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Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers, Barry Nelson ... see more see more... , Philip Stone , Anne Jackson , Joe Turkel , Tony Burton , David Baxt , Lia Beldam , Lisa Burns , Barry Dennen , Robin Pappas , Manning Redwood , Jana Sheldon , Burnell Tucker , Norman Gay , Billie Gibson

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" -- or, rather, a homicidal boy in Stanley Kubrick's eerie 1980 adaptation of Stephen King's horror novel. With wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and psychic son ... read more read more...Danny (Danny Lloyd) in tow, frustrated writer Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) takes a job as the winter caretaker at the opulently ominous, mountain-locked Overlook Hotel so that he can write in peace. Before the Overlook is vacated for the Torrances, the manager (Barry Nelson) 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" 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. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

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R, 1 hr. 59 min.

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Release Date: May 23, 1980

Keywords: horror, scary, creepy, scariest

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DVD Release Date: June 29, 1999

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Flixster Reviews (35,092)

  • aquateen2
    February 25, 2012
    aquateen2
    A lot of people may disagree with me but I see Stanley Kubrick's The Shining to be his absolute best film. This movie is proof that blood special effects dont rule the horror industry. From the films i've seen with Jack Nicholson this is the one role that fit him solidly and of c... read moreourse the role which he has acted at his best. It is a perfect psychological horror that flows scarily unlike modern horror films from beggining to end. The reason this oh so terrifying movie is oh so chillingly nerve wrecking is because Kubrick flawlessly takes advantage of the human nature that everything that we dont know or understand scares us. Somehow this movie believe it or not managed to make sense at the same time. But, the most enigmatic scene and a great example of this happening in this horror classic is the ending that wasn't exactly "an ending" which made it even creepier. Like the whole movie it scared the hell out of me and although the film is set in a gigantic hotel with barely any characters inside of it. It gave me one of the greatest senses of claustrophobia and isolation I have ever experienced.
  • blkbomb
    January 18, 2012
    blkbomb
    Jack Torrance: Mr. Grady. You were the caretaker here. I recognize you. I saw your picture in the newspapers. You, uh, chopped your wife and daughters up into little bits. And then you blew your brains out. 

    "The Horror is driving him crazy."

    There is absolutely no horror film ... read morelike The Shining. I've seen it described as an epic horror film, and that's pretty much true. It's probably the only epic horror film ever made. If anyone was going to make a scary movie epic, it was Kubrick. He throws conventional horror wisdom out the window, and does things his own way. Can you blame him for wanting to throw his own spin on King's novel? It's a known fact that King hates Kubrick's take on his classic book. Here's the thing though, Kubrick's ideas are better, smarter, and scarier. He wanted to do shit that hadn't been done. I like King books, but let's be honest; a lot of his works are basically the same thing, just thrown into a different setting and with a different monster. There's a reason this is the best King adaption ever and that is that Kubrick changed things. 

    When describing the plot I'm only going to speak of the surface narrative, but it should be noted that there is much more going on then just this storyline. Jack Torrence, his wife, and son move into the Overlook Hotel where they will live for the winter. Jack has been hired as the caretaker there. He is warned about a tragedy that happened there years ago and also about how people can go crazy from the isolation. He isn't worried though because isolation is just what he needs. He is trying to write a new book and peace and quiet is what he wants. His son, Danny, has an imaginary friend who is showing him bad things at the hotel. Soon Jack goes crazy and starts tormenting his family, while he sees visions. 

    The hardest thing about comprehending this movie is deciphering what is real and what is not. Obviously, everyone knows that when Jack is talking to Lloyd and Grady, that he is really speaking to himself in mirrors. But what about when he yells at his wife while he's writing? I for one think that is in Jack's head. It should be known that what Jack is writing about is something that has to do with the murders there. He has newspaper clippings and tells Grady that he read about him in the paper. So I believe a lot of what is going on is him trying to get into the character of Grady for his writing. In the scene where he yells at his wife, as she walks in, he tears out a piece of paper from his typewriter. When she leaves at the end, the piece of paper is still in the typewriter. He never tore that paper up because his wife never came in the room. He was playing out events for his book in his head. Some would just say this is a continuation error, and with lesser directors, I would agree. But this is Stanley "fucking" Kubrick. He doesn't make errors like that. Everything he is doing has a reason. 

    I had mentioned that there are different layers to this movie. While on top it's a horror film, beneath it Kubrick is making statements about the foundation of America. How the Europeans came over and slaughtered the Natives. He isn't doing this by dialogue, but by symbols. And there are many more symbols throughout the movie that will probably go unnoticed by many . My favorite is the use of Frosted Flakes as Tony. At different points of the movie you can see a box of Frosted Flakes sitting behind the action. It isn't put there in an out of place sort of way. Look at the kitchen scenes, such as when Jack gets locked in the food pantry by his wife. When we see her outside of the door, there is a box of Frosted Flakes sitting behind her on a table. Don't try to tell me this wasn't on purpose. It's known that Kubrick would try to find different products to use as symbols in many of his movies. Here, it was Tony the Tiger, to show that Tony is always watching.

