31 Days of Halloween: Day Fifteen

The Shining (1980 Rated R in the US for strong Violent Content including disturbing Images, terror, Language and brief graphic nudity. Oh, and Jack Nicholson’s evil smile)

Summary (from IMDB):

A man, his son and wife become the winter caretakers of an isolated hotel where Danny, the son, sees disturbing visions of the hotel’s past using a telepathic gift known as “The Shining”. The father, Jack Torrance, is underway in a writing project when he slowly slips into insanity as a result of cabin fever and former guests of the hotel’s ghosts. After being convinced by a waiter’s ghost to “correct” the family, Jack goes completely insane. The only thing that can save Danny and his mother is “The Shining”.

RB Wood’s rating (out of 5): 4 and a half ax wielding Jacks

By far, this is my favorite movie adaptation of a Stephen King story.  Stanley Kubrick does a fantastic job with the visuals and setting the tone for suspense and horror.  I took 1/2 a star off because upon last night’s viewing I really did want Jack Torrance (Nicholson) to kill Shelley Duvall (Wendy Torrance). I also feel that Scatman Crothers was wasted in this…his character is way more developed in the book.  However, these things aside, The Shining is one of the scariest pictures in this months list.  From the subtile, yet terrifying soundtrack by Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind to the stylistic camera angles that are a staple of any Kubrick film, I found myself at the edge of my seat from the very beginning.  Jack Torrance is an abusive, recovering alcholic father and writer, looking for a place of solitude to write.  He finds it in a Colorado job posting for a winter-long caretake of the creepy, isolated Overlook Hotel. The son, Danny, played well by Danny Lloyd, has visions of the horror that awaits the family–provided to him by his imaginary friend Tony.  The Shining, is of course the power that Danny possesses (and Crother’s character as well).

The isolation and paranoia of King’s book is captured perfectly between Kubrick and Nicholson and if you don’t sleep with the lights on for at least one night after watching this, you weren’t paying attention.  All in all a perfect piece for the Halloween season.

Tomorrow: Don’t fall asleep.

Peace