First Take Classics: The Shining- heeeere’s Johnny

SYNOPSIS: A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future.

Another classic, back where it belongs on the big screen. The local cinema are absolutely killing it with these films right now, and it is easy to see why, as the pre-Halloween showing of Stanley Kubrick’s iconic adaptation of the Stephen King book achieved the impossible: a socially distanced sell-out audience. Not bad for a film which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Kubrick’s direction has held up very well, even with the 2 hour 26 minute cut that Vue audiences have been blessed enough to witness - they had mistakenly programmed it to be the UK cut, but nope, we got the American cut - and even with the tweaks it has gone through over the years, it looks right at home in cinemas. Obviously Mr King has said he has his issues with the film, and it is obvious to see where the source material’s influence ends and Kubrick (and co-writer Diane Johnson) starts to do his own thing with the script, as the supernatural elements are more played down compared to the book. On cinematography duties is John Alcott, and handling the original music is Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind, who do a decent job. 

Now, the cast. I don’t need to say anything more than Jack Nicholson when it comes to that lead performance- it is true method acting, and even with the knowledge of THAT moment, it still puts serious chills into audiences to this day, something which is enhanced by the stellar work of Shelley Duvall and Danny Lloyd in supporting roles. With a Kubrick film you know what you’re letting yourself in for, and it is a brilliant movie all these years on- one which still has the ability to sell out cinemas.

THE VERDICT

While elements of the film have aged pretty poorly, The Shining is still an incredibly well made thriller as it reaches this big anniversary. Yes, it is different from the original source material, but it still packs a punch when enjoyed in a darkened room, with a good audience.

RATING: 4.5/5