Why Shelley Duvall's Shining Performance Deserves More Respect

Nearly half a century after its debut, Stanley Kubrick's horror masterpiece has returned to theaters in stunning IMAX format, marking the first time audiences can experience this psychological thriller on such an immersive scale. The story centers on Jack Torrance, portrayed by Jack Nicholson, who accepts a winter caretaker position at the isolated Overlook Hotel alongside his wife Wendy and young son Danny. What begins as a quiet retreat quickly transforms into a descent into madness with devastating results.

A Divisive Legacy in Horror Cinema

Despite becoming a cultural phenomenon referenced across countless TV shows and films, this adaptation has faced criticism from its original source. Stephen King, who wrote the novel, has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with Kubrick's interpretation. The author particularly criticized the portrayal of Wendy, calling her "one of the most misogynistic characters ever put on film" in a 2013 interview, claiming she exists merely to "scream and be stupid." This sentiment was echoed early on when Shelley Duvall received a Worst Actress nomination at the inaugural Razzie Awards.

The screenplay, crafted by Kubrick and Diane Johnson, made significant departures from King's original work, altering character dynamics and shifting narrative perspective away from the child's viewpoint. These changes contributed to the author's ongoing disapproval of the cinematic version.

Defending an Undervalued Performance

However, this assessment overlooks the crucial role Wendy plays in creating the film's terrifying atmosphere. Far from being a passive victim, her character serves as the emotional anchor that makes Jack's transformation genuinely frightening. Without someone to fear him, his menacing presence would lose much of its impact. Horror relies on this dynamic between predator and prey to generate genuine suspense.

Duvall endured an exhausting 56-week production that tested her physical and mental endurance. The famous staircase confrontation reportedly required 127 takes, once earning a Guinness World Record. "He doesn't print anything until at least the 35th take," Duvall explained in a 2021 interview. "35 takes, running and crying and carrying a little boy, it gets hard."

Reframing Fear as Authentic Acting

Critics who dismiss Wendy's screaming miss the point entirely. When faced with a spouse threatening violence or wielding an axe through a bathroom door, terror is the only rational response. Duvall's portrayal captures that paralyzing dread perfectly – the kind of visceral panic that makes viewers feel trapped alongside her character.

Her interpretation may differ from King's calmer literary version, but it presents raw, believable fear that resonates with universal human experience. It evokes that helpless feeling of nightmares where you know something's wrong but can't escape, creating an atmosphere of claustrophobic dread that few performances have matched since.