Truly scary.

Rating: 8/10 (8 October 2005)

I first read the Stephen King novel before I saw the film version, and even though I knew it would be well made, and genuinely creepy, I didn't have any idea just how well.
Stanley Kubrick creates the fear you feel is being delivered into this film, by using claustrophobic shots, that instantly bring you into the screen. The musical score also makes it uneasy for the audience. You feel yourself almost squirming because every shot pulls you in and surprises you. Yet you find it hard to look away, even though you find it hard to visualise what's going to happen. This is why it is scary. The whole film just grabs you and does not let go until the ending, which quite frankly, is probably one of the most haunting endings, simply because the story is of one man's troubled mind. It is very much realistic, and I think this is why it is a true horror film. There haven't been many made that make you think the way this one will.
Even if chilling, and some might say slightly disturbing, it is enjoyable, and you can't beat Jack Nicholson's memorable performance.
If you haven't seen it already, do. As I feel you would be missing out on a truly great masterpiece of film. You sometimes even forget that it was ever even a book, because it has it's own twists and turns.
Brilliant.