Here's Johnny!

Movie Review

The Shining: Nuclear Delirium (2006)

Directed by John Bolton

Written by Dick & Donald (PNAC)

Sophomore director John Bolton debuted in 2001 with Nine-Eleven: The Awakening. In that film he told the story of a mass murderer who continuously gives clues as to who he is and what he's done. But because of his charm, position of power and well-crafted ability to act a bumbling down-homey rancher in the big city no one catches on.

The give away and classic line of that movie delivered in the blasé Texas chump twang that has become a Bush trademark:

"We must speak the truth about terror. Let us never tolerate outrageous conspiracy theories concerning the attacks of September the 11th, malicious lies that attempt to shift the blame away from the terrorists themselves, away from the guilty."

is still the rave in the industry even now, five years after Nine-Eleven went on to win a stunning 11 Grammys.

And now he's back with his second film, The Shining. The basic story is about a failed cheerleader and oilman Jack Torrance (George Bush) who gets the opportunity to run a country closed down for the winter. As the population's prosperity and peace unnerve him more and more he decides to take action. He takes the country on a long war against enemies in the woodwork. At the same time terrorizing those who dissent, his wife, and his son Danny who sees through his father's lies, in particular.

The film itself is never explicit on whether the threat is real or whether Jack, a recovering alcoholic and cocaine abuser, is merely suffering from homicidal cabin fever and delirium.

Asked about how this new production differs from his debut Bolton, true to a winning formula, said the new film is: "Just like Nine-Eleven, only with nuclear weapons this time, that's the threat…."

About his penchant for horror, cruel and inhuman torture and violent scenes of mass murder of populations he said: "I think it's just facing reality. It's not a happy reality, but it's reality and if you don't deal with it, it will become even more unpleasant."

And this new film keeps that promise. No happy reality. Very very unpleasant.

MPAA: Rated CD critical discernment suggested, knowledge and awareness recommended.
Runtime: unknown (according to some sources 70+ years)
Country: USA
Language: English


Still photo: Jeff Wells, RI © 2006