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The Shining
1980
Opening with spectacular aerial shots of a beautiful, mountainous landscape, Stanley Kubrick's horror classic THE SHINING, based on Stephen King's best-selling novel, sucks the viewer into his frightening tale with quiet, relaxing visuals - but the ominous soundtrack warns that all is not right at the gorgeous Overlook Hotel. .. Read more
| Starring | Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd |
|---|---|
| Director | Stanley Kubrick |
| Genres | Horror |
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The Shining
Opening with spectacular aerial shots of a beautiful, mountainous landscape, Stanley Kubrick's horror classic THE SHINING, based on Stephen King's best-selling novel, sucks the viewer into his frightening tale with quiet, relaxing visuals - but the ominous soundtrack warns that all is not right at the gorgeous Overlook Hotel. Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson at his eyebrow-raising best), a Vermont schoolteacher, accepts a job as the winter caretaker of the glorious early-20th-century resort that operates only in warm weather because the snowy roads deny access in the colder months. Jack brings his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), with him, as well as his young son, Danny (Danny Lloyd)--who brings with him a little boy named Tony who lives in his mouth. As the Torrances settle in for the long, lonely months ahead, strange, unexplainable things start occurring in the hotel--and in every scene Jack seems to be growing a little more evil and dangerous...
With superb camerawork (the Steadicam follows the evil through narrow hallways and ornate rooms), extraordinary sound detail (the scene in which Danny rides his Big Wheel across the Overlook's hardwood and carpeted floors is an aural classic), and a terrifying score (based on the work of Bela Bartok), THE SHINING is an unforgettable masterpiece, a psychological supernatural thriller featuring outstanding performances from Nicholson and Duvall--and a cast of dead twin girls and suicidal ax-murdering ghosts, among other bloodcurdling figures.
| Starring | Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd |
|---|---|
| Director | Stanley Kubrick |
| Studio | WARNER HOME VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 54 mins Blu-ray: 1 hr 54 mins HD DVD: 1 hr 54 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | 100 Horror Films, 100 must-see movies, 100 Top Thrillers |
| Genres | Horror |
| Language | DVD: English Blu-ray: English HD DVD: English |
| Dubbed | French |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: Arabic, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish |
| Released | DVD: 10 Sep 2001 Blu-ray: 03 Mar 2008 HD DVD: 24 Mar 2008 Production year: 1980 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Stanley Kubrick's superb adaptation of Stephen King's horror novel stars Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall and young Danny Lloyd as the family who are invited to look after a remote mountain hotel when it's closed for the winter. It's not long before Nicholson becomes unhinged as a series of apparitions, hallucinations and time-warps begin to affect his sanity. Trust Kubrick to be different: this horror film chills rather than shocks, works by stealth and provides nothing but eerie discomfort. Filmed on an amazing set built at Elstree (the opening aerial scenes were shot by Kubrick's daughter at the Timberline Lodge in Oregon) and using a gliding Steadicam throughout, the technique is as overpowering as Nicholson's performance, which is both hammy