The Shining (1980)

Hotel Hell

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy The Shining on DVD.

Stanley Kubrick's horror film, The Shining (based on the Stephen King novel) creates some of the most genuine spine chills ever filmed. Taking a job as a winter caretaker for a giant and remote hotel, Jack Nicholson, his wife Shelley Duvall, and his son Danny Lloyd, find that the long hallways and empty rooms contain more than a few ghosts. The film goes from scary to amusing as Jack slowly turns into a psychopath, taking an axe to his loved ones. (Why is it that Kubrick's psychopaths -- McDowell in A Clockwork Orange, Nicholson, and Ermey in Full Metal Jacket -- are so much fun?) Kubrick's use of space and the eerie steadycam have never been put to better use, and the great Scatman Crothers provides a great turn as the hotel's chef.

DVD Details: This disc contains a great short documentary shot by Kubrick's daughter Vivian when she was 17, plus a brand new witty and wonderful commentary track by her. (Please see also my longer review at cinematical.com.)

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers, Barry Nelson, Philip Stone, Joe Turkel
Written by: Diane Johnson, Stanley Kubrick, based on a novel by Stephen King
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 142 minutes
Date: July 5, 2001