James Franco dresses up as Jack Nicholson in The Shining

It is cited as being one of the scariest movies of all time.

And James Franco helped bring The Shining to life when he dressed up as Jack Nicholson’s character so he could frighten punters at a theme park in Los Angeles.

He pulled on a mask and brandished an axe as he terrified customers at the popular Universal Studios Hollywood venue.

 

Jack the lad: James Franco brought The Shining to life by jumping out at punters while dressed as as Jack Nicholson’s character at a theme park in Los Angeles

The Interior. Leather Bar star caused visitors to squeal with fear by jumping out at them with his chopper in his hand while dressed like the film’s main character Jack Torrance.

Of course, like many actors, James was desperate for validation following his stint at the recreated Overlook Hotel, where he attacked visitors to the famous Room 237.

As he chatted to a backstage lackey at the Halloween Horror Nights exhibit, the 39-year-old asked: ‘Were they scared?’

And thankfully the answer was in the positive, with his underling enthusing: ‘You were good! I was watching you on the monitors.’

Creep: He hid around the corner as he waited for his victims to arrive

Creep: He hid around the corner as he waited for his victims to arrive

Leap: And the method actor took his opportunity to attack theme with gusto

Leap: And the method actor took his opportunity to attack theme with gusto

Terrified: Visitors squealed  when James ran at them with his chopper in his hand

Terrified: Visitors squealed when James ran at them with his chopper in his hand

Masterpiece: Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is regarded as one of the best horrors of all time

Masterpiece: Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is regarded as one of the best horrors of all time

His The Deuce co-star Chris Bauer also helped make up the numbers by taking part, and seemed to enjoy it at least as much as his more famous friend.

After James told him they should do it, ‘every year bro,’ he chimed in, ‘this could be the hiatus job.’

It was certainly a more satisfying experience than Franco’s collection of poetry Directing Herbert White, which included verse in the voice of Lindsay Lohan and was described as ‘hard to forgive’ in a review by the Daily Telegraph.

The Shining was produced and directed by master filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, however it met with mixed reviews when initially released in 1980.

It tells the story of aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic Jack Torrance, who goes insane while after accepting a position as off-season caretaker of the isolated historic Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. 

Getting ready: James was shown excitedly putting on his costume

Getting ready: James was shown excitedly putting on his costume

More like Sam Torrance: His facial mask only bore a slight resemblance to Jack Nicholson

More like Sam Torrance: His facial mask only bore a slight resemblance to Jack Nicholson

Thumbs up: He was thrilled to visit the famous Room 237

Thumbs up: He was thrilled to visit the famous Room 237

After a series of bizarre otherworldly encounters he tries to murder his family with an axe, with Jack Nicholson’s improvised declaration of, ‘here’s Johnny!’ after chopping down a door becoming a cultural touchstone.

However Variety said Kubrick, ‘destroyed all that was so terrifying about Stephen King’s bestseller,’ while the author himself has also been damning in his appraisal. 

This was partially due to the moviemaker’s decision to invert much of the novel’s approach, with just one example being the hotel in the book is consumed by flames after an explosion, while in the movie it is left standing in a freezing cold snowstorm.

Despite this it often finds itself ranked highly in horror movie polls, with director Martin Scorsese placed The Shining on his list of the 11 scariest horror films of all time. 

Not the reaction he was looking for: A customer chuckled as he hacked down the door

Not the reaction he was looking for: A customer chuckled as he hacked down the door

Lathered with praise: An sycophantic staff member told the star he had done a wonderful job

Lathered with praise: An sycophantic staff member told the star he had done a wonderful job

Making up the numbers: His The Deuce co-star Chris Bauer said it could be 'the hiatus job'

Making up the numbers: His The Deuce co-star Chris Bauer said it could be ‘the hiatus job’

Big event: The Shining was being recreated as part of Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights season

Big event: The Shining was being recreated as part of Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights season

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk