The Simpsons Halloween Special, The Shinning (Groening), is a take-off on Stephen King's movie version of Kubrick's The Shining (1977), with parody-like distortions, yet poignant reminders of painful, horrific scenes. There is, in the role of Jack Torrance, the axe-wielding Homer; in the role of Wendy, is his wife Marge, defending herself with a baseball bat, their sensitive telepathic son Danny has been upstaged by the wise-cracking Bart. Along for the ride come Lisa and Maggie to complete the Simpsons family. …