The shining is a scary film

Rating: 9/10 (1 November 2005)

The Shining deserved its new found title of no.1 scariest film of all time, because of the very unique manner it was filmed. The vast use of extremes in colour and pitch of music, give the settings in the film an unbelievably ominous atmosphere, literally from the very start to the very finish. Thus playing on people's fear of there being 'no escape' very successfully. Rooms of bright red and gold portray the huge isolated hotel as nicely quaint and yet very paranormal. This along with Jack Nickleson's great performance of a man progressively turning insane is enough to scare anyone you know. Cubricks use of bizarre visions and flashbacks seen by our characters in the film emphasises the fact that there certainly will will be horror as there has been similar carnage in the past.
The shining was incredibly influential with almost every aspect of the film. Original idea's in the story and directing etc. have been so badly imitated over the years they now come across as slightly ridiculous and a bit boring. Overall I believe its the film, along with Halloween, that will have you sitting and watching it with absolutely no comfort at all, which is of course what you want from a horror film.