Throwback Thursday Review: 'The Shining'

Sorry for the delay on this review as it was originally supposed to be uploaded in the Fall and was then set to be published last Thursday... However, life and schoolwork got in the way so that didn't happen. As a result, I've decided to modify my Throwback Thursday Review schedule a bit by nixing some reviews and postponing others. Anyways, the initial intention of reviewing The Shining was to review it along with some of the other Stephen King adaptations in last fall's lead-up to The Dark Tower and It (2017). For those curious about what I'll be reviewing throughout February, look no further! The list currently includes Throwback Thursday Reviews of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Blade, and the 1990 It miniseries, and reviews of new releases Maze Runner: The Death Cure, Winchester, Peter Rabbit, The 15:17 To Paris, Early Man, Black Panther, and Annihilation. Some 2017 films I missed out on that I'll be reviewing in the near future are Mudbound, Colossal, The Boss Baby, The Lost City of Z, Wonder, and The Florida Project.

'The Shining' Review

The Shining follows Jack Torrance, an aspiring author and recovering alcoholic, as he accepts a position to be the winter caretaker of the remote Overlook Hotel. Torrance brings his wife, Wendy, and psychic son, Danny, along for the prolonged isolation, but the family soon discovers the dark secrets of the hotel as Danny's premonitions happen more frequently. Meanwhile, an evil spirit takes hold of Jack and turns him into a maniac hell-bent on butchering his family.

Stanley Kubrick helmed The Shining as his eleventh feature, and in addition to directing the flick, Kubrick also infamously wrote the screenplay as a very loose adaptation of Stephen King's novel with the help of his co-scribe, Diane Johnson. While King has adamantly voiced his immense displeasure with the adaptation for deviating from the source material, audiences have only warmed up to it over time. For those unaware of the film's peculiar history, The Shining was initially met with a mixed reception from critics and audiences, yet the film is now fondly remembered as a cult classic and a significant staple of the horror genre. Audiences weren't quite sure what to make of all the ambiguous imagery Kubrick prominently displayed at the time, so I suppose you could even go as far as saying that it was the 1980's equivalent of mother!... Although, The Shining is a FAR better film that actually accomplishes its goal.

Perhaps, one of the most distinguishable attributes of a Kubrick film would be the attention to symmetry, distance, and depth in the camerawork. Kubrick's cinematographer, John Alcott, captures countless examples of eerie imagery, which are a perfect companion to Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind's endlessly unnerving accompaniment. For a film made in the '80s, it's really remarkable how well-crafted the scares are, as I was constantly on edge and my heart was rampantly racing. I'll come forward now and admit I hadn't seen the film before, but I was fairly familiar with the the more iconic elements and surprised to discover that they were even more frightening in the proper context. 

Jack Nicholson obviously ratchets up the insanity as Jack Torrance, but he also imbues some subdued characteristics in the character's quieter moments. Nicholson conveys the required sarcasm, despicable demeanor, and psychotic personality so exceptionally well that it's really no wonder this role is remembered as an especially iconic one.

Meanwhile, Shelley Duvall incredibly embodies the extremes of Wendy's personality as both a passive, doting wife and a frantic, concerned mother. It's truly Duvall's reactions that sell the unabashed insanity of the film's ending. While all of The Shining is definitely disturbing on its own, Duvall is just the icing on the cake for the ending's perturbing parts.

Credit's also due to Danny Lloyd for a certifiably creepy children's performance. Lloyd achieves something few young performers are capable of through Danny's dual-personalities. He maintains a childlike innocence when he's riding around on his Big Wheel and an unsettling attitude when he's repeatedly reciting "Redrum! Redrum! Redrum!" with his rough, croaking voice. Joe Turkel, Philip Stone, and Scatman Crothers also provide memorable moments in the respective roles of the bartender Lloyd, ghostly butler Grady, and hotel chef Hallorann.

If I were to cut to the chase, I'd tell you what you've already heard and you already know... The Shining is a timeless masterwork of horror that still startles because its extreme intensity will forever be a terrifying thing to witness. 

Film Assessment: A+