Masterpiece

Rating: Null/10 (11 June 1999)

There are a lot of horror films out there today, some of them eventually rise to the status of classics (Nosferatu, Dracula, etc.), others are cult classics (Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, etc., and others are pieces of crap that should never have been made (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Any Nightmare on Elm Street not directed by Wes Craven, etc.). This is a classic, and a great one at that. It's not close to the book by Stephen King, but it is a great standalone horror movie. I admit it, I absolutely hated this movie the first time I saw it, but I watched it again. And again. And again. I grew to love it. It is an amazing piece of work, great cast of only about 6 real characters, and only three of them are main characters, the rest are supporting characters. Jack Nicholson is a template for what many movie psychos should (and try, but rarely succeed) to be. I read the book after I saw this movie, and I recommend seeing this first then reading the book. Then watch it again. Lots of differences, but when you get down to it, it's the same story told by two different storytellers in their own way, King and Kubrick, much as the story of Cinderella differs from nationality to nationality. You may think that your version is good, but at least take a glance at someone else's. 10 out of 10