Classic Horror from One of the Greatest Filmmakers

Rating: 8/10 (2 February 2011)

Just as he'd made his mark on the science fiction genre twelve years prior with 2001, Stanley Kubrick tries his hand at horror and suspense, creating a haunting film and an instant classic. Based on the Stephen King novel, THE SHINING follows writer Jack Torrance as he agrees to act as winter caretaker for the Overlook Hotel. He is warned of the isolation and told the roads become impossible to traverse in the overwhelming snow. Seeing an opportunity to work on his latest piece, he accepts and moves his wife and son to the Overlook with him for the duration of his stay. Jack's son, Danny, has a special ability referred to as the "shining". He possesses psychic abilities that allow for telepathic communication with others who "shine", and he is able to view images from both past and future. As the winter snow arrives and the family is effectively trapped in the hotel, Danny begins suffering horrific images of the previous caretaker's family (whom had been murdered when the caretaker had succumbed to "cabin fever") and Jack shows signs that he's lost his grip on reality. Soon, Jack is overcome with the inherent evil of the hotel and sets out to murder his family.
If there's one thing Stanley Kubrick knew better than anyone, it was how to establish a film's atmosphere. From the first helicopter shot establishing Jack's initial drive to the hotel, we feel a sense of quiet isolation that will build for the next hour and a half as the Torrance family lives in this massive, grand hotel. Vast ballrooms and lounges, seemingly endless hallways, and an expansive hedge maze help make the Torrances seem truly alone as the snow drifts in and soon cuts them off from the rest of society. It's a long build-up, and might be too long for some viewers. The entire movie is almost 2.5 hours long and more than half of it is establishing life in the hotel and slowly developing Jack's madness, Danny's visions, and the hotel's latent evil as more and more strange occurrences plague the child. Once the movie kicks into gear and Jack goes over the edge, we're treated to some of the tensest and chilling moments in cinema. Jack hacking his way through the bathroom door while his terrified wife cowers in the corner, strange visions of hotel "guests" (especially the one in the dog costume...gives me chills), and the famed elevator unleashing a tidal wave of blood. You can't go long without seeing an homage to some iconic moment from this film in some other media.
Jack Nicholson is at his best here. I can honestly say his role as Jack Torrance is probably my favorite that he's ever held. No one does psychotic better than Nicholson and he goes all out here. Twitching, explosive mood swings, unrelenting violence...he mesmerizes. I could watch the last hour of this film over and over and it'd never grow old. Shelley Duvall is fine as Jack's wife, Wendy. She doesn't do much aside from scream and sob, but I suppose she does it well. Danny Lloyd does an excellent job, which blows my mind because there are so few decent child actors. Kubrick proves his mastery in directing with his ability to get the only the best from a child actor. A solid cast combines with fantastic production design and Kubrick's usual skill to create a great horror film without resorting to the "boo!" scares and gore you'll find most modern horror hinging on. It's slow pacing and haunting atmosphere build up and lure you in for a final act where Nicholson completely owns the screen. I'm sure this movie won't be was well-received by those who demand fast-paced scares and graphic violence, but it's one of my favorites in the genre.