A great Classic Horror Film

Rating: 10/10 (25 March 2008)

Another of the great classic films and screenplays by Stanley Kubrick which he based on the novel by Stephen King. This film was considered one of the best horror films at the time it was made and also is really the film that launched Stephen King's writing and film career in earnest, he was even the stills photographer on the crew.
This film also highlighted Jack Nicholsons career and he plays recovering alcoholic Jack Torrance who brings his wife Wendy (Shelley Duval) and son Danny ( Danny Lloyd) to the "Over Look" Summer Resort as a live in caretaker for the winter period when it is closed down. On arrival they are greeted the Head Chef Dick Hallorann (Scatman Crothers) who immediately establishes that Danny is a spiritual psychic and that his grandmother called this ability the Shining.
Left alone the family set out to endure the isolated winter at the hotel with Jack also able one to use his spare time to pursue his career as a writer. one-dimensional Eventually Jacks behaviour gradually becomes manic and severely crazed after various episodes and lapses into various demented states. These episodes are triggered by real and/or imagined encounters with staff and patrons from several decades in the past various tragic occurrences at the Hotel. Danny is also able to tap into evidence of the past tragedies with his "Shining" abilities.
As Jack turns on his own family his countenance becomes what is now considered one of the classic crazed facial expressions of cinema history.
From this point Wendy and Danny have to contend with Jack and fight for their lives. Kubrick's production values and graphic horror scenes add a unique ambiance to the film.
Kubrick's unique cinematographer, directing and editing abilities combined with his meticulous hands on approach to film making make this film suspenseful and intriguing at every turn. It is one of the great horror classics of all time without the today's one dimensional gratuitous use of body mutilation