The Shining (1980)

A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future.

Jess’ Review

During my temporary hiatus from Sam (which isn’t as heartlessly cruel as he’d have you believe), I’ve found I have the freedom to watch ALL the horror films without resistance. So I’m making the most of it and revisiting one of my all-time favourites, The Shining.

I’m a big fan of Stephen King’s work, and I cannot reasonably address the film adaptation without a nod to the novel. I urge anyone to read it. There’s lots of differences from the movie, details that are regrettably forgotten altogether and in a way it becomes a completely separate entity. King famously hates the film, which is fair enough. But I cannot possibly agree with him. Stanley Kubrick is a genius. Every film is a visual masterpiece, so intricately crafted that one cannot help but stand in awe. And The Shining is one of the strongest pillars of his legacy.

I don’t think I need to summarise the plot for you. If you don’t even have an inkling then quite frankly, shame on you. Jack Nicholson is iconic as Jack Torrance, unhinged and intense as the film progresses. He’s a heavyweight in the industry and the role truly cements his standing as one of the elites. Shelley Duvall as concerned wife Wendy comes across underrated. She’s an OG ‘scream queen’, as well as portraying a sympathetic, vulnerable mother trapped in a waking nightmare. Danny Lloyd completes the leading trio, the child actor, again, just putting in an absolutely iconic performance. The talents of these actors elevate the film, and will forever go down as legendary.

The Shining oozes a measured refinery in its composition. The visuals are amazing; every shot is so deliberate and considered. The camera follows little Danny around this looming behemoth of a hotel, and we’re suddenly sucked into the scene. The editing is seamless, and the moments of horror are suddenly, and brutally, spliced within the moments of (uneasy) calm. The soundtrack is a powerhouse on its own, a sinister presence lurking within The Overlook’s walls.

The plot is engaging, fast-moving at times and yet always creeping along with a sense of foreboding. This is a scary film; a true pillar of horror that puts more modern flicks to shame. Kubrick builds tension perfectly, the tone unsettling where something simple as a lingering shot instils a rising sense of fear. There are no cheap jump-scares here. There’s no need for gratuitous gore - though the few, fleeting moments of horrific imagery are beyond powerful as a result. Instead, The Shining emulates a horror that builds slowly, spreading like a virus until it’s squirming under your skin. This is true horror. And even 40 years on from it’s release, it’s a pinnacle of the genre.

The final thing I have to mention about The Shining is the hidden messages. As I’ve already mentioned, I absolutely adore films that are layered with metaphor and allegory. It’s not hugely obvious here, but recurring imagery have given way to a plethora of theories to their meaning. From faking the moon landing to the genocide of Native Americans and even reference to Greek mythology, The Shining has been dissected and analysed by critics, scholars and fans alike for decades. The documentary Room 237 (2012) is a decent place to start your deep-dive into this universe of conspiracies. The level of intrigue is astounding and excites me to no end.

The Shining is a masterpiece. A masterpiece of horror as much as it is a masterpiece of a film. The story is simple but engaging, and so entwined with deeper meaning that if you care to jump down the rabbit hole you might not resurface for quite some time. Visually sublime and always unnerving, the tone is perfect and the acting plunges you right into the heart of this hellish landscape. Iconic on every level, The Shining is a perfect horror.

10/10