The Shining
1980 psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick and co-written with novelist Diane Johnson Website
Approval Rate: 63%
Reviews 91
by frankswildyear_s
Sat Apr 09 2011Over 3,500 items on this list and I'd wager that I have seen maybe 5 of them, including this one. I recall thinking it was a good bit of scenery chewing for Nchlson, but I wasn't wowed by the enterprise as a whole. I'm sure by the time I got around to watching it there was nothing left to surprise me, it had become such a cultural sensation. It just barely made it past the minimum requirements to elevate it from boring to interesting.
by firemoth
Thu Jun 10 2010If you read the book first (I didn't) you would understand what was going on regarding the characters and the history of the hotel. Kubrick left elements of the book out and changed changed other things as script writers/directors will do. If you what a closer representation the book, "Stephen King's The Shining" movie would be the way to go. I like both movie versions as it is but I'd lean more to Kubrik's version as being the scarier of the two.
by freebeer
Sat May 08 2010This movie damaged me. I actually saw it at the theater!! I wasn't allowed to see R movies, but my best friends mom was fun, so I went with them. I soon found myself in the lobby shaking with fear, unable to go back in and join them. I still can't watch the whole thing. I love Stanley Kubrick, but I've never seen this movie to the end. What's with that scene where the guy with a mask on is 'pleasuring' the guy sitting on the bed? And the two creepy girls at the end of the hall, is it or is it not an homage to a Diane Arbus photo? Guess it doesn't matter, but that would make it creepier. Also, it seemed like Jack didn't like Shelly in real life so it was extra edgy, and she seemed cokey. I saw 'The Making of The Shining' and it was freakin' scary too..... Of course the biggest question I have is who's bright idea was it to remake' The MF Shining'? The guy from Wings?
by laren616
Mon Jan 04 2010Never watched the whole movie, i give up half way through it
by wolfmantip
Fri Oct 16 2009REALLY,REALLY Scary.
by shasse
Sun Jun 14 2009Okay, I must say. The Shining is an amazing film, it's suspenseful and scary. I will say that the way the atmosphere and and cinematography was really brought up on the Blu Ray transfer. It added more to Kubrick's horror masterpiece. It also has a lot of bonus material to keep the viewer happy. Not only that, it also has a play back option so when you take the disc out and put it back in the movie will play back where you left off which is convenient. The picture could not be any better/ clear. If you want to get the shining, get it on Blu Ray!
by pamela_murray
Sun May 24 2009red rum....red rum.....
by grafartist
Sat May 09 2009Well this is probably hands down the best psychological thriller ever put to film with the exception of psycho. At any rate if you have never seen this masterpiece....shame on you! The newer two disk versions second disk has some cool btsi with Jackie and goofy Shelly Duvall which are hilarious! And ahhh. Kubricks shots in the film make the movie that much creepier! Turn the lights off, turn the sound up, and scare the hell out of yourself!
by thetaoofnetfli_x
Sun May 03 2009Not much to say. Even though its an old movie by today's standards, this is the ultimate horror movie. Must be seen, owned and appreciated.
by ironybis
Fri May 01 2009Please, for the love of god, avoid going into this movie thinking it's one of the scariest movies of all time. It's most definitely not the scariest movie of all time, but I think that's just a marketing tag line to get people to watch it more. No, The Shining is a work of art, and does not need a tag line to describe the movie. While I wasn't scared when watching it (actually fascinated!), this is still quite terrifying depending on who you are, and it's a great thriller movie (somewhat of a horror movie, but I think it's more of a thriller. Jack torrence is easily one of the most enjoyable and fascinating movie villians, and his pysche underneath is downright interesting and believable. I won't say too much, but his drive to live and play is crushed, and he can't get anywhere with his writing, there is no inspiration in the house he lives in, and he seems fustrated with everything. I think it's these kinds of things that made him go insane, being locked up in a hotel, knowing... Read more
by ashiedulnwadi_ei
Thu Apr 30 2009I've never read the book, I kept hearing people say how good this movie is (scariest of all time) so I decided to do it the honor by giving it a try since I've been getting into good horror movies recently. I never read the book, so I had nothing to base it on. The only other movie of Kubrick's that I remember seeing would be 2001 and that was terribly boring. The only part I liked was Hal, that scene was pretty cool. In short, it sucked. I knew it would suck when I looked at the counter and noticed nothing happened 45 minutes into the movie and it was going to last roughly 2 1/2 hours. He did a lost of showing when he should have been telling or showing what was necessary for the movie. Nothing really developed. Nothing happened for 45 minutes, then all of a sudden he's getting mad at being interupted by his wife? What was eating at him? Was he having problems with coping with not drinking? I don't know, there was no hint at what was going on internally with these characters wha... Read more
by hinata
Wed Oct 08 2008It was...not the best scary movie of the 80s...
by smokeyvision
Wed Oct 01 2008hereeeeeeeeeeeeee's johhhhhhhnnny
by camo1053
Mon Sep 22 2008i could watch it again and again
by mcchido
Sat Sep 20 2008HATE THAT BITCHES FACE
by fb549726214
Sat Sep 20 2008Como diría Jesulín: "en dos palabras, im prezionante"
by lucy_jane
Wed Sep 17 2008oh fucking creepiest wowzas!
by jamie_finn
Wed Sep 10 2008red rum red rum
by veronica1219
Wed Aug 20 2008i love it!!! hahaha
by river2
Tue Aug 19 2008This is a weird kind of scary
by blonde_hair_purple_converse_and_scrubs884
Tue Aug 12 2008one of my favs...
by jennifer903
Wed Jul 23 2008love it!!! heres johnny!!!! *whacks on door with axe*
by kristyn718
Tue Jul 22 2008probably 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
by 3_leana
Tue Jul 22 2008the book was awesome just like the movie
by snoopdaddi
Tue Jul 22 2008heres johny!
by logfan0820
Sat Jul 19 2008on my 10 ten horror movie list
by minnia4a
Mon Jul 14 2008REDRUM
by monkey11611
Fri Jul 11 2008jacky booooy
by debbie325
Fri Jul 04 2008Honestly.. I have never seen that before. I should though!
by spike65
Sat Jun 28 2008One 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.
by unknown6240849_7
Fri Jun 27 2008this is one of my favorite scary movies, I think this was one of Stephen King's best books
by jennifer
Sun Jun 22 2008I just dont really like this movie...its creepy.
by oo_michelle_oo
Thu Jun 19 2008Terrifying. Jack Nicholson (& Stephen King) at their best.
by feeling_great_and_loving_it
Wed Jun 18 2008Haven't seen it.
by xagent
Fri Jun 13 2008It has a major creepy factor going for it thats made it unforgettable. Well that and "Here's Johnny."
by liz7b74b
Wed Jun 11 2008this 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.
by myspace_387493239
Mon Jun 09 2008good 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
by carrie_aka_mysunder_stood8
Sun Jun 08 2008CLASSIC!!!
by myspace_365158273
Wed Jun 04 2008Scares the s**t out of me! Once again...I love Stephen King!
by matt_and_kayla
Wed Jun 04 2008remember the little boy on the tricycle...I do!
by binnietheblood_ybooh
Fri May 30 2008Highly over rated.
by ayse81e9
Thu May 29 2008so creepy!!!
by myspace_30849171
Wed May 07 2008Awesome, nothing like the book but awesome anyway
by trebon1038
Fri Mar 14 2008Far 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.
by edt4226d
Mon Dec 31 2007I 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 ... Read more
by uncnc08
Fri Dec 21 2007This 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.
by fb682137263
Mon Nov 12 2007chills
by genghisthehun
Sat Mar 10 2007About the only memorable thing is the "Here's Johnny!" line. The rest of it was Stephen King usual stuff.
by tecddf1b
Fri Mar 09 2007That Hotel creeped my out
by jed1000
Tue Jan 23 2007I 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.