderecki's is as haunting as the hotel itself.
This is one of Nicholson's finest performances. his embodiment of Torrence is genuinely terrifying. He takes the film to a whole new level, and like the hotel becomes the embodiment of the movie. The "Heeeere's Johnny" scene is also now one of the most iconic in film history.
Danny Lloyd, as Danny, Jack's son, puts in a great turn as a traumatized kid. Does he have multiple personalities? Is there a force in the house that has gotten to him? And his screen highlight, (when he enters his parents room one night and writes RedRum on the wall in blood, showing in the mirror as MuRdeR) is genuinely terrifying.
Kubrick, meanwhile, sensibly keeps it simple behind the lens. He lets Nicholson work his magic, and focuses on his lead, and on 'The Overlook' as a character. His direction is eerie, dark, and disturbing, leading to an uncomfortable feeling of dread and lending to the horror factor.
To say too much more would be to spoil a fantastic horror adventure. But I will say, the one bad point to the film is the casting of Shelley Duvall who is shocking as Wendy. Fortunately, with Nicholson alongside her, she is saved by his charisma...just.
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Re-rated based on Ciao's insistence that such reviews are no longer considered "Off Topic"
Soho_Black 02.08.2008 19:38
I see you've posted this as a DVD review, but you've not mentioned the DVD features. Are there any extras? If so, what are they and are they any good? If you add to this, or if you change it to be posted as a "Film Only" review, which can be done by accessing "edit review" above the review and changing the drop down menu under the "Which format are you reviewing?" question at the bottom, please let me know and I'll re-rate.
Stanley Kubrick'sThe Shiningis less an adaptation of Stephen King's best-selling horror ... more
novel than a complete re-imagining of it from the inside out. In King's book, the Overlook Hotel is a haunted place that takes possession of its off-season caretake...
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Recovering alcoholic Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) gets a job as caretaker at the ... more
deserted Overlook Hotel during the winter. He takes up residence with his wife, Wendy, and son, Danny, who experiences clairvoyant forebodings. As the bleak isolation of...
Stanley Kubrick'sThe Shiningis less an adaptation of Stephen King's best-selling horror ... more
novel than a complete re-imagining of it from the inside out. In King's book, the Overlook Hotel is a haunted place that takes possession of its off-season caretake...
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![The Shining [DVD] [1980]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78525379.jpg "The Shining [DVD] [1980]")
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