The Shining ( Movie Review)

 As a huge fan of Stanley Kubrick and Stephen King, the film The Shining enthralled me to new heights. The movie portrays the evil spirits haunting a luxurious resort hotel high in the Rockies as they begin to materialise and then terrorise a family engaged as winter caretakers. The story begins with an aerial view of a breathtaking mountain range as reclusive writer Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) drives his family to an isolated cabin for the winter. Once there, things are not what they seem, and it becomes apparent that an evil spiritual presence lurks in the shadows, stalking Jack while his psychic son begins witnessing frightening images from the past and future. The wandering demons found a particularly susceptible victim in the father, Jack Torrance, who degenerated into a raging insane person who intended to murder his wife and child.

Instead of the cramped darkness and panicky quick editing of the standard-issue scary movie, Kubrick gives us the eerie, colossal, brilliantly lit spaces of the Overlook Hotel. Everything feels tightened and perfected in such a compelling way that the off-kilter composition and eerily long segments of silence enhance the overall feel of the film. Sharp bites of harsh piano and violin string segments bring a mastery to the sound design that works harmoniously with the overall visual design of the film. All of this would account for nothing if the acting wasn’t on point, and thankfully, an excellent performance from Jack Nicholson helps solidify the film’s appeal. His descent into madness is really the driving force of the film, and he literally blew us off. Danny Lloyd, Danny's son, rounds out the trio nicely with his mysterious psychic powers, and some of his scenes, including one memorable moment down a hotel hallway, will forever stand out as one of the most iconic segments in horror. The Shining is a benchmark for horror films to aspire to, making it one of the best in its chosen genre.

A Quiet Place - John Krasinski

 John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place is one of the best horror films of the decade. An outrageous, thoughtful, and creative film filled with lessons and suspense that will leave us in a state of being apart from you. This was the first horror movie that made me cry.

Krasinski uses this to create a dreadful sense of atmosphere throughout the film. The rules that exist in this universe are established early on with minimal exposition. After all, the characters can’t communicate with each other openly. Additionally, since very little is known about these creatures, the film smartly implements one of the fundamental rules of the genre—the fear of the unknown. This setup pushes the family to invent creative ways to survive. Emily Blunt plays his wife, and their real-life chemistry translates brilliantly. Noah Jupe and Millicent Simmonds play two of their children. Being a deaf actress, Millicent is the perfect choice to star in this mostly silent film, and her authentic performance stands out along with Blunt, who showcases her impressive acting range. Horror, in particular, only works if you’re invested in the characters, and this cast absorbs you into their terrifying world.

As the conversations are primarily restricted to sign language, sound design plays a significant role in creating a heightened sense of dread and tension throughout. Although slow-paced initially, this is a deliberate screenplay decision that then leads up to a suspenseful second half. Granted, some of the events require a brief suspension of reality, but it’s a small price to pay for a film that is most enjoyable because of its understanding of the genre and innovative use of the elements it sets up. A Quiet Place can only be appreciated in silence with the least amount of conversation during its runtime.