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The Shining
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Hawk Films
?
Peregrine
The Producer Circle Co. The Producer Circle Co.
Warner Bros. Pictures Warner Bros. Pictures
The Shining Collection The Shining Collection

The Shining

A masterpiece of modern horror.

1980 144 min ★ 8.2 (19,357) Released
Horror Thriller

Jack Torrance accepts a caretaker job at the Overlook Hotel, where he, along with his wife Wendy and their son Danny, must live isolated from the rest of the world for the winter. But they aren't prepared for the madness that lurks within.

Original title
The Shining
Language
EN
Country
US
Budget
$19,000,000
Revenue
$50,312,025
Reviews & Ratings 6
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Jun 7, 2023 · via TMDB

★ 7.0

"Jack Torrance" is a writer who suffers from a chronic lack of inspiration. To help overcome his block, he takes a job as a winter caretaker and relocates his family to the remote, huge, "Overlook Hotel" where he hopes he can focus! Gradually, the bleak Arctic conditions outside and the never ending, brightly lit, corridors and rooms long since abandoned start to affect his mind. When he ventures towards the expressly off-limits room 237 it all begins to get truly out of hand. Shelley Duvall is fabulous as his put-upon wife "Wendy" as is Danny Lloyd as their gifted, but largely terrified son "Danny". Kubrick is on top form as he cleverly capitalises on Stephen King's terrifying story helping the star create a wonderful sense of madness and menace tinged with quite a bit of comedy that leaves us with an horror film that is truly scary for a change! Credit also to the make up folks - they manage to help Nicholson transfer from obnoxious writer to axe-wielding psychopath; especially around the eyes, with real impact. 40 yeas on, it still packs a punch.

Repo Jack

Repo Jack

Nov 27, 2020 · via TMDB

★ 9.0

"Darling, I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm just gonna bash your brains in." The Shining is a great example of how musical score and cinematography can elevate a movie to the best-of-the-best. I tend to agree with Stephen King that Jack Nicholson looked like a crazy loon from the beginning, making his decent into madness less dramatic. But that can be forgiven by all the iconic scenes masterfully weaved into a horror classic.

Repo Jack

Repo Jack

Nov 26, 2020 · via TMDB

★ 9.0

"Darling, I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm just gonna bash your brains in." <i>The Shining</i> is a great example of how musical score and cinematography can elevate a movie to the best-of-the-best. I tend to agree with Stephen King that Jack Nicholson looked like a crazy loon from the beginning, making his decent into madness less dramatic. But that can be forgiven by all the iconic scenes masterfully weaved into a horror classic.

