One of the many films that I have always wanted to see on the big screen has been The Shining, a movie that I first saw when I was about 13, scared the heck out of me and over the years it’s still a movie that is one of my go-to favourites for a Halloween movie night.
Last night I finally got to see Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 version of the Stephen King adaptation over at Cineworld in Broughton and to add to the excitement it was the 4k restored version of The Shining.
For those of you that have no idea what The Shining is and may have only just heard about it after the trailer release of the upcoming sequel Doctor Sleep, The Shining tells the story of 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.
Directed by the brilliant Stanley Kubrick and starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall and Danny Lloyd, The Shining has become a cult classic and even though Stephen King was quite disappointed in the final production. He admitted that Stanley Kubrick’s visuals were stunning, he said that was surface and not substance. He often described the film as “A fancy car without an engine.”
So despite Stephen King’s thoughts of the movie, it’s become such a popular and loved movie that even the new movie with Ewan McGregor as grown-up Danny ties into the Kubrick’s vision of The Shining, I can’t wait to see Doctor Sleep when it hits cinemas this Halloween.
As I mentioned earlier The Shining has always been on my list of films to see on the big screen and to finally get to see it is what heck of an experience, it’s a great movie to watch a home, but when it comes to the visuals, such as the opening sequence across the water and the car making its way to The Overlook Hotel, the big screen makes it all worthwhile.
After almost 40 years since its original release (damn now I do feel old), this is still one of the best horror films of its time, maybe it’s not on par for the younger audiences that have gotten oversaturated with the CGI and gore, but The Shining is psychological masterpiece that has to bee seen on a big screen for the full effect.
Yes, there are still those few moments that freak me out when watching The Shining, who can forget the weirdness of the twins as they stare at Danny and you get that unearthly feeling of something not right at The Overlook Hotel. Then there is the bathroom scene in Room 237, a scene that when I first saw the movie back in the 80s had the very hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention and they still do when I watch that scene now.
Jack Nicholson is perfect in his role and the moments of madness that he portrays on the screen and brilliant, for me it’s one of his best roles in a movie that shows his talents off as an actor. Danny Lloyd always freaks me out when he starts ranting “Redrum”, such a shame that he didn’t reprise his role for Doctor Sleep, adding to the mix is Shelly Duvall who certainly took on the strain of the film, Duvall suffered from nervous exhaustion throughout filming, including physical illness and hair loss.
The Shining looked amazing on the big screen in 4K, fingers crossed now that some of the other classic movies head on to Cineworld screen nearby.
Taking a trip back to The Overlook Hotel in 4K
Movie title: The Shining (1980) 4K Restoration
Movie description: Jack Torrance accepts a caretaker job at the Overlook Hotel, where he, along with his wife Wendy and their son Danny, must live isolated from the rest of the world for the winter. But they aren’t prepared for the madness that lurks within.
Date published: October 26, 2019
Director(s): Staley Kubrick
Actor(s): Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall
Genre: Drama, Horror
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
