Review of The Shining

Horror classic

Does this film really need a review? I mean, it's The Shining! Everyone has seen it, right? And if you haven't whats wrong, why aren't you running to the video store to buy it? It's certainly Stephen King's best adaptation, but I think it is not because of King himself (who hated this version, and was determined to re-make a more true-to-book version several years after this one). The real reason it shines is because the genius Kubrick was at the helm.

If you think about it, not much happens in terms of 'horror', but this film is terrifying simply from the atmosphere and well filmed scenes. The intro is one of the best in any film, showing a car driving down a winding road with majestic mountains everywhere, which that tense classic piece playing. It really sets the tone and gives a sense of just how remote this hotel is.

This is by far my favorite Nicholson performance; he played a family man that decends into madness absolutely without a fault.

9/10

Added by Prelude 5 years ago
on 24 August 2007 16:00

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Comments

rubert

Posted: 11 months ago at Jun 22 11:03

small and cute

Bruce P. Levy

Posted: 10 months, 3 weeks ago at Jun 29 7:53

I agree. This is one of my favorite movies of all time. As Mr. King states, it is not true to the story in the book, but the tone and atmosphere of the Overlook Hotel and the performances by the three major characters (Dad, mom and child) set the tension and chilling nature of the film. The book is more frightening in the sense that it is not 100% clear whether the hotel is actually haunted or the father is just going crazy. I would say the book and movie are both excellent and both worthwhile.