M

Manuel São Bento

Oct 30, 2019 · via TMDB

★ 10.0

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog :) With Doctor Sleep, an almost 40-year sequel to The Shining, being released this week, now it’s the perfect time to revisit one of the greatest horror movies of all-time, as well as one of the most influential directors ever, Stanley Kubrick. I know, I know… Spoiler-free? For a movie released in 1980? Well, first of all, there’s always someone who still didn’t watch it. Secondly, as deeper we get into the 21st century, the more the 60s/70s/80s/90s movies are forgotten. And finally, if there’s a movie which I don’t need spoilers to explain how outstanding it is, it’s The Shining. With that said … It has always been one of my favorite horror films ever. It’s not perfect (no film is) and some aspects don’t work as well now as they did 5/10/20 years ago. When it came out, Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel was received with mixed reactions. King himself criticized the movie. However, less than 10 years later, Kubrick’s film was already being reevaluated. Nowadays, it’s considered a cult classic, and it’s easy to understand why. From the countless homages to the hundreds of comedic parodies, The Shining has some of the most memorable lines ever. Just this year, we had It: Chapter Two mimicking Jack Nicholson’s “Here’s Johnny!” scene, for example. And then there’s the mysterious “redrum”… However, the movie’s biggest influence is its technical achievements. I apologize in advance if this review becomes too technical, but it’s impossible not to address the arguably best component of the film. This movie was one of the first to use Steadicam (a camera stabilizer mount which allows for smooth shots, even on irregular surfaces, isolating the operator’s movement), something that became so common that people don’t even praise anymore. Honestly, there are still a bunch of recent movies that have terrible camera work, so I’m one of those who defend that the Steadicam use shouldn’t be taken for granted. Especially how Kubrick did, barely above the floor, which originated the extension “low-mode” that now exists and allows for the operator to easily shoot lower than its waist. With the innovative use of the technical equipment, Kubrick’s delivers a masterclass in framing (composing the visual content of a series of frames as seen from a point of view). So much that it became worthy of studying. Almost every shot in this movie has a visual clue or an underlying theme. If you ever feel bored during your viewing, then you’re (probably) not “watching it right”. You’re not truly thinking about it or looking around the characters. This isn’t a generic horror flick with monsters or demons jump scaring you. It’s heavy on visual storytelling, so if you don’t pay attention, you’re going to reach the film’s climactic and enigmatic ending and feel that you missed something. From the mise-en-scene (arrangement of everything that appears in the framing, hence this French term that means “placing on stage“) having several blood-red colors to the wide shots clearly showing “exit” signs and giving the maze-vibe of the enormous hotel, the imminent danger is visually spread out across the movie. The symmetry/mirroring is absolutely crucial to not only deliver key plot points but to create this sense of reality vs fantasy. From the hotel’s structure and decoration (everything is incredibly symmetric) to the growing use of mirrors (these are heavily used to either literally translate words or to show the descent into madness), Kubrick’s framing is what leaves viewers scratching their heads, still to this date. You’ll always find something new on another viewing. It might be from 1980, but it’s a movie that requires your full attention. Don’t underestimate films from the 20th century like you can’t be surprised by a film “that old” (you’ll be dumbfounded by dozens). If John Alcott’s cinematography is impressive, then what can I write about Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind’s haunting score? Nowadays, scores are more based on creating an emotional impact on specific moments. However, throughout the film and during dialogues, even epic films still have a subtlest approach to these scenes, and the music is either very quiet or completely inexistent. In The Shining, the score is part of the conversation. If a character feels fear or danger is imminent, a simple heartbeat can elevate such a moment. If two characters gradually turn their dialogue into something more violent and aggressive, the music makes sure to accompany that descent into craziness. It’s a perfect horror film’s score. Technically, I’ll stop there because no words will be able to express how mind-blowing Kubrick’s visionary methods are. He’s one of the greatest directors ever, maybe even the most influential. Hopefully, his work will always be remembered and never stop being relevant. Story-wise, The Shining also inspired a whole new generation. Everyone knows and loves the key moments of the film, but it’s the clever exposition that satisfies me. Every piece of information is given through either an incredibly captivating dialogue or visual clues/actions. I watched the 144min version of the film (the European version has 25min less than the American version, and the latter has a final scene at a hospital edited out by Kubrick himself), and pretty much every single scene is intended to mean something. It can be important new information or an update on a previous plot point, but every single sequence has a particular purpose. Jack Nicholson commands the screen with a phenomenal performance, one of his career’s best. His script might be very well-written, but his delivery and commitment to the role are astonishing. He carries one-take, extense dialogues seamlessly. Credit to Kubrick for making a movie with at least 2/3-minute takes, sure, but Nicholson is able to transform a good scene into a fantastic one. Danny Lloyd delivers one of my favorite young performances ever. His voice as Tony is a great accomplishment, and he seems to understand his surroundings, in a way that I never felt like I needed to “go easy” on him because he’s just impeccable. Shelley Duvall, however, is a mixed bag for me. Over-the-top displays were better received at the time, but almost 40 years later, her performance does reach an unbearable level a few times. She’s an amazing counterpart for Nicholson and she stands her own within their dialogues, but when she’s alone or in an emotionally troubled moment, she’s too much to handle. Scatman Crothers doesn’t have that much screentime as Dick Halloran, but he shines every time he has to deliver a line. Some people complain about the slow pacing, but I love how it helps elevate the suspense and building up moments of immense tension. While the ending might be just a tad abrupt, the final image of the film stays with us forever, and after all this time, I still didn’t settle on my own theory. All in all, The Shining might be one of the most accessible classics to new viewers of today to understand why it is, in fact, one of the greatest and most influential horror films of all-time. Stanley Kubrick’s masterclass in framing with his play on symmetry and mirrors is evident, so even if you don’t study the art of filmmaking, it’s clear that these two themes are vital to telling the story. In addition to his framing, his use of the innovative Steadicam and his notable mise-en-scene shaped an entire new generation that never misses a chance of paying homage to his work. Besides the impressive technical achievements, Jack Nicholson delivers a memorably haunting performance. The ending is still mind-blowing after all these years, and new theories keep coming up. While I’ll keep trying to settle on my own interpretation, don’t you dare spend the rest of your life without (re)watching this cult classic. Rating: A+

JPV852

JPV852

Oct 5, 2019 · via TMDB

★ 8.0

Probably my favorite of the Stephen King adaptations (though not much for many of the others save for a one or two) but not amongst Stanley Kubrick's, watched this one for the first time in many years (maybe a decade) and while I did immensely enjoyed it, and really liked Nicholson towards the end, I never really bought into him early on. Still, atmospherically it was amazing and at times creepy. But can't place this as some sort of classic in my book, anyway. **4.0/5**

