82. The Shining (1980) - Stanley Kubrick

The Shining (1980) - Stanley KubrickA family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and of the future. I've never connected that well with Kubrick films over the years but one that I do enjoy re-visiting is The Shining. The use of the steadicam and slow pace and mood that Kubrick utilizes to notch up the tension truly makes this film stand out above other horrors. The Shining is about madness and how it can drive all of us to the brink of insanity. It's about how isolation and frustration can drive you to lose you all sense of reality and push you over the edge. Jack Nicholson's performance as the recovering alcholic writer gone mad will always typify his career. He has never quite gotten over the character he played in this film and it seems to have haunted the villains he has played since whether it's The Joker or most recently as Frank Costello. Many say his character was over the top (also said about other roles post this) but for me The Shining is Jack Nicholson. His energy and drive is what made the movie so succesful and he still creeps me out. No matter how many times I watch it, i'm still fucking terrified of Jack Torrance.