C.T Recommended: The Shining (1980)

Directed by Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall

The plot follows Jack Torrance (Nicholson) who becomes winter caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel in Colorado, hoping to cure his writer's block.

One of Kubrick's best. One of my favorite psychological horror movies. One of my favorite novels. Today's recommendation on the spookiest day of the month is none other than The Shining. A film that will forever remain in history as one of the greatest and most influential horror films of all time.

Jack Nicholson was perfectly casted as Jack Torrance. Nicholson was picked by Kubrick after his Academy Award winning role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Nicholson perfected his role as he slowly descends into insanity and madness, words cannot describe how fantastic his performance was, you'll just have to go see it for yourself. Duvall who played Jack's wife Wendy, is usually criticized for her performance, calling it annoying. I on the other hand, found it to be quite good, especially since Kubrick drove her to be insecure and on edge on set to perfect her role. This left Duvall stressed out, thus what you see on film, is basically her not really "acting". Their son, Danny was great too.

The cinematography is great, especially the lighting in certain scenes. Some of the scenes will linger your mind from how disturbing and memorable they are, such as the twins, the blood flooding out of the door, the bathtub, and who can forget, the sequence in which Jack breaks down the door with the axe while saying, "Here's Johnny!". Also, not to forget the film's fantastic set production, which really immersed me in the hotel.

There are differences between the novel and the film, such as some of the themes being less prevalent in the film, and the personality of Jack himself. This led to fans of the novel being critical of the film, especially King himself who still has very mixed feelings about it. The film is slow, but I can say that it was a perfect connection to Jack Torrence who as well as 'slowly' going mad. The film in the end needs multiple viewings to sink in the horror, and I don't know about you guys, but I love seeing the small details in horror films that I might of missed.

Despite it's mixed reception when it released, no can doubt it's influence on horror and on the film industry as a whole. It is now regarded one of the greatest horror films ever made, and many interpretations and meanings are being thrown around, that a documentary named "Room 237" was made, which holds discussions about the film and it's interpretations. There will be a film that will match this film's legacy in the genre of psychological horror, this is why The Shining is the best psychological horror film of all time, and why it continues to influence horror films today.

My rating: 9.5/10

#CTRecommended #2018