John Chard

John Chard

Nov 1, 2015 · via TMDB

★ 8.0

This rum is red, man! In spite of author Stephen King not being happy with Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of his novel, The Shining (1980) has proved to be a critical and commercial darling. It may not be in the spirit that King wanted, but it's undeniably a skillful piece of film making, a mixture of beauty and terror, of bravura techniques and simple but effective scares. With quality acting performances to match as well. The story unfolds at a deliberately slow pace, claustrophobia oozes from practically every frame, while the narrative smarts brings to bear the ghosts of the human and supernatural kind, all bone chillingly rendered for great effect by the vast spaces - the cold winter grounds outside - of the Overlook Hotel. It's not all perfect, the screenplay is very average, which makes Kubrick's work even more impressive, but with that comes the wave of feeling about style over substance. A churlish gripe? Maybe? But with Jack Nicholson on scenery chewing overdrive and Kubrick pulling the strings, The Shining still represents a highlight in horror. A horror movie that all horror fans should see at least once - and in the best format available as well! 8/10

User reviews courtesy of TMDB.

Keywords 58
alcoholic alcoholism ambiguous avant garde based on novel or book blizzard bloody body of child caretaker child abuse colorado comforting deal with the devil delusion disturbed domestic violence dreary extrasensory perception frightened ghost child halloween haunted hotel hotel hypothermia identical twins isolation labyrinth loneliness mother son relationship motherhood mutilation new year new year's eve new year's party nuclear family pediatrician postmodern premonition psychic power psychological disintegration psychological drama psychological horror psychological thriller psychotronic film repetition seclusion snow snowstorm subjective supernatural drama supernatural horror supernatural power surrealism telepathy twins uxoricide vision writer writer's block
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Cast 22
Jack Nicholson

Jack Nicholson

Jack Torrance

Shelley Duvall

Shelley Duvall

Wendy Torrance

Danny Lloyd

Danny Lloyd

Danny

Scatman Crothers

Scatman Crothers

Hallorann

Barry Nelson

Barry Nelson

Ullman

Philip Stone

Philip Stone

Grady

Joe Turkel

Joe Turkel

Lloyd

Anne Jackson

Anne Jackson

Doctor

Tony Burton

Tony Burton

Durkin

Lia Beldam

Lia Beldam

Young Woman in Bath

Barry Dennen

Barry Dennen

Watson

David Baxt

David Baxt

Forest Ranger 1

Manning Redwood

Manning Redwood

Forest Ranger 2

Lisa Burns

Lisa Burns

Grady Daughter

Louise Burns

Louise Burns

Grady Daughter

Burnell Tucker

Burnell Tucker

Policeman

Jana Shelden

Jana Shelden

Stewardess

Vivian Kubrick

Vivian Kubrick

Smoking Guest on Ballroom Couch (uncredited)

Derek Lyons

Derek Lyons

Hotel Bellhop (uncredited)

Alan Harris

Alan Harris

Ballroom Dancer (uncredited)

Peter McNamara

Peter McNamara

Dinner Guest (uncredited)

Guy Standeven

Guy Standeven

Ballroom Guest (uncredited)

Crew 14
John Alcott

John Alcott

Director of Photography

Milena Canonero

Milena Canonero

Costume Design

Stanley Kubrick

Stanley Kubrick

Director

Larry Smith

Larry Smith

Gaffer

Martin Richards

Martin Richards

Associate Producer

Jan Harlan

Jan Harlan

Executive Producer

Stanley Kubrick

Stanley Kubrick

Producer

Béla Bartók

Béla Bartók

Music

György Ligeti

György Ligeti

Music

Krzysztof Penderecki

Krzysztof Penderecki

Music

Wendy Carlos

Wendy Carlos

Original Music Composer

Stephen King

Stephen King

Novel

Diane Johnson

Diane Johnson

Screenplay

Stanley Kubrick

Stanley Kubrick

Screenplay

Gallery 514
Videos 31
Similar Movies 746
US Release Dates 7

May 23, 1980

R Theatrical (Limited)

Jun 13, 1980

R Theatrical

Jun 26, 1999

DVD

R Physical

Jun 14, 2012

Moonlit Matines Film Festival

Premiere

Jan 5, 2013

Palm Springs International Film Festival

Premiere

Nov 3, 2021

Re-release

R Theatrical (Limited)

Dec 12, 2025

IMAX

R Theatrical (Limited)

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Strictly Come Dancing: Anton's Truly, Madly, Strictly

Strictly Come Dancing: Anton's Truly, Madly, Strictly

2019

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Amy Fisher: My Story

Amy Fisher: My Story

1992

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🥇 Evil Dead II

Evil Dead II

1987 · 14 wins

🥈 The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight

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Halloween

1978 · 13 wins

#4 Final Destination

Final Destination

2000 · 12 wins

#5 Halloween II

Halloween II

1981 · 11 wins

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