[Classic Film] Number Seven - The Shining

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Information:

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A Masterpiece Of film [For rating system, see information tab at top of blog]

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Release Date: 23rd May 1980
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Director: Stanley Kubrick
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Writer: Stephen King (Novel)  Stanley Kubrick & Diane Johnson (Screenplay)
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Cast: Jack Nicholson - Shelly Duvall - Danny Lloyd

Famous Quotes

1) 'Here's Johnny!'
2) 'Come play with us Danny'
3) 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'
4) 'Hi, Lloyd, little slow tonight, isn't it?'
5) 'You son of a bitch! You did this too him, didn't you! How could you! How could you!'
6) 'I'm not going to hurt you...I'm just going to bash your brains in, i'm gonna bash them right the fuck in'
7) 'I'm sorry to disagree with you sir, but you are the caretaker...you have always been the caretaker'

Explanation
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'The Shining' is arguably one of the most famous horror films of all time. Released in 1980, it is an impressionistic take on one of Stephen Kings most successful novels, and is now considered to be one of the corner stones in the history of horror cinema. 

Its Narrative follows a family of three that travel to an isolated hotel for the winter; whilst their psychic son witnesses horrific images from the hotel's past, an evil entity possesses the father and causes him to become violent. 

The film is unconventionally frightening; it is not typically full of suspense, but still very disturbing. As you are watching you find yourself gripped to the unpredictability of the main character and his mental deterioration, as well as chilled by the various surrealistic scenes, usually driven by the son in the family. 

There is very little of a negative nature that can be said about 'The Shining', but three things stand out in particular that make it so effective; Stanley Kubrick's unique 'dreamlike' directional style, A chilling soundtrack and a completely ‘demented’ performance from Jack Nicholson. It is these traits in particular that combine to make the film haunting; a horror that stays with you long after you have watched it, playing on your imagination and lingering in your thoughts. 

The one aspect of the film that is questionable is the performance of Shelly Duvall which is often irritatingly hysterical, even comical on occasion. However this does not affect the overall quality of the film, as this performance could be said to contrast well with that of  the manic Jack Nicholson, and in some ways makes his character more intense and frightening.

'The Shining' - A classic that every film enthusiast must see.  Unique, gripping and haunting. 

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*The videos used in this post are not mine*