[Jake.]

The Shining: 6/10

I haven't read the book before and, until tonight, I hadn't watched the film either. I had always been intrigued by it; many recommend it as one of the greatest horror films of all time. Therefore, it is safe to say that I sat down tonight with rather high expectations. Perhaps they were too high, or maybe I would have been better off reading the book instead.

The performances are a mixed bag. Nicholson superbly plays Jack Torrance's descent into madness, whilst Lloyd does an impressive job with young Danny. Duvall as Wendy is a bit of a mess, and almost makes the whole thing comical. I would have liked to seen more of Dick Halloran, but to no avail.

Maybe it's because the times have changed, or perhaps more modern horrors capture what I crave most; sadly I just didn't find The Shining all that scary, or intriguing. What with such an abrupt ending, you can only wish that the producers had stuck a bit more closer to the book.