Review of The Shining (1980) by Michael M — 05 Jul 2013

One of the all-time classics of horror, I can't say that The Shining blew me away upon finally watching it, but it didn't disappoint. It has a handful of flaws that are worth mentioning: it's overuse of loud shrieking sound effects, a handful of scenes that ultimately feel unnecessary, and in general it feels a bit too long.

I was never really bored by it, but at the same time I feel like you could have easily cut out 20-30 minutes without losing much, and for how long it is it never bothers to delve into its reasoning and mythology much.

These are mostly nitpicks though, things I noticed but not things that were anywhere close to ruining the experience for me. The things that make the film worthwhile aren't so much the story or the mythos, but the acting, the directing, and the cinematography.

Jack Nicholson is hilariously uncomfortable in this movie. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or be scared, and by the end he becomes so unhinged that I can see why he would go on to play the Joker. Shelley Long is also quite good, as well as the young Danny Lloyd whose expressions of terror are chilling.

The Shining isn't particularly scary, aside from a couple jump-worthy moments, but it does have a beautiful sense of dread that builds throughout. The Overlook Hotel is a very bizarre location, rooms often not matching up, and a chilling (pun intended) climax at the end in the hedge maze.

It's disorienting and unnerving in the best way. It's not a perfect film, but the stuff that's good is enough to forgive it's lapses.