MovieChat Forums > The Shining (1980) Discussion > Why was Nicholson allowed to go so far o...

Why was Nicholson allowed to go so far over the top?


Subtler work would have made this character so much more terrifying. I love Nicholson and Kubrick and as brilliant people I'm sure they had their reasons for portraying Jack Torrance the way they did. I just felt their take on Torrance really robbed the movie of some crucial suspense and horror.

reply

You're supposed to consider the idea that may have been out of his mind well before he tried to kill his family. I think that was Kubrick's idea and Stephen King's idea was completely different.

reply