The Shining [1980 film]

A timeless classic, and a must read for any horror authors.

The book manages to hold you in its grips for a long time before you even get a smidgen of information that answers anything! A story that bounces the idea of morality around like a plastic, inflated ball at a beach; effectively making the reader question their own sense of reality and the way in which one can let themselves become unknowing pawns in a reality that is bigger than life.

The Shining. Originally published in 1977, The Shining is truly a shining example of vintage Stephen King. We all remember, of course, (or, I would think you would remember) the amazing Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance, father of Danny, husband of Wendy. (Heeeerrrrrees Johnny!) If you haven’t watched it, check it out on Amazon. If you like truly well done horror movies, this is a true joy to watch. And of course, The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park does an incredible job in it’s role as The Overlook Hotel, that most viciously haunted of Colorado Hotels, and the setting for the story. Click the link above for the real “haunted history” of the Stanley Hotel on their website! The Stanley may not be as haunted as the Overlook, but it show more still has its stories . . .

There are reviews upon reviews of the book, of course, so I won’t say a lot about the story of the actions within the Overlook Hotel. However, having read it several times over the years I have to say this ‘listen’ drew my attention to something quite different. What truly caused Jack?

Yes, there are the monsters that live in the hotel, that is a given. But really, what caused them to be so easily able to control a “mild mannered professor” like Jack Torrance. Well . . . maybe the fact that he wasn’t really so “mild mannered” after all?

Jack Torrance is a monster, this is true. But, what made him that way? The history of Jack – but also of Wendy, is something I never really groked to (Heinlein, Stranger In A Strange Land) when I originally read the book (all the times I originally read the book, that is).

Generations. Generations of the history of the hotel. Generations of families, sick and twisted families, passing down their sickness to their own children. Passing on pain and brutality, alcoholism and drug use, obsessions and hatreds. Easy-peasy, massively skeezy. It certainly made me think even more than it ever has. King has a tight grasp on the horrors of child abuse, and how it flows, crushing and destroying the lives of each generation.

The horror of King shines – but even more deeply, the ‘real life’ horror is devastating, drawing me in even more deeply to the story than with any previous reading. Isn’t that odd? I have read it at least a half dozen times over the years. . . but for some reason, it just struck me this time. And I am glad it did. show less

A family spends the winter in an isolated, haunted hotel.

The story's dumb, and the movie's never very scary for something that's supposed to be horror. But it's extremely suspenseful, and the imagery is unforgettable. The movie has a sort of lumbering enormity to it that you can't look away from.

Concept: D
Story: D
Characters: B
Dialog: B
Pacing: A
Cinematography: A
Special effects/design: A
Acting: B
Music: A

Enjoyment: A

GPA: 3.1/4

(Jun. 2010)

One of the creepiest movies ever made. Kubrick was at the top of his game with this one. His style of directing is perfect for horror. It's a shame he didn't do more.

Shelley Duvall really shines in this film version of the Shining.

Jack Torrance accepts a caretaker job at the Overlook Hotel, where he, along with his wife Wendy and their son Danny, must live isolated from the rest of the world for the winter. But they aren't prepared for the madness that lurks within. (source: TMDb)

There are, I think, two kinds of horror one-shot hits : (i) Dolts who got it insanely right once: American Psycho, The Witch, Hostel. (ii) Geniuses whose only genre effort is a masterpiece: The Exorcist (Friedkin), Dracula (Murnau), The Shining (Kubrick), La piel que habito )Almodovar)