BBC Two is all set to terrify viewers by airing one of the most unnerving horror classics of all time this weekend.
The legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick’s film The Shining features Jack Nicholson, who delivers an iconic performance in the movie adaptation of Stephen King’s 1977 chilling tale.
Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) becomes the winter caretaker of the secluded Overlook Hotel in the Rocky Mountains. As he spends the season locked away with his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and son Danny (Danny Lloyd), they find themselves cut off from the world by a ferocious blizzard.
While confined, Jack starts losing touch with reality, influenced by the haunted hotel’s malevolent spirits, as little Danny uncovers more about his own psychic gifts known as ‘The Shine’.
fans can catch the psychological thriller on Two at 10pm on Sunday (January 19), following The Masters snooker tournament’s finale. For those who can’t make it, The Shining will also be available for streaming on iPlayer.
Hair-loss, bleeding wounds and 12-hour crying fits: How Shining star Shelley Duvall was destroyed by Stanley Kubrick’s terrifying on-set abuse (Image: )
Upon its initial release in 1980, Kubrick’s interpretation stirred controversy among critics and even Stephen King himself, owing to its deviation from the original book.
Despite critical acclaim over the years, Shelley Duvall’s performance, which attracted severe scrutiny including Razzie nominations for Worst Director and Worst Actress, drew attention after her death in 2024.
The Razzie’s organisers eventually retracted Duvall’s nomination in 2022, acknowledging that “We have since discovered that Duvall’s performance was impacted by Stanley Kubrick’s treatment of her throughout the production.”
Terrified Shelley Duvall in lobby card for the film ‘The Shining’, 1980. (Photo by Warner Brothers/Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)
The Shining has since garnered a cult following due to its intriguing themes and mysterious plot. It is hailed as one of the greatest horror films ever made and stands out for its iconic scenes and vivid imagery.
The late Shelley Duvall is known for her role in the Shining (1980) (Image: Getty Images)
In 2012, Rodney Ascher directed a documentary film titled Room 237, which delves into various interpretations of Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece by different writers, comparing it with his other works.