The Movie: The premise remains just as creepy today as it did in 1980: A 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. The Scenery-Chewing Performance: What can you really say about Jack Nicholsons nerve-wrenching performance as writer turned psychopath Jack Torrance in Stanley Kubricks seminal horror movie that hasnt already been said? The image of Nicholson peering through an axe-damaged doorway has become so iconic that its been parodied by everyone from The Simpsons to the Nostalgia Critic. Nicholson indeed goes all-out when the character finally snaps, injecting the slow-burning psychological horror movie with a huge burst of manic energy, full of deranged facial expressions and wild gesticulations. Kubrick was known for his restraint, so allowing Jack to go full on mental was a true stroke of genius. To this day, it remains the ultimate tour de force in crazy. What's your favorite hammed out performance in a horror movie? Let us know in the comment section below.
Jesse Gumbarge is editor and chief blogger at JarvisCity.com - He loves old-school horror films and starting pointless debates. You can reach out at: JesseGumbarge@JarvisCity.com
