Crawls under your skin... and stays there. A psychological horror masterpiece.

Rating: 10/10 (30 June 2009)

The Shining, a highly atmospheric psychological horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick, was released in 1980 to negative reviews. Now, as of the 2000's it has been re-reviewed and analyzed and is now considered a masterpiece of film making. Kubrick was ahead of his and our time. He was an incredibly smart man who really knew how to make films. The symbolism, the imagery, the atmosphere and the acting are what make The Shining so memorable.
With references and clues to child abuse, alcoholism, Native Americans and dreams this film succeeds in disturbing you without being what it was marketed as. Its surface narrative is a ghost story. But if you delve deeper into the story there is so much symbolism and cryptic messages that make this more than just a ghost story. It's a story about America and its violent past. It's a story about a violent man with serious psychological problems.
Now everyone loves Jack Nicholson don't they? Jack is a fine method actor who, 42 at the time of the film, was one of Hollywoods biggest stars. Stanley Kubrick couldn't of cast anyone better than Nicholson for the role of Jack Torrance. His descent into madness is truly masterful. One minute he is violent and explodes with anger, the next he can be hallucinating and hysterical. His over-the-top scenes are what fans didn't really like. But what if you are psychologically messed up? Can't you hysterical and crazy as well as violent and disturbing? That is what makes Jack Torrance so memorable in the film.
This isn't a Hollywood film. This is a surreal mystery tale with a ghost story as its surface narrative. Jack's descent into madness can be analyzed a million times. Was it cabin fever? Was he a man who truly hated his family? Was he a violent racist? Or were there really ghosts? No one will ever know for sure.
Shelley Duvall always gets the bad press for her role as Jack's needy wife Wendy. Her role is very demanding. She is verbally abused by Jack, she is constantly in a state of hysteria, she cries a lot in the film and much more. You can tell Shelley put her heart and soul into this role. This isn't a page for page adaption of Stephen King's novel. Stanley Kubrick took ideas and put his own unique vision onto the screen. In the book, Wendy is strong and determined but in the film, Wendy is abused and needy. But Shelley should get thumbs up for her performance as Wendy.
The atmosphere of The Shining is incredible. With the perfect set design (can you believe the Overlook Hotel is really a set!?), the long, tall hallways and rooms, the black and white photos all over the hotel, the disturbingly colourful rooms and the snow provide a chilling and mysterious atmosphere. The slow tracking shots takes us on a journey through this hotel with Jack and his family.
It is a journey you don't want to miss. The Shining is the most atmospheric and psychologically terrifying thriller you will ever see. With a loose story you can discuss this for days without getting bored and plenty of surreal and disturbing images that will stay in your head for the rest of your life. Now go and watch this.