Before we get started if you havent seen this and have read the book know that this is kubrick version of the story there are many differences between the two.
Kubricks interpretation of the story is amazing if you are open minded enough to accept both the film and the book, if you are so attached to the book that it blinds your judgment you wont like this movie very much. There are spoilers in this review.
Lets start with the performances. Jack's performance is oscar worthy, it is legendary. If you expect him to be the same character in the book you will be too ignorant to accept the fact that jack killed it. He was perfect for kubricks version. He spiraled perfectly out of control. His performance was convincing. Its like it isnt even a performance its really happening. Kubricks directing style is hard on the actors but it doesnt seem that way on screen. Jack and Shelly make it seem easy. Shooting the same scene 50 times is tough and to give an amazing performance time after time, scene after scene is impressive beyond recognition. Many takes also allow for a lot of improve which Jack is a master of.
The score of this film as well as the direction and story telling creates one of the most suspenseful movies of all time. The pacing makes the film intriguing, has you wondering constantly what will happen next.
Danny's performance as well is one of the best child performances in a horror film. For a lil kid to work on a film with kubrick and make it as convincing and authentic as he did, its just mind blowing.
Last I will discuss the differences and why they work. The cook gets killed for a very important reason to showcase Jacks insanity on screen and to provide an on screen murder. Following the book and saving him would ruin the pacing of the film it would be a 2 and a half hour horror film without any big scare. Why did they take out the hedge animals? Because in 1980 it would be corny as all hell and would disrupt the tension kubrick builds throughout the film.
The film focuses on the 3 main characters kubrick stripes away characters that arent crucial to the film. Some people had a problem with it. I don't see why including all the side characters and side stories would be good to the film. It works for the book because kings character work is what makes his writing style. Well movies is a different audience, you want the movie to have more of a linear pacing. You want to develope the main characters. You cant make a 5 hour movie. All suspense and tension goes away when you try to fill the film with everything thats in the book. Its so much information that just wouldnt be able to fit inside of a 2 and a half hour film and still have the same effect as kubricks version.
Finally we come to the biggest difference in the book the hotel burns but in the film the hotel freezes. They took out the boiler aspect of the book because 1 thing Jack chasing his own son with an axe through a maze is much scarier than Jack going down to the basment and then the hotel catches on fire.
Don't be too attachted to the book that you cant enjoy the film because whether you like it or not this is an amazing film. A legendary cult classic and a staple film for the horror genre. Kubrick builds suspense by removing things that are secondary and focusing on the primary elements. Why include all of Jacks past when you are trying to scare people? Jacks backstory makes you feel connected to the character, you understand him in the book and feel sympathetic for him. In the movie he is crazy, he is scary he has to kill halloran it just works, its scarier, its the climax of the film.
To close out I want to point out how great the sets are, the hotel looks amazing and fits the film perfectly. And another element that is overlooked is the sound mixing. Listen to Dannys trycicle travelling through the hotel and how perfect the timing and sound is when he goes from different surfaces like carpet, wood flooring, tiles. Its just so impressive.
The more you watch this film the better it gets. If you dont like it it is because you are too attached to the book. I urge you to try and see it as its own, to see it as kubricks vision.
Review of The Shining
