The Shining

Synopsis

A family is invited to stay over the winter in an isolated hotel, where mysterious forces push the family over the edge all while the son's psychic ability makes him see bodies from the past and present.

Review

In today's movie standards this is a slog. Every conversation just last too long. The exposition of what is happening is just spoon-fed and takes too long. That is until you reach the halfway mark. From here it feels like a modern movie with the pacing well done.

Jack Nicholson and Danny Lloyd were so good. Jack's creepy face, like the face he gives the young/old naked woman, is so well done and is basically how I picture him in every movie. Even ones like The Departed. Danny's voices are really good and his playing of a more troubled kid or another person really works well and shows a decent level of maturity to keep the voice the same. I know the rules on child actors has probably changed a lot since then to the Harry Potter Movie Series where they had to provide school to the kids, plus he isn't in most of the scenes so it might have been easier, but keeping the same voice is impressive.

I think Shelly Duvall is what takes me out of the movie most. She is so flippant in how she interacts with Jack that it is confusing. The scene where she accuses Jack of hurting Danny, then comes back to say that he was attacked by a random lady, and then Jack says/implies that he did it to himself. All 3 of those switches there isn't a remembrance of the previous. For instance, the last one she doesn't say, well "How do I know you didn't do it since you couldn't find the lady he said was there" especially after she admitted he had hurt him before.

My Rating

The whole aspect of the psychic son seems lost on me. I get that it is the explanation of how he had Tony and could talk to the chef. However, it isn't around enough to name the movie after the effects. I mean, is the explanation that Jack's character also has it, just not in the same way? I am not sure. I did like this movie, while it is a bit slow, the scares and creep still hold up. What really makes this movie well done is the camera work and the transitions. Just fantastic. I am giving this an 8.

Parental Rating

There is a lot of language and some nudity. There is also an extreme amount of violence, which yeah duh. I know my dad watched it back in the day, so I am curious what he thought then vs. now, but I can say that this is rejected by both.

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