Arguably the best horror of all time

Rating: 9/10 (21 July 2013)

This thoughtful and provocative horror film is what puts modern slashers and gore-fests to shame. Hidden meanings and clues are hidden throughout the entire film, provoking many to argue the message and meaning of the story. Some say it represents the holocaust, some say it represents the massacre of the Indians. But in any case, on its most basic level the movie is about a family moving to an isolated hotel in the winter when the father (Jack Nicholson) lands a job as the Winter Caretaker. Some kind of presence influences the father to slowly go insane and turn violent. Unlike Stephen King's book this movie leaves many things open to interpretation that the book did not. The ending in particular is quite strange and many look at it in different ways. The acting in the film is superb, with Nicholson stealing the show as Jack Torrance. Shelley Duvall plays his wife (Wendy Torrance) and she does a decent job. The child (Daniel Torrance) was also portrayed well. The draw in this horror movie is not petty jump-scares and generic villains (many modern films seem to forget this) but slowly building tension and creepy events in the hotel. But that doesn't mean this film won't terrify you, be ready for a thought provoking and atmospheric experience 9/10