Ahhh, The Shining. The classic film that's also a controversial figure in every horror discussion out there. You can argue about the film's similarity to the book, but that's a whole other discussion. It's time to accept Stanley Kubrick took the work and made a film loosely inspired by Stephen King's version of the tale of a caretaker that went mad after the voices in his head became more than just a suggestion. Rewatch after rewatch, one thing's certain: Kubrick's only foray into horror is a unique experience that shows an auteur playing with his ability to delve into the craft of the scare.
When it comes to classic horror performances, Jack Nicholson's role in The Shining is always close to the top spot, if not on the very top. Nicholson already had made a name for himself in Hollywood and had already snatched an Oscar a couple of years before. Why was he in horror, one of the most denigrated genres in cinema? The reason was Kubrick had selected him as his favorite. King wasn't very happy with the casting, because he thought people would associate his film with Nicholson's portrayal of an insane man in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. We can't say he wasn't right.
The result was one of Nicholson's best performances of his career. Jack Torrance will always reside in our minds as the careless father who knew what he was getting into when he accepted the gig of taking care of the Overlook Hotel during winter and bringing his wife and son with him. Another rewatch came to be, and we selected, in no particular order, Nicholson’s best moments as Jack Torrance in the 1980 horror masterpiece.
10 The Interview
After the hypnotic opening credits of The Shining, we meet Nicholson's Jack Torrance when he gets interviewed for the caretaker gig in the Overlook. Torrance seems to be the right man for the job. After all, the isolation will work for his secondary work as a writer and the wife and kid will surely love the place.
When Mr. Ullman tells him the story of Charles Grady and the massacre where he killed his family with an axe, Torrance stares blankly. His reaction is to say, "that is quite a story." He assures that won't happen to him, and even Wendy will be pleased to stay there as well because she likes horror stories. This is a great introduction to let us know Torrance is just a regular guy. He just looks weird sometimes and treats his wife coldly.
9 Jack Gets Annoyed (First Interruption)
Jack seems to be going through writer's block. He plays with a ball in the huge hall that's now his office, and has a maniacal look sometimes that lets us know this guy isn't right in the head. One day during a writing session, Wendy (Shelley Duvall, in the best role of her career) arrives and asks Jack how everything's going. She kisses him and his reaction is just... cold. When he keeps asking stuff, you can notice he isn't very happy about the interruption.
Jack gets bitter because Wendy tells him not to be grouchy. She even offers him to come back later, so they can have some sandwiches, and perhaps he'll let her read something. Torrance's sarcastic smile is a great introduction to what comes after: he angrily responds to Wendy and tells her there's a new rule. If she hears typing, she can't come into the room. This is the real Jack, and we have just met him.
8 A Conversation Between Father and Son
Danny knows there's something wrong with the hotel they're staying at. But he doesn't mind going alone to get some toys in the room where his father's sleeping. He enters the room and there is Jack, sitting on the bed. His father asks him to come and sits on his lap with a look of distrust on his face. Danny asks his father if he's feeling bad, and Jack replies he's just tired.
A conversation ensues, one where Danny realizes his father may be hiding something. He asks his dad if he would ever hurt him or his mother. Jack's subtle reaction is false love and kindness towards his son. There's a maniacal look on Torrance's face that's evidence of the insanity that's now clouding his mind.
7 Having a Drink
Jack has nightmares during the day and even admits to hurting Danny in his dreams. Seconds after, Danny arrives with bruises on his neck and Wendy accuses Jack of doing it. Jack can't believe his own wife thinks that about him and he starts wandering through the hotel, notoriously upset.
He arrives at the Gold Room, the place where the hotel holds the parties, and what do you know, the lights are on. Jack sits at the bar where he holds a conversation with the bartender. A former alcoholic, he admits he would do anything for a drink. He says hello to Lloyd, the ghost who makes him fall off the wagon. Nicholson's depiction of exuberance after Torrance takes the drink is amazing. In retrospect, that whiskey sure looks real. But is it?
6 Seduced by the Rotten Lady
Torrance is already on the "dark side." He keeps exploring the hotel and arrives in room 237 where he meets a beautiful naked woman in the bathtub. Nervous, he waits for her to approach as he stares hungrily at her naked body. They hug each other and kiss passionately. But then Torrance opens his eyes and realizes he's not kissing who he thought. He stares at the mirror behind him and realizes he's grabbing what appears to be a standing rotten corpse. The lady starts cackling as he walks back in panic and wails in disgust. Torrance is yet another victim of the invasive nature of the Overlook.
5 A Conversation Between Husband and Wife
Torrance is now aware that there's something in his head. He arrives at the family's apartment and tells Wendy there's nothing out there. What Danny has said isn't true. Wendy keeps asking the right questions and Jack says Danny harmed himself. Wendy shakes her head in disbelief, as Jack tries to convince her Danny may be mentally unstable. She suggests they should leave, and that's when Angry Jack shows up again. He starts accusing her of being unable to understand he's finally getting some of his writing done, and storms off the room violently. At this point, the rage-filled Jack is under the spell of another great force that will only make things worse.
4 Meeting Grady
Jack begins hearing music coming from the ballroom and goes back to talk to Lloyd and ask him for a drink. There is now a party taking place. In this scene, Torrance has a moment of lucidity when he takes out his wallet and Lloyd says orders from upstairs including giving Jack everything for free. Jack stares with skepticism and what may look like a trap, but seconds after he falls for free booze and toasts. He stands up and begins dancing when a waiter stumbles and spills drinks on Jack's clothes.
The man asks Jack to let him clean him in the restroom. The man introduces himself as Delbert Grady (the question about whether Delbert is Charles or not, has never been answered), and Jack makes the connection. This is the guy that murdered his family. Jack asks him if he remembers doing it, and then the ghost reveals Danny's "plans." The waiter keeps talking about his methods for reprimanding his family, and Torrance looks at him without admiration as he considers doing the same to Wendy and Danny.
3 "Give me the bat, Wendy"
In the film's most tense scene, Wendy decides to face Jack. She goes down to his "office" and that's where she finds what he's been writing. The reaction of pure horror by Duvall just makes us uncomfortable as Jack arrives from behind. He starts creeping up on her, and she says she just wants to talk, while she strongly holds a baseball bat. Jack walks and Wendy retreats, while horribly talking down on her. He berates her in a very unnerving manner, and they go up the stairs. Angry Jack decides enough is enough and Wendy must hand over the bat.
2 The Axe
There's not much physical violence in The Shining. It has its moments, but overall most of the tension comes from a psychological nature. That's until Jack decides to shatter the bathroom door to hack Wendy into pieces. In a fantastic camera move, Kubrick makes us witness the hostility of the insane man who keeps wielding the axe against the door and ripping it apart. This is when Torrance has already become a blend of all the monsters that reside in the Overlook.
1 “Here’s Johnny!”
The improvised line is The Shining's most notable feature and the moment in which we realized all bets were off. If Torrance's playful nature during the probable killing spree is enough to make him make a joke, then there were no limits to what he could do to his wife and son. It's hard to find a more maniacal stare in cinema than this one right here, and it's safe to say this moment marked a milestone in Nicholson's career.
You can stream The Shining on Showtime, FuboTV, AMC, and DirecTV Stream.
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