    The Shining is a horror film that is so much bigger and grander in scale than any one that came before or after it. Everything from how Kubrick shoots scenes to the setting to the symbolism is used in the creepiest ways possible. This is my favorite horror film ever, my favorite Kubrick film, and also one of my favorite movies period. I could watch it a million times and never get bored. There's so much to take away from it, that it pretty much requires multiple viewings if you want to understand it fully. If not, watch it once and you'll still get a worthwhile and terrifying experience from it.

    Wendy Torrance: I'm gonna go now. 
    Jack Torrance: Wendy? 
    Wendy Torrance: I'm gonna try and get Danny down to Sidewinder in the Snow Cat. I'll send back a doctor... 
    Jack Torrance: Wendy? 
    Wendy Torrance: Yes? 
    Jack Torrance: You got a biiiig surprise coming to you. You're not going anywhere. Go check out the Snow Cat and the radio and you'll see what I mean. Go check it out. 
  • Stickykk
    November 14, 2011
    Stickykk
    Grade: A+ (100%)

    After all these years, "The Shinning" continues to amaze me. When we usually look back at movies from the 80s or 90s, we remember how the film industry has improved since then. Sometimes we re-watch a film and forget how good a film really is. "The Shinning" i... read mores no exception.

    Jack Torrance (Jack Nicolson) is a writer who is unable to bring his career to a high point with his work. In order to get some peace and quiet, he decides to become the caretaker of a hotel located in the mountains. His brings his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and Danny (Danny Lloyd) to live there from the end of October to May 1st. Unfortunately for the family, Jack becomes mad and starts to act violent towards his family. The owner tells Jack of what happened a couple of years before about a person going mad and killing his family and committing suicide. The owner calls it cabin fever but Jack doesn't feel nervous about the idea. Well, it happens to Jack and uses an axe to do most of his dirty work and creates a famous line, "Heeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny!" in the process.

    The film is adapted from Stephen King's bestselling novel of the same name. While I haven't read the novel, I have read that the film sort of deviates from the book which could be a good or bad thing depending on your point of view. The film does have a horror aspect to it. There are some frightening moments in this film. The film really isn't that graphic but more creepy than anything else. While blood is spilled in this movie, director Stanley Kubrick focuses on the scares and chilly atmosphere (no pun intended) to grip the audience.

    For the most part the film works brilliantly with the creepy atmosphere, especially in the second act of the film where Jack starts to go completely insane. Jack Nicholson is absolutely fantastic in this film. He is dark, creepy, disturbing, angry and sometimes funny. His acting truly shines in the final half hour of the film and his laughter is so eerie that it actually sticks with you. Nicholson is absolutely brilliant in this film and is one of the main reasons to see this film.

    Shelley Duvall, on the other hand, is atrocious as Wendy. Everything is wrong with her in this film from acting to actually how she looks. I read up on this that Stanley Kubrick was having trouble with Ms. Duvall because she wasn't being scared enough when they were filming the film. Sorry to say, but the film really shows horrible acting from Ms. Duvall. When she is scared, it's horrible acting and even when she generally talks she isn't good at all. She was the worst part of the film honestly. Sometimes I wish Wendy got hers in the end but it wasn't made to be . . . oh well.

    Even where "The Shinning" falls, it is forgiven by great direction, excellent writing and an unbelievable performance by Jack Nicholson. "The Shinning" is one of my favorite movies and one of my favorite horror films - "Silence of the Lambs" might be my favorite and "The Shinning" second. If you haven't seen this film, go and see it. There isn't the gore crap we have nowadays but a suspenseful and scary horror film with an excellent performance by Jack Nicholson.
  • fb100002384654145
    October 31, 2011
    fb100002384654145
    Some may not like that the movie deviates from the novel(especially at the end), but The Shinning stands on its own as a definitive horror classic. Stanley Kubrick gives his signature cinematic vision with mind-blowing cinematography, eerie music, and a dream-like atmosphere. J... read moreack Nicholson turns in one hell of a performance playing a writer descending into madness. Like other Kubrick films, the story has many layers of detail and meaning that makes the re-watch value very high. Kubrick manages to make a truly chilling horror movie, and he didn't need to turn the lights off.
  • fb1664868775
    October 27, 2011
    fb1664868775
    A truly frightening story of insanity and isolation. It boasts some of the most startling images I've ever seen.
  • moonrivers
    October 20, 2011
    moonrivers
    Kubrick upsets the horror applecart (and Stephen King, too, who disliked this take on his bestselling book so much he made it again ... himself, ouch!) by filming in sterile, clean surroundings. There's no dank, dark, musty and cobwebbed basements here. no fetid sewers, no grave... read moreyards. No Halloween! And yet one of the most satisfyingly chilling shockers of all time.
  • DreamExtractor
    October 5, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    The Shining is one of the greatest horror films ever made. The story is actually really good for a horror film and there is some of the most intense scenes in horror film history, its truly a genius adaption. The cast is great, Jack Nicholson plays one of his best roles ever an... read mored created the trademark "Heres JOHNNY!". The horror is incredible, the scene with the old lady in the bathroom is one of the creepiest things I have ever seen. The Shining is a masterful, terrifying, and best acted horror films ever, and is one of the films that will make Stanley Kubrick remembered forever.
  • spielberg00
    October 1, 2011
    spielberg00
    If there's one pure horror film that deserves the Best Picture Oscar just for its overall terrific (and terrifying) atmosphere, it's THE SHINING.

    I've only seen one of Stanley Kubrick's other films, which was 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, and if you think that Stanley Kubrick only make... read mores those kinds of films, think again. This brilliant man takes mastermind Stephen King's already-horrific novel and crafts it into his own ingenious, twisted work that is probably more frightening than the book itself.

    And there's Jack Nicholson, who does an outstanding performance as psychopath Jack Torrance. When I saw this film, my immediate thought was that Nicholson's character was just as I imagined Torrance's personality while reading the source novel. It's possible to admit that sometimes Jack Nicholson does go a little loopy with his role, making it often seem more like his role as the Joker in BATMAN nine years later, but he never seems to go overboard, and his character always enhances the eerie-ness of the entire film.

    All in all, THE SHINING is a must-see. It's certainly not one of those "spewing guts" films where everything is grotesque blood and gore. Instead, the horror comes from the creepy, sadistic, intense mood, as this is a well-molded psychological horror. Add this to your shopping list (or your renting list) if you haven't seen it. See it again if you have already.
  • fb100002359227440
    September 25, 2011
    fb100002359227440
    Another Stanley Kubrick masterpiece.
  • fb729949618
    September 24, 2011
    fb729949618
    Jack Nicholson is a legend. This guy delivers in every movie, and this is one of his best.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel
October 21, 2010
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

Kubrick has made a movie that will have to be reckoned with on the highest level. Full Review

James Berardinelli
April 30, 2009
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

As a ghost story and adaptation of the Stephen King novel, it's largely a failure. On the other hand, as an example of directorial bravura and as a study of madness and the unreliable narrator, it's a... Full Review

Dave Kehr
May 8, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Kubrick is after a cool, sunlit vision of hell, born in the bosom of the nuclear family, but his imagery -- with its compulsive symmetry and brightness -- is too banal to sustain interest, while the i... Full Review

Roger Ebert
May 8, 2007
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie is not about ghosts but about madness and the energies it sets loose in an isolated situation primed to magnify them. Full Review

Variety Staff
May 8, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

With everything to work with, director Stanley Kubrick has teamed with jumpy Jack Nicholson to destroy all that was so terrifying about Stephen King's bestseller. Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
March 7, 2005
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

I fear all work and no play has made Stanley a dull boy. Full Review

Janet Maslin
January 1, 2000
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Kubrick isn't out for screams, but he manages to make his movie thoroughly unnerving by keeping the horror so close to home. Full Review

Jeremy Knox
October 21, 2010
Jeremy Knox, Film Threat

Kubrick doesn't dumb it down or anything, but he's not actively trying to appeal only to film connoisseurs either. If any of his movies could be called mainstream, it's this one. Full Review

Rob Gonsalves
July 13, 2009
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

The Shining is an intense and not always ingratiating experience, a natural bookend to 2001... Full Review

Steve Biodrowski
February 3, 2009
Steve Biodrowski, ESplatter

The result may not quite match Kubrick's greatest films, but it is enthralling and hypnotic - a brilliant, ambitious attempt to shoot a horror film without the Gothic trappings. Full Review

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    • Jack Torrance: I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm just gonna bash your brains in. I'm just gonna bash em right the fuck in!
    • Wendy Torrance: The loser has to keep America clean.
    • Lloyd: How are things going, Mr. Torrance?
    • Jack Torrance: Things could be better. Things could be a whole lot better.
    • Lloyd: I hope it's nothing serious.
    • Jack Torrance: Nothing serious. Just a little problem with the old sperm bank upstairs.
    • Jack Torrance: White man's burden, Lloyd, my man. White man's burden.
    • Grady Daughter: Come play with us Danny. Forever.....and ever......and ever.
    • Jack Torrance: You WERE the caretaker here, Mr. Grady.
    • Grady: No sir, YOU are the caretaker. You've always been the caretaker. I ought to know: I've always been here.
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