The Shining (1980)

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd

Synopsis:
A Vermont writer takes his family to Colorado to work as the caretaker of a lodge during the off-season, but his mind is slowly warped by a mix of cabin fever and supernatural forces.

Impressions:
Pop cultural osmosis has spoiled a lot of this movie, but it does little to detract from the experience. Brilliantly shot and superbly acted, this is one of the best examples of the horror genre period. Jack Nicholson is amazing. I don't think I can praise his performance enough. Oftentimes child characters don't come off too well, but Danny Lloyd is solid, and Shelley Duvall shows off some serious scream queen chops. Also want to give all due credit to Scatman Carothers, who is always a treat to see. It's fascinating how a lot the shots manage to create a simultaneous sense of agoraphobia and claustrophobia. This really is an amazing film and I'm going to give it my strongest endorsement.

Rating:
Treasure It