RateItAll: The Opinion Network

love it!!! heres johnny!!!! *whacks on door with axe*

the book was awesome just like the movie

heres johny!

probably my favorite scary movie of all time...I read the book first when I was like 10 and begged my mom for a long time to let me see the movie

on my 10 ten horror movie list

jacky booooy

Honestly.. I have never seen that before. I should though!

never seen it

One of the best Steven King adaptions to the big screen. The book was better overall but the movie does a good job of showing a man coming unravelled as he tries to deal with his inner demons. Great cast, beautiful camera work, lots of suspense. One of Jack Nicholson's best performances too.

this is one of my favorite scary movies, I think this was one of Stephen King's best books

I just dont really like this movie...its creepy.

Terrifying. Jack Nicholson (& Stephen King) at their best.

Haven't seen it.

It has a major creepy factor going for it thats made it unforgettable. Well that and "Here's Johnny."

this is a cult classic !!! also an excellent screen adaptation of Stephen King's novel and there is an actual haunted hotel that the story is based on.... Ghost Hunters actually went to the hotel.

good plot line, Jack Nicholson was scary as can be, n his son w/ the "Redrum" business - this one scared me too, but I'd already read the book, so not as bad as The Exorcist - but c'mon, the acting was stellar

Scares the s**t out of me! Once again...I love Stephen King!

remember the little boy on the tricycle...I do!

The story of the Hotel being built on an Indian burial ground is intresting, and the scenery was cool, the story also of the murder there, but, later on in the movie these wierd characters show up, one dressed as a bear or some crap like that, danny starts freaking, it was not a smart movie, it could have been...

Highly over rated.

so creepy!!!

Interesting...

Awesome, nothing like the book but awesome anyway

Far better than the remake later on. Jack Nickolson and Shelley Duval were perfect for their roles. I first saw this movie at the drive-in which just added to its creepiness.

I probably need to see it again. I read the book as a teenager, and enjoyed it immensely (although I thought the ending was pitifully done, given the build-up that the rest of the book had prepared the reader for; "The Stand" suffered an identical flaw). I saw the film when it first came out, and didn't like it, even though I was a fan of Kubrick, Nicholson, and even King (at least at that point in time). As with all Kubrick films I've seen, it was masterfully constructed and visually stunning, but for reasons I couldn't quite put my finger on at the time, it all fell flat for me and left me unimpressed. One reviewer wrote that there's no transition in Nicholson's characterization to show the gradual decline and escalating madness; Nicholson's "Jack" starts off crazy, and only gets worse. Of course, Nicholson is fascinating to watch no matter what role he plays, but this wasn't one of his better performances, in my opinion. I believe King has recently said that Kubrick was too much of an unsentimental intellectual, too cold and clinical, to really do "horror" successfully. While I don't necessarily agree totally with this assessment (what was "Clockwork Orange" if not a horror movie?), I do get King's point and think it has merit. In fairness to the film, I do need to watch it again. However, based on my one viewing at a drive-in theatre back in 1980, it's never been a film I've esteemed or been eager to experience again. Of value because anything done by Kubrick and Nicholson has value, but not a sterling cinematic achievement for either man. King, I believe, produced his own re-make decades later, which had its moments and was closer in spirit to King's novel, but wasn't a particularly memorable horror movie, for all that.

This was okay,but does not stand out in my mind as a great horror film,the little kid that kept saying redrum over andover was too much.the atmosphere in the movie does make it kind of creepy,with all the snow you felt claustrophobic.

About the only memorable thing is the "Here's Johnny!" line. The rest of it was Stephen King usual stuff.

That Hotel creeped my out

I agree with MDStewart. I was also disappointed that the character in the movie was not true to the book. Plus Jack Nicholson (usually pretty good) overplays it so much that it almost comes off as parody. Hated it.

Stephen King was not happy with this adaptation of his book, claiming that Jack Torrence appeared crazy from the very beginning of the movie. He was suppose to be overcome gradually by the Hotel. Yet this is a powerful movie with only some minor exceptions. It's beautifully filmed, with Kubrick creating a masterpiece in cinematography. Howver, the actress who played Wendy (I can't recall her name) was absolutely horrible. With her crying and snorting toward the end of the movie, I wanted Jack to kill her!!

I don't understand why this movie is so popular. It's too long, and the scary scenes aren't that scary. Don't get me wrong- it's a good movie. I just don't rate it up there with the best. 3 and a half stars for making me wonder what the hell the significance of the word "redrum" is, and then making me feel like an idiot when I found out.

Stanley Kubricks greatest acheivement

Stanley Kubrick is GOD!

Awesome movie. One tends to forget that there were only 4 characters in the movie [excluding extras and short cameos] and the whole movie pretty much took place in a hotel. Superb performance by Jack Nicholson.

Another Stanley Kubrick masterwork. I could watch it every week and never get tired of it. The Overlook Hotel is the most menacing horror film set--no question.

The slow, certain build up to Jack's insanity is great. The scene with the little girls haunted me for weeks after I first saw it. And don't go in room 237.

this oneis my favorite!!!!!!!!!!!

This slow paced yarn just does not do justice to the book.Even Nicholson can't seem to save the film.The best parts were the creepy twin ghosts in the hallway and Jack N. sticking his head through the broken door to announce to his terrified wife Heeeres Johnny!-other than that,it just drags.

creepy as hell and i am not just talking about the hotel itself

By far, one of my favorite Stephen King movies. Jack couldn't have played the part any better. The remake sucked bigtime. Noone could ever replace Jack... Here's Johnny!!!!!

HOLY CRAP, that was a terrifying movie!!! That should be #1!!!

I saw on Good Morning America several years ago that part of this movie is based on real events. The guy who killed his family with an axe actually happened in a similar isolated hotel I guess because of cabin fever. Very scary film.

Not the best, but not the worst. That actress reminds me of Olive Oil. Eww..

Frightening movie. Did he go insane becouse he had no alcohol? Or was he realy possesed. Excelent script and directing. Definently one of my favorites

I love Jack!!

For a classic, I found it to be very average. I was expecting much more than I got.

It is a classic, Who does not like it. Stephan King is a genious. I tis a great movie.

Taught us that abusive fathers could be funny.

Excellent film this. Intense and well made, when I first saw this I knew it was going to be good as soon as the opening credits started. Who else could play a loon so well than that of Jack Nicholson. Duvall does bug me a bit in this film - weak willed and screams alot. But hey a horror film would not be without at least one screaming woman.

GREAT FLICK ON SO MANY LEVELS. THE WRITING PRODUCED SOME OF THE GREAT LINES IN MOVIE HISTORY, JACK NICHOLSON WAS PHENOMENAL AS THE FATHER STRUGGLING TO KEEP A GRIP ON REALITY AND HIS SANITY, AND THE MOVIE IS JUST SCARY AS HELL WITH SO MANY MEMORABLE VISUALS I WOULDN'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. HORROR FAN OR NOT THIS IS A MUST SEE.

Fantastic movie. Brilliant interplay of tension and scenery. So many memorable scenes, some that are harder to verbalize. Sure, everybody has heard of Here's Johnny! But what about the chase through the topiary?

This movie is a classic. To this day, it has the ability to creep me out beyond belief, and I've seen it about 20 times. It proves that Stanley Kubrick could not have made a boring, ineffective movie if he tried. In any other director's hands (i.e. whoever directed that horrible made for TV remake in 1997), this could have been unintentionally hilarious. Especially with Jack Nicholson's kid-gloves-are-off performance. But Kubrick creates such a menacing atmosphere with his visuals, music and other sound effects (like heart beats) that the movie becomes something to haunt your dreams (and it will). The Overlook Hotel--number one on the list of classic horror film settings. A frightening and occasionally surreal experience through and through.

A bit long at times, but still a good scary movie! Jack is great as an idiotic fruitcake who wields an axe. Duvall is great in playing the submissive mother/wife, who seems genuinely frightened at times. Add it to your horror collection.

Way better than the TV remake.

Nicholson is great in this role...good film if you like horrors

One of the better movies based on King's books.

I would love to be able to see it again.

The Shining is the scariest movie ever made. I can't watch it alone, it creeps me out. Jack Nicholson played one of most terrifying villains! It gives me cold chills just thinking about this flick.

This is one of the classic horror movies by Stephen King. I liked the book much better, but the movie definitely did it justice.

I honestly don't know what it is that makes The Shining such a scary and somewhat eerie movie. I don't think it's Jack Nicholson screaming ..Here's Johnny.. or his devilish expressions. I think its definitely less to do with the visual and more to do with the mind The film plays with our imagination to see how far it has to dig to reveal our hidden scare factors such as abandonment, seeing and hearing things that we think are there, people who can tell who we are before we've even opened our mouths.

This is the scariest movie I ever saw because it had no blood or gore or unrealistic monsters. This storyline (with the exception of the telekinic powers) could happen in real life. Someone goes mentally insane and tries to kill their family because the little voi9ces in their head told them to. VERY EERIE music and the ending is explosive. The scenes where you see Jack going mad are classic. MUST SEE FILM!

Most people are looking for Stephen King's novel brought to life - but Kubrick basically abandoned everything King had described aside from names and the basic plot line. Kubrick just used the spine of the novel to create his masterpiece around. He also had many different purposes for changing things - and even though I read the book first, I think Kubrick's movie tells a better, more real, effective and horrifying tale.

Jack Nicholson was awsome one of his best roles. Truly scarly and disturbing. I wet myslef ever time I hear someone say REDRUM!

I didnt find it that scary...i thinks its overrated!

This movie IS a masterpiece (same with the book) It was not a scary movie but it was so deep and powerful.The ending wasn't the best and ther movie wasn't true to the novel which was a very,very good book but the movie is far from bad. It was very interesting and the 2 girls that were killed and was haunting Danny was really freaky.A great movie,despite a few flaws. It deserves a 4.5 but since I can't,it deserves a 5 than a 4.

I love Kubrick and Nicholson and horror and Stephen King, but I hated this movie. Nicholson sucked as a villain, Duvall can't act, and I never got the whole "mental powers shining" thing. Some classic scenes, like the elevator of blood, "here's Johnny", the twin girls, "redrum", and the woman in the tub, but they're all visceral and seem strung together. The movie could've used a more claustrophobic feel - the hotel seemed too big a backdrop to feel fear in. We never see Nicholson and Duvall share any real scenes as husband/wife, so there's an empty feeling when he starts acting mean and loony. They could've made this movie better. Kubrick was good w/ movies that required distance - this wasn't 1 of them. And Nicholson should stay away from horror and super heroes.villainy - he's best as an anti-hero.

one saturday i turned on the tv & i couldnt turn it off for like 3 whole hours :D lets just say this is TOP NOTCH stuff. Theres sooo much suspense. Most people htink its old so it sucks and i thought so too. But omg this movie amazed me. It was one of the scariest and thrilling ones i have ever seen.

A terrific horror/suspense film. Jack is a genius in this movie.

Best horror movie EVER! Still creeps me out and I've seen it a hundred times.