A mother and son trapped at an empty hotel with an axe-wielding killer are the ones I’m supposed to be rooting for, but I’m hoping he chops them both to bits. Then I’ll no longer have to look at their asinine facial expressions. They’re supposed to be terrified; the hotel is also haunted by ghosts; but director Stanley Kubrick exaggerates the fact. Their grimaces alone, especially in the case of the mother; the pathetic victim type horror flicks thrive on; take away from any realism The Shining has to offer.

Worse yet is the plot, which, due to its reliance on paranormal activity; Shining is apparently a form of telepathy; is often nonsensical or, at best, confusing. Is Jack going crazy or is he really seeing ghosts? That seems like a valid question until his wife starts seeing them too. The answer should be that he’s not going crazy, but he obviously is, so it must be both, which is convenient for the plot as it’s now allowed to throw logic out the hotel room window in favor of creepiness for the sake of creepiness.

my rating : 2 of 5

1980