Atom User Reviews for The Shining (1980) 40th Anniversary presented by TCM
Unparalleled masterpiece - one of the greatest films ever made, and truly the most terrifying.
Shelley Duvall's Wendy is so unnerved it's unnerving watching her react to Nicholson's crazy Jack. Even at the beginning of the film she's so tentative and seeming to walk on eggs with Jack. This movie Jack is crazy from the word go, differing from the novel's Jack. It's…
--wow-- love this movie ... greatest of all.... well done !
The film ended fifteen minutes early (Danny entering the maze). The projectionist that that was the projection you sent them. So pretty awful. Still love seeing any part of he film on the big screen, so - hence - three stars.
Metacritic
Disappointing... Jack Nicholson parodies himself while Kubrick fails to provide any thrills. [11 July 1980, p.8]
It’s the experience more so than the actual content of The Shining that radiates cold, anti-humanly indifferent terror.
The unhurried pace, extended dialogue scenes and those sudden, sinister inter-titles (One Month Later, 4pm) contribute to the insidious unease. Nicholson's performance as the abusive father who is tipped over the edge is a thrillingly scabrous, black-comic turn, and the final shot of his face in daylight is a masterstroke...Deeply scary and strange.
