"A depressingly overrated horror film with absolutely appalling acting."

Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining' is one of the most disappointing horror films I've ever viewed. Disappointing after reading endlessly of its commercial...
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"A depressingly overrated horror film with absolutely appalling acting."

Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining' is one of the most disappointing horror films I've ever viewed. Disappointing after reading endlessly of its commercial and critical success, and disappointing because I don't think more potential could have been wasted during the production of this film. Despite having arguably the most nauseatingly awful acting performances ever filmed and released as a popular mainstream horror film, the plot is conceived and developed awkwardly and good visuals, scenery, special make-up effects and cinematography techniques and tricks are unfortunately not going to change or redeem that.

The film starts with a shot over a mountainside and a car driving along a swirvy road edging off a cliff with a large building in the background. It revolves around Jack Torrence (Jack Nicholson), a deviously unhappy man with severe anger problems - even if he doesn't show it most of the times and keeps his anger bottled up - who's been given the job to housekeep a huge mansion so he can write a book. His son, Danny Torrence, who he apparently abused a while ago, has an imaginary friend, Tony, living inside his vocal chords. Jack, after being so isolated and constantly interrupted in his writing, starts to go mad. I'll let you discover the rest.

But the acting. Oh, god, the acting. What's this we keep hearing about Jack Nicholson's excellent acting performance that gets under our skin and creeps us out? Hogwash! His acting is stale, boring, and confusing, and while it does get under my skin, that's only because it's getting into and on my nerves and annoying me the hell out. Shelley Duvall's performance as Wendy, the only likable character in the entire film, and who was apparently put through an ordeal in this film, gives a fairly and similarly but less prominently stale performance - with all due respect. But it just makes me wonder...what for? Why put her through such an ordeal? This film doesn't respect its source material - the Stephen King novel - the acting, throughout, is absolutely appalling. Mr. Kubrick, I do not care if that was to agitate and break down Shelly Duvall's character and indeed herself, you are not respecting anyone other than yourself with this film.

Kids have only ever rarely been equally as convincing as adults in films. That's not being disrespectful, that's just the truth. We rarely see performances like those of Haley Joel Osment in 'The Sixth Sense' and Linda Blair in 'The Exorcist' nowadays. Those were performances with such scope, such dimensionality, such stern seriousness, such confidence and such commitment to their roles. The actor who played Danny, dare I say it, did not give a convincing performance.

Now don't get me wrong. 'The Shining' is not a completely hopeless film. The scenes featuring blood escaping an elevator and the frequent shots of the twin girls and of a mysterious bloody massacre in the hallways, while misleading and unexplained, are genius and intensely freaky. The cinematography is excellent, and the visuals are very nice. However, while all these things are used to their potential, it's very hard to pay attention or respect those scenes when the film's terrible acting throws us off course. I think I know something's wrong when I almost prefer the much cheaper made-for-television adaptation over this.

Now this is a good horror flick...At least I think so. If you like horror flicks, then this movie is for you. It has some of the best scary drama you can see in a horror movie from the 80's. And yes, it does become graphic at times. The basic plot...
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Now this is a good horror flick...At least I think so. If you like horror flicks, then this movie is for you. It has some of the best scary drama you can see in a horror movie from the 80's. And yes, it does become graphic at times. The basic plot and story are also good, but no one says "Here's Jhonny!" better than Jack Nicholson!

Stanley Kubrick has made a truly scary film here that even people who don't like horror movies should be able to enjoy.

The movie doesn't have many of the "Boo!" horror moments the genre has become known for, rather relying...
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Stanley Kubrick has made a truly scary film here that even people who don't like horror movies should be able to enjoy.

The movie doesn't have many of the "Boo!" horror moments the genre has become known for, rather relying on psychological terror. This allows for a more organic type of horror.

The story is (loosely) based off of Stephen King's novel of the same name, but Kubrick manages to create something almost entirely different that actually works better.

The acting is some of the best I've seen in a horror movie to date. Jack Nicholson does a hell of a job here.

If you love horror movies, you owe it to yourself to see this if you haven't already. If not, then still see this movie.

Movie that goes with the flow. The theme song, however is fantastic!