The Shining

[CrockyBetter]

I watched The Shining today for the first time ever. I thought it was going to be scary, given that its a "psychological horror". I didn't find it at all scary! Thought it was a load of rubbish to be honest!

@LaurieFairyCake

It wasnt acting. Stanley Kubrick abused and terrified Shelley Duvall on set, and encouraged others to find the same and made sure no one sympathised with her. She was genuinely terrified; her scenes are shot after Kubricj would eviscerated her on set.

The outside shots of the hotel are of Timberline Lodge next to Crater Lake, Oregon. We went there on a US trip a few years ago. DP stood outside and said, "this place looks like the hotel in The Shining." We didn't know it was at the time. A few days later we returned to Oregon and guess what was on TV...

@loutypips I think that must be the one I was referring to

Not seen it in years but I remember enjoying it and being scared in equal measure.
Started reading the book once and was surprised how much scarier it was and also how well it was written.

Ah purple I didn't see your post! Yes that must be the same one... I'm pretty sure it is on amazon prime.

The women in the bathroom scene is terrifying. That psychotic laugh and the zombie walk.

Why am I on this thread when I’m about to go back to the bathroom and rinse a bloody treatment off my hair.

Oh and those twins....... shudder.

The director apparently wasn’t looking for twins but when they turned up for the auditions he thought twins would be better and scarier for the role. I mean let’s be honest there’s nothing more terrifying than twins talking in unison is there

I think its a great film, but the book is fantastic. Although not sure why they decided they had to kill off the guy that shows them around in the movie, that was odd.

I love it as a movie but agree that it's not a jump scare type film. I think the scariness is watching Jack get weirder and weirder and focusing so much on his writing - then you see he's just written that infamous line over and over again....
Pretty sure the ending of the book is different but can't remember what happens exactly.

There's also a good documentary on it called Room 237

Read the book in Paris, when I lived in the attic with a separate shower/bathroom to myself. Nearly died of fright when the shower curtain moved alone when I went for a toilet break. I am very suggestible!

Kubrick made a total balls of Wendy. Wide-eyed screaming and weak. Stephen King was not impressed at all, Wendy was supposed to be strong and equal. Which wouldn't suit Kubrick directing.

I watched it alone with my back away from the door in the video viewing room at uni. Scared me witless.
Anyone catch the Kubrick exhibition last year in London? Curated from his archive- a whole section on the Shining with the carpet, axe, maze and costumes.

I'm a big fan of the book and I really liked the film of the sequel, Dr Sleep, which came out last year with Ewan McGregor playing Danny as an adult.

Haven’t seen the film but did watch the mini series as a kid. I read the book all in one go one night and it scared the heck out of me but was amazing - it’s the only time a book has ever made me jump.

@Awwlookatmybabyspider

The women in the bathroom scene is terrifying. That psychotic laugh and the zombie walk. Why am I on this thread when I’m about to go back to the bathroom and rinse a bloody treatment off my hair.

Yes I’ve spooked myself now, it’s 2.40am and I did a very fast trot to the loo and back!

We saw it a few years ago as part of a film festival that was held on the exercise yard of an unused gaol.

Watching the film at night, with no lights other than the projector and bugs running over your feet was terrifying!! Watching it a few weeks later during the day from my couch, not so terrifying.

For it’s time it was a very scary film, but it hasn’t really stood the test of time.

I think the film is utter crap compared to the book. Over acted, just a vehicle for Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall was treated appallingly by the director and had a breakdown because if it.
The film also left out my favourite bit of the book where the topiary lion, bear etc come to life and chase the boy.
This film is long overdue a better remake.

It’s very of its time. A Kubrick Film, rather than a good adaptation of the book.
Being the winter caretaker of The Overlook is meant to be a new start for Jack Torrance and his family. He’s beaten his alcoholism, it’s meant to be a place where he can concentrate on his writing. It also delves into his childhood, which featured an abusive father - he’s recognised that’s where he’s heading if he doesn’t stop drinking and resenting his lack of promise as a writer.
The irony is that The Overlook has a long history of taking negative mental health and magnifying it to horrific and tragic levels. The book takes its time to reveal all the horrors while simultaneously leaving the option for everything that is happening to be “all in their heads”.
It’s about the past holding tight onto people and not letting go. Kubrick’s soulless gaze and Nicholson’s mad capering are all wrong for it.

The plot of the film doesn't make sense and I can understand whu Steven King was so fed up with Stanley Kubrick. The themes around the hotel taking hold of Jack but actually wanting Danny are brilliantly portrayed in the film but not in the book. Jack Nicholson isn't right for Jack Torrence. In the film he starts off unpleasant and gets worse - in the book the process of his possession by the hotel is much clearer.

One of the most powerful and moving moments in the book is when Jack, possessed, is pursuing his son, but just for a few seconds, he becomes his own self, and he shouts to the little boy to run away. In the film, he's just an evil monster, which is much less effective.

@Saucery

It’s very of its time. A Kubrick Film, rather than a good adaptation of the book. Being the winter caretaker of The Overlook is meant to be a new start for Jack Torrance and his family. He’s beaten his alcoholism, it’s meant to be a place where he can concentrate on his writing. It also delves into his childhood, which featured an abusive father - he’s recognised that’s where he’s heading if he doesn’t stop drinking and resenting his lack of promise as a writer. The irony is that The Overlook has a long history of taking negative mental health and magnifying it to horrific and tragic levels. The book takes its time to reveal all the horrors while simultaneously leaving the option for everything that is happening to be “all in their heads”. It’s about the past holding tight onto people and not letting go. Kubrick’s soulless gaze and Nicholson’s mad capering are all wrong for it.

Do you review things for a living? This is a very good summation.

I actually preferred the film ending; lost alone in the cold, maze at night was poignant. I felt the ending in the book was strung out for ages with unnecessary action and lost the creepiness because of it.

I’m not sure any of the actors work well in this. Certainly didn’t look like a family. Who would play them in the remake?

The film is quite different to the book, as a stand alone film it's ok but not as a film of the book. As others have said, if you enjoyed the book find the mini series to watch, it's so much better. A modern remake could be good if they get King involved with the adaptation.

The themes around the hotel taking hold of Jack but actually wanting Danny are brilliantly portrayed in the film but not in the book

Should say "The themes around the hotel taking hold of Jack but actually wanting Danny are brilliantly portrayed in the book but not in the film"

The ending of the book is SO much better. King has a fascinating writing style where he injects the characters thoughts into the narrative mid prose, usually in italics, which almost makes you become the voice of the character yourself. Fascinating and compelling reading. Really recommend. He never, never translates well to movie because it loses that strange character narrative, but The Shining is definitely the best of the films. Carrie too.