The Shining

Now, here is a movie to see. It falls in the horror category however it is far more of a psychological film. The film takes place in 1980 and focuses on Jack Torrance, played by the great Jack Nicholson, and his family. A troubled writer and former teacher, Jack has made a big break in watching over an old luxury hotel called the Overlook for the entire winter. While the entire staff of the hotel leaves for the winter, it's just Jack, his wife Wendy (Shelly Duvall) and their troubled young son Danny (Danny Lloyd) who are left to care for it. Jack is quite happy to have obtained such a great privilege to watch over such a large hotel, however Danny is not so happy to be there. Something strange is going on in his mind and he has visions that tell him something bad will happen if he stays there. Being isolated in the hotel causes Jack to become malevolent and dangerous. What will he do? Will there be death? Why did he really want this job in the first place? My review for the film is going to follow this so just a warning, if you have not seen the movie, please do not continue reading. *** This is by far one of my favorite horror films. Why do you ask? Well, it is not really a horror film, but in fact more of a psychological thriller. I guess when Stanley Kubrick made this film, it just fell under that because the author of the book, Stephen King is a horror novelist...for those of you who did not know. Opening up in a long stretch of road, we see a yellow VW Beetle driving all alone through winding roads up along the Denver, Colorado mountains. It is just chugging along and seems to be getting good speeds actually. This is when the credits roll and there is some very creepy music in the background. It really fits. It makes you feel uneasy, as what most Stanley Kubrick films do. Slowly getting closer to the bug, you notice that it is driving quite fast. It is determined to get to it's destination and whoever is driving it will push it to the limit until it gets there. Eventually, it arrives at a hotel up in the mountains. The Overlook Hotel. At the interview, the manager, played by the late Barry Nelson, tells Jack Torrance that it can be stressful to look after such a big place over the winter. He tells him how in 1970, there was a couple that came to look over the hotel. A couple with their twin daughters and "at some point he must have had a complete and mental breakdown. He run amok, and murdered his wife and kids." Jack seems taken aback by the story but assures the manager that "it's not gonna happen to me." Foreshadow!!! When the family arrives at the hotel, the first few days are pretty good. They have all this space to run around and do whatever while Jack can finally relax and work on his writing in peace and quiet. Danny and Wendy meanwhile explore the outdoors and check out the huge hedge maze in front of the hotel. Eventually, as days ago on, Jack does not work on his writing but instead lacks sleep and begins to grow facial hair. Something is seriously wrong when he and Wendy have an argument. Apparently Danny was found with a torn shirt, and given the past accident that Jack did to Danny when he came home drunk, she automatically assumes it was he who did it. Jack, stressed about it and just wandering the great halls of the Overlook, and eventually ends up in the Gold Room. The Gold Room is a great ball room that is the place for many guests, of the elite no doubt, to come and party. Anyway, Jack sits at the bar and says that he would "do anything for a drink. I'd sell my goddamn sole, for just a glass of beer." He seems to get his wish because once he looks up, there is a malevolent bartender whom he addresses as Lloyd, and suddenly asks for a drink. Jack says, "Hi Lloyd! A little slow in here tonight." Lloyd replies, "Yes it is Mr. Torrance. What'll it be." And Jack, not in the least bothered by seeing this ghost, says, "Well, I just happen to have two 10s and two 20s in my wallet." So, paying Lloyd Jack then takes down the drink and feels so relieved. He has the eyes of a demon. Explaining his problems to Lloyd, Jack then looks down and then all of a sudden Wendy runs up to him saying that Danny is in trouble and that he saw an old lady in a bathtub trying to attack him. "Are you out of your fucking mind?!" Then, Jack goes and has a look in the room. Nothing is there but then all of a sudden when he looks in the room, he spots a gorgeous women stepping out of the bathtub and walk towards him. He stands in amazement and they begin to make out. Then, when he opens his eyes, the gorgeous woman turns into an old hag and just starts laughing at him. When he returns to Wendy, she asks him if there was anything in the room to which he replies, "No." Then, he begins to tell Windy that Danny might need some help. When an argument ensues, Jack becomes much more distant and is practically never seen by Wendy or Danny. Eventually he is just by himself in this massive hotel and then comes across the man who had killed his family and himself previously. Delbert Grady is his name, and he convinces Jack that he must kill Danny because Danny has a special gift known as the Shining and that the ghosts of the hotel do not like that he must be "corrected." The same goes for his wife. So, Jack become possessed by the ghost and goes on a killing spree. This is when Jack snapped and becomes just a malevolent killing machine. "No sir, not gonna happen to me." In any event, Danny and his mom run for help and try to escape, however every possible attempt does not succeed because the ghosts tell Jack what to do to block all the exits. It's also snowing outside so there is no one to help that for miles and miles and miles since the hotel is on top of a mountain. Eventually, Jack goes outside and is hunting for Danny with an axe in the hedge maze. While Jack is able to find Danny thanks to his footprints in the snow, Danny gets the upper hand and makes marks with his feet confusing Jack and eventually he escapes with his mother and Jack is left for dead. The next morning, Jack is frozen alive. So, this is the story of the Shining. There are of course many more details and events that I may have overlooked but this is just the general gist of the film and why you should see it. This is my favorite Stanley Kubrick film. Read on and please comment below!