Great Mix of Horror and Drama

Rating: 8/10 (19 July 2012)

When I began to watch this, I expected a overrated mediocre film that was supported only by Jack Nicholson's performance. I was extremely happy when I found out that I was wrong. I was stunned by triumphant directing and storytelling.
Kubrick manages to create a believable descent into madness while concentrating on all characters and building plot. He succeeds in exploiting all possibilities of the hotel from nice outlook to interesting history. The hotel looks cozy and menacing at the same time and later on there is also a supernatural aspect that adds to film's horror.
Atmosphere in this film is one of the greatest ever achieved in film. You can feel the pressure and terror at every moment. This is achieved by art direction, music, directing and acting. Every aspect supports each other and creates atmosphere so intense that you feel madness, anxiety and fear all at the same moment. Even in the beginning you feel the unease in the air.
That said first 20 minutes were the weakest part of the film because they took too long and practically were not even necessary. It just tells the basic idea of the film that we all would have realized even without the beginning.
Then there's the biggest fault in the film: The Shining. What was the point with it? The fact that the kid has telepathic gift was truly waste of time. It didn't do any good yet the film spent at least 30 minutes to tell us about it. Other bad thing was the characters. Every one of them was annoying. Jack was very cold all the time, Wendy just cried for everything and Danny wasn't much of a character.
Because of annoying characters the horror wear off a bit but the ending managed to stay exciting and interesting nonetheless. (I can't say I was really scared in any moment). Drama was brought to the film by the anguish of Wendy and the ending.
The Shining manages to overcome it's flaws by it's atmosphere and is truly one of 80's best films. It's far from perfect but if you wish to see psychological and intense film The Shining is perfect.