Why The Shining’s IMAX Return Is a Must-See Event

Forty-five years since its original release in 1980, The Shining is making a comeback on the big screen, this time in IMAX. For those keen on a proper scare, it’s shaping up to be one of the most intense cinema outings of the year. The story centres on Jack Torrance, played by Jack Nicholson, who takes a caretaker job at the isolated Overlook Hotel. He brings along his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and their young son Danny (Danny Lloyd), but things quickly go off the rails as Jack’s mind starts to unravel, leading to a string of terrifying events.

The film has become a pop culture staple, referenced everywhere from The Simpsons to Breaking Bad. Yet, its reception has always been a bit mixed. Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation is based on Stephen King’s novel, but King himself has never been a fan. Kubrick and co-writer Diane Johnson made several changes, especially to the characters of Jack and Wendy, and shifted the focus away from Danny’s perspective. King has criticised the film more than once; in a 2013 interview, he said Kubrick’s Wendy is

“one of the most misogynistic characters ever put on film. She’s basically just there to scream and be stupid.”

Duvall even copped a Worst Actress nomination at the first Razzies in 1981.

Revisiting Wendy Torrance’s Role

Over the decades, the film’s reputation has grown, though King’s opinion hasn’t budged. One thing that still gets a rough deal is Shelley Duvall’s take on Wendy. Some reckon her performance is misunderstood, often dismissed due to internet myths and a fair bit of misogyny. But, in reality, Wendy is far more than a damsel in distress. She’s the anchor of the whole story. Jack’s menace wouldn’t land nearly as hard without Wendy’s presence. Horror needs both the threat and the threatened to work, and The Shining nails that balance. There’s no chase without someone to be chased.

Duvall’s performance came at a cost. The shoot dragged on for 56 weeks, pushing her to her limits. The infamous staircase scene, where Wendy fends off Jack with a bat, reportedly took 127 takes (though that’s up for debate) and even made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. That’s a lot of running up and down stairs. Duvall told The Hollywood Reporter in 2021,

“[Kubrick] doesn’t print anything until at least the 35th take. 35 takes, running and crying and carrying a little boy, it gets hard. And full performance from the first rehearsal. That’s difficult.”

She’s often painted as a victim of Kubrick, but she always spoke well of him and their working relationship, even if he was tough on set. Ignoring her own account and painting her as a victim is, in itself, a bit misogynistic.

Fear, Survival, and Scream Queens

Back to the idea of Wendy just “screaming and being stupid.” Sure, she screams a lot. But what else would you do if your partner calmly told you he was going to bash your head in? Or if you were stuck in a bathroom while he hacked through the door with an axe?

Duvall nails the feeling of paralysing fear. When Wendy’s trapped in the bathroom, unable to squeeze through the window while Danny waits outside, you can feel her panic. It’s as if the walls are closing in on you, too. Her Wendy isn’t as composed as King’s version, but she brings a raw, believable terror to the screen—one most of us have felt, even if only in nightmares. It’s like sleep paralysis: you know you’re dreaming, but you can’t wake up, sweating and shivering at the same time. There’s no better example of pure, gut-level fear in a film.

Chilling Festive Viewing

So, what says “happy holidays” like a dose of pure terror? If you’re after something a bit different for the festive season, the snowbound Shining re-release is a top pick. Duvall’s Wendy set the standard for scream queens, and no one’s managed to top her yet.

The Shining’s 45th anniversary run is now showing in cinemas. For more viewing ideas, check out the rest of our Big Screen Spotlight series.