A horror classic Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) agrees to take on the role of winter caretaker for the isolated Overlook Hotel in the Colorado mountains, along with his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and psychically gifted son Danny (Danny Lloyd). But will Jack regret his eagerness to take the role, especially after hearing of a former caretaker's murderous spree and the fact that the hotel was built on a Native Indian burial ground.
I've read many Stephen King novels and I've seen many of the film adaptations of his books and I can wholeheartedly concur that the novels are better. As it happens, I haven't read 'The Shining' so I can't compare it to the film but I can say that the film is far better than other movies linked to the iconic horror writer's work.
The film opens with what turns out to be Jack Torrance's car driving through the open expanses of the Colorado wilderness on the way to a job interview for the role of winter caretaker as a secluded hotel. The hotel itself is huge, and along with the accompanying wide open space surrounding it, weather permitting of course, there should be enough to keep the family busy for the next five or six months. Here, you are King of the castle, surveying your kingdom, the world is your oyster. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, to me at least, this film is about the effects of long term seclusion and isolation on the mind. In some respects, I would say the ghosts are irrelevant. Now I say that with a particular fondness for two of the main apparitions, Lloyd the barman and Delbert O'Grady the former caretaker. Both are played to perfection and bring a quiet menace to the film. However, Jack Torrance already has his demons and the isolation slowly starts to allow those demons to play and wreak havoc. The apparitions and evil presence of the Overlook only serve to heighten the tension and drive the story along. However, my sentiments are that ghosts or no ghosts, Jack's isolation from society is taking him down a dark path.
The story now has more of a relevance for many of us after three months of lockdown, with a lack of social interaction causing many people mental health problems. Human beings are social animals and a lack of social interaction, even in the setting of a large hotel in the mountains, and maybe even more so, is going to cause tremendous damage. Yes, Jack is with his wife and son but people need varying social challenges to keep the mind active, making life feel fresh rather than vapid.
As far as the making of the film goes, the performances are excellent all round, especially from the young boy who plays Danny. For a young chap to convey such terror, fear and confusion in his face is nothing short of a miracle. Whether the director used some scary props to stimulate those fears, I don't know. All I know is that I really felt his terror. His pathos, for such a young chap, was exceptional. The scenes between Jack and Wendy on the stairs and in the bathroom are also classics. I'm always gripped, no matter how many times I see them. If some of the scenes did have numerous takes, well then it was worth it. Also the scene where Wendy reads the results of Jack's repetitive typing, which just goes on and on, sends a shiver down your spine as you you shift uncomfortably in your seat more than once. Brilliant stuff although I feel for the poor person who had to type all those pages out.
'The Shining' also handles the tension levels perfectly. It successfully starts with a minor sense of foreboding which gradually increases over time. For a while, we're left thinking that there is a chance that Jack will come through and save the day for himself and his family, but once his mental instability is tipped over the edge, we are treated to a relentless attack on our nerves.
There are many periods of the film without dialogue, sometimes even without any obvious action, and yet this works exceptionally well to ramp up the tension and suspense. So much can be said without words and the actors do a great job of conveying the emotions of the characters. Where there is dialogue, it is of a high quality with no room for any frivolities. The only thing that feels a little superfluous to the story is Halloran coming back to the hotel from his home in Florida, only to be brutally murdered by Jack. Feels a bit pointless and doesn't achieve anything other than a scare and senseless loss. Perhaps that's why it's in the film.
On a more frivolous note, the Shining is always worth a watch for the 70s decor. I wonder if, or when, we'll ever see a return to such strong, bold patterns in our homes.
I'd also be interested to see the original version that hit the American cinemas back in the day in its entirety, before it was so heavily edited by Stanley Kubrick. It appears he edited it for European audiences after the film received poor critical responses and lukewarm box office in the States. However, European audiences handle lengthy films better than US audiences and the original version would make for interesting viewing in my opinion.
Overall, forty years after the film hit cinemas, 'The Shining' still endures as a great horror. It's one of those films that always leaves you thinking about it the day after you watched it, hence this review.