10 Best Performances In Stanley Kubrick's Films

Kubrick uses Jack Nicholson’s expressive face to paint a gradual decline into madness. When disgruntled writer Jack Torrance and his family take up residence in an empty, supposedly haunted hotel over the winter, Jack’s contempt for his wife and son takes hold.

Right off the bat, Nicholson lets you know there’s something off about Torrance. His smiles are too wide, and there’s an edge to his tone when speaking with his wife. As the isolation becomes too much for Jack, his facial expressions become deranged, and his passive-aggressive comments turn to spiteful insults.

Nicholson uses Jack’s insanity as an excuse to have the time of his life. The actor’s face turns into a theatre mask, portraying anger, fear, and gleeful insanity to the nth degree. This larger than life performance could easily clash with The Shining’s unsettling tone, but instead, they complement one another.

The key to The Shining’s horror is a man trying to destroy his family. Jack’s uncontained delight in the act of tormenting his wife has us laughing despite ourselves, but there’s a palpable sense of hatred bubbling out from Nicholson's sadistic laughter and mocking tone. Whether evil spirits or dreary isolation caused Jack’s descent into a murderous psychopath is up for debate. But thanks to Nicholson’s performance, we know that it was only a matter of time.