15 Most Dehumanizing Moments In Stanley Kubrick's Films
4. "Heeeres Johnny!" The Shining (1980)
Together with A Clockwork Orange, and Full Metal Jacket, Stanley Kubrick's turn to horror with Stephen King's adaptation of The Shining sees the director tackling his favorite theme in full force. The story of a man who becomes the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, is as matter-of-factly as Kubrick ever got when it came to capturing a humans decent into madness. Jack Nicholson gives an unforgettable performance as Jack Torrance, who is convinced that he must murder his wife and son. In a scene that spawned countless dorm-room posters, and became a staple of the horror genre, Wendy has locked herself in the bathroom and is attempting to escape through the window. Jack, wielding an axe, threatens to "huff and puff" and blow the house down right before he starts chopping at the door. When he gets enough room to peer inside, he does so referencing Johnny Carson's one-liner. With the most demented music you'll hear in a Kubrick film, and the cultural references to fairytales and comedy shows, humanity absorbed by madness has rarely been this haunting.
Nik's passions reside in writing, discussing and watching movies of all sorts. He also loves dogs, tennis, comics and stuff. He lives irresponsibly in Montreal and tweets random movie things @NikGrape.
