A Ghost Story? A Psychological Horror? Either Way It Gets Better With Age.

Rating: 10/10 (21 June 2014)

Well, If there was anything that hasn't been said about "The Shining" I've yet to hear it. After watching the absurd "Room 237" (2012) documentary, it proves that this movie continues to age extraordinarily well considering how many people continue to interpret it. To me and 15-20 of my mates who have sat down and watch this so many times, I decided it's best to take it for what it is. Read into it lightly at the beginning, and dissect it in depth on repeated viewings.
As far as plot goes, it strays FAR from the source material and Stephen King is known to not be a fan of it (Once declaring Kubrick's treatment of Wendy as one of the greatest misogynistic portrayals of woman in film ever). A surprisingly thin premise, a man who has taken up a care taker position of a hotel for the winter, eventually loses his sanity and endangers his family. Like all of Kubrick's work, the film is shot so well it captures a unique look that I love about the camera in general. It becomes the ghost, and other perspectives in the room. That's not my interpretation on just this movie, that's my quasi-opinion on all movies in general. This one just happens to be shot by a master of his craft, and that opening with the sweeping tracking shot of the mountains screams ghost doesn't it?
And of course, it's another one of those films where Jack Nicholson just gives his absolute best. At the time where he was playing crazy a lot and actually gave up remembering his lines due to the ever changing script, I believe he STILL makes the role his own & unique. What TALENT Mr. Nicholson possesses, and I don't think this picture would have aged so well without him. Shelley Duvall does very well, and course the arguments with Kubrick on set clearly show what lengths she had to put herself through. Even to this day how they managed to film around Danny (Danny Lloyd) and make him not realise he was in a horror film baffles me.
I consider "The Shining" to be the first psychological horror film I ever saw (This was pre "Cat People", "Persona" & "Les Diaboliques"). To me it falls more into the realm of an art-house film, yet the sense of lost and isolation portrayed including the mental effects YOU may possibly feel, have never really felt quite surpassed. The film has the same look as a TV miniseries, trudges along at a snails pace, and I always found the whole experience humorously nonchalant when it came to lacking the usual large opening credits. It's charming to know that Harry Dean Stanton almost played Lloyd the bartender, and that Kubrick sat everyone down and made them watch "Eraserhead" (1977) to emulate such a heavy atmosphere.
Final Verdict: Not really horror, and not entirely scary. "The Shining" is more about testing the meta of the horror genre, and evaluating the results. Those results really show in the eyes and thoughts of each individual. Anyone can write or talk about it, but to actually experience it is something else entirely. 10/10. Essential viewing if you love the genre.