Kubrick at his best

Rating: 9/10 (27 March 1999)

Stunning horror film that could only have come from Stanley Kubrick. It is a terrifying, artistic, brilliant experience that has never really been equalled by any other horror movie. Definately one of the scariest, if not THE scariest, I've ever seen. It is also the most stylish horror film I have ever seen. The perfectly symmetrical shots, are much like those of 2001, as is the very slow pacing in parts. I've read many things about this movie where people speculated on the hidden meanings of it. Who knows what is the truth, since Kubrick is such a master it could mean anything, but it makes the film more interesting and mysterious. I've noticed many things about this film. For one, notice that Jack is shown very often talking while looking into a mirror - when Wendy brings him breakfast, at the bar, in the bathroom, when Danny comes into his room - and almost everyone else is shown talking with a very bright window behind them, so bright that it glares off the lens (usually considered a mistake). The only times Jack has a window behind him are when he has the terrible nightmare, and when he is chasing Wendy with a bat, and they are especially bright. Who knows if this means anything, but with Kubrick it is very possible, so watch for things like that in this film and his others. Highly recommended!