The Greatest American Horror Film Ever Made

Rating: 10/10 (8 November 2011)

The Shining is a psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick.It stars Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, and Danny Lloyd. The movie involves a writer, Jack Torrance,who takes a job as an off-season caretaker at an isolated hotel called Overlook Hotel.His young son,Danny possesses psychic abilities and is able to see things from the past and future,such as the ghosts who inhabit the hotel. Soon after settling in,the family is trapped in the hotel by a snowstorm, and Jack gradually becomes influenced by a supernatural presence as he descends into madness and attempts to murder his wife and son.The film was also written by Kubrick together with Diane Johnson and it was based on the novel of the same title written by Stephen King.
Kubrick's eerie adaptation of King's horror novel starts when frustrated writer, Jack Torrance takes a job as the winter caretaker at the opulently ominous, mountain-locked Overlook Hotel so that he can write in peace with wife Wendy and son Danny in tow. Before the Overlook is vacated for the Torrances, the manager informs Jack that a previous caretaker went crazy and slaughtered his family. Jack thinks it's no problem, but Danny's "shining" hints otherwise. Settling into their routine, Danny cruises through the empty corridors on his Big Wheel and plays in the topiary maze with Wendy, while Jack sets up shop in a cavernous lounge with strict orders not to be disturbed. Danny's alter ego, "Tony," however, starts warning of "redrum" or murder spelled backwards as Danny is plagued by more blood-soaked visions of the past, and a blocked Jack starts visiting the hotel bar for a few visions of his own. Frightened by her husband's behavior and Danny's visit to the forbidding Room 237, Wendy soon discovers what Jack has really been doing in his study all day, and what the hotel has done to Jack.
Kubrick's film is considered a horror film but it is more about madness especially when taking into consideration the character of Jack Torrance.Aside from madness,it also tackles psychic abilities that a person may have just like Jack's son,Danny.Also,it is definitely one of the best films ever made and DEFINITELY the GREATEST American HORROR FILM ever produced.Kubrick does put into the screen an engaging story and interesting adaptation that will put the viewer in the edge of their seats as the events transpire on screen.It was nominated for two Razzie back on the year it was released only later on to realize that the movie was simply ahead of its time. The performances of the cast are simply outstanding.Jack Nicholson's portrayal of Jack Torrance is definitely over-the-top to a point that it elevates the movie to higher levels.While Shelley Duvall and Danny Lloyd provide great talent to match Nicholson's performance.Added to that,the soundtrack of the film especially those composed by BÃ©la BartÃ³k even raises the film into greater heights.
Overall,The Shining ranks among the classics and the great films ever made of all-time.