All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Rating: 8/10 (2 November 2009)

Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's novel "The Shining" is generally considered one of the best horror films of all time. The film is a somewhat loose adaptation and one that takes full advantage of the screen's strengths.
The story revolves around Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), a struggling writer who takes the job of winter caretaker at the Overlook Hotel. He relocates there for the winter with his wife (Shelley Duvall) and child (Danny Lloyd) but before long they begin to experience strange phenomena.
Stephen King was disappointed with the film mainly because Kubrick & co-screenwriter Diane Johnson reworked his original story. In particular, King's main themes were not given the same precedence in the film. I feel that the themes are still there but perhaps they wouldn't be as apparent if I wasn't familiar with the novel. Apart from thematic content, the main changes from the book seem to have been merely practical considerations. Ultimately, I find Kubrick's vision more interesting due to the ambiguity of the plot.
King wasn't pleased with the casting either. He thought that the actors didn't suit the characters that he had written. However, for the characters as Kubrick envisioned them, I think that the actors were well chosen. Jack Nicholson delivers a typically fine performance while Shelley Duvall provides the other half of an effective pairing. Child actor Danny Lloyd holds his own as well while Scatman Crothers contributes a memorable supporting performance.
Kubrick's direction is superb, as usual, and the cinematography is attractive throughout. The music comes from a few different sources and does a fine job of setting the film's tone.
Ultimately, "The Shining" is a horror film that delivers in both scares and technical prowess. The film's ambiguity makes it thought-provoking, though the screenplay is perhaps just a bit sloppy as well. Definitely a film worth watching, even if you're not really a fan of horror films.