Kubric's The Shining

Rating: 7/10 (3 February 2006)

There's a reason why this film is dubbed "Stanley Kubric's The Shining".
It is not like the book. And mind you, both are very good. Just in different ways.
Kubric had a different view of Jack and his family, their stay in the hotel that winter, etc...and he brings that to the screen with chilling imagery, eerie subliminal flashes, and Jack Nicholson's performance as a wild-eyed madman.
That being said I enjoyed the film for what it is--Kubric's the Shining. Not King's the Shining.
The scenes were creepy, frightening, and unsettling. Blood pours out of elevators, The ghosts of twin girls tell Danny "come and play with us" as the images of them chopped to pieces flashes in front of our eyes.
Sure, it's not King's original vision--which of course is excellent!
But Kubric wanted to freak us out, give us the creeps, making us feel like we're watching someone else's nightmare. He's succeeded.