Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, a 1980 horror film that’s remembered by most for Jack Nicholson’s haunting performance, is easily considered one of the most horrifying and iconic films ever made. But what some people might not know is that Stephen King, who authored the book the film is based on, actually hates what Mr. Kubrick did with his original story.
In an old interview from Deadline that was just recently published, Stephen King reveals one of the elements he hates the most about the movie:
“The character of Jack Torrance has no arc in that movie. Absolutely no arc at all. When we first see Jack Nicholson, he’s in the office of Mr. Ullman, the manager of the hotel, and you know, then, he’s crazy as a shit house rat. All he does is get crazier. In the book, he’s a guy who’s struggling with his sanity and finally loses it. To me, that’s a tragedy. In the movie, there’s no tragedy because there’s no real change.”
King goes on to compare the film to a car without an engine, suggesting the film was shot very beautifully but lacks the strong storyline required to power it.
And perhaps when comparing it to King’s original novel, this is very much true. But on its own? The film remains a work of art.
And whether you liked or disliked either one, it can still be said that both works have had a great impact on the horror genre, and without them, things would be very different.
What do you think of King’s comments? Sound off below!