The Shining

Rating: 10/10 (13 April 2017)

I am not a person that gets concerned with book-to-screen adaptations. It's not that I am not a reader, I enjoy literature and read a great deal in my free time. I recognize, however, that books and films are two different mediums, therefore, have storytelling devices unique to the manner in which they work with a narrative. Stephen King's vocal and vehement opposition to the 1980 film by Stanley Kubrick means quite little to me. He may be right, the work originated with him, obviously, but films are different than books and should be appreciated as a separate entity rather than an extension of one another. I also wouldn't classify myself as a fan of Stanley Kubrick. That's not to say I don't think he's made some wonderful films---he has, I just don't list him among my favorites which make me an ideal candidate to speak evenly about his film and King's book. Kubrick's film starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall tell the tale of a writer and his family who become caretakers of a hotel with a dark history on a secluded mountain in Colorado. The Torrence family is in for a lot more than a quiet winter once they finally settle in. Kubrick really outdoes himself with his visually stunning version of The Shining. The staggering cinematography creates the immense isolation the leads succumb to, keeping audiences glued to the screen until the final minute.
Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) signs a contract to be the caretaker for the Overlook Hotel. Since the hotel will be empty while in Jack's care, he sees this as a perfect opportunity to work on his next novel. Just as he is signing the paperwork, he is warned that through the hotel's long history, there was a former caretaker that killed his family with an ax before shooting himself to death. Jack is unfazed by the news still focused on the opportunity to get a great deal of writing done during his time there. When he brings his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and son Danny (Danny Lloyd) to settle in, things are alright for awhile, until Danny's gift of being able to see things from the past and the future, referred to as "the shining" begins to warn him about the hotel, and hints at something sinister taking place in room 237. When Danny meets the head chef who also has "the shining", who is preparing to leave the hotel for the winter, they speak about the sinister history surrounding the events that took place in room 237. The longer the Torrence family stays at the hotel, the more visions Danny has, and the deeper Jack surrenders to the insanity of such extreme isolation. When Jack starts becoming aggressive, Wendy and Danny begin to fear for their lives, thinking they may become the next victims of the Overlook Hotel.
I'm a total cinephile, but I have few "film traditions". I enjoy seeing new-to-me films as often as possible, so I partake in very few re-watches. The Shining, however, is a film I watch every year on Halloween as a double bill with Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. I've always been one of those people far more afraid of the darkest sides of human beings than an unhinged slasher. Despite watching The Shining every year, there hasn't been a viewing yet where I haven't sat in complete awe while watching it. I am completely immersed in the world Kubrick creates in The Shining, and that's solely due to his genius in portraying the subject matter. The sound design is extraordinary and creeps into the heads of those in the audience as subtly yet profoundly as Jack's isolation creeps into his head. I practically have to clean up the drool from the floor over the tracking shots Kubrick utilizes in the film. One of the best tracking shot in cinema history takes place in The Shining. Of course, I'm talking about the shot of Danny on his big wheel riding through the hallways of the hotel until being confronted by the horrors tucked away in the hotel's history. The brilliance and exquisite beauty of the tracking shots and long takes Kubrick uses to tell the story are fascinating, and never lose their luster no matter how many times you see The Shining. I've heard the criticisms of Nicholson, but I personally think that he was perfect for the role, and can't imagine anyone else playing the part of Jack Torrence. He was over the top at times, but the role calls for it the further he descends into madness. I also found Shelly Duvall's monotone agreeable attitude perfectly suited for her role of Wendy, as well. The camera work, direction, sound design, and performances come together in a magnificent sweeping package to create a piece of cinema that cements Kubrick's notion that film is an artwork, and should be repeatedly appreciated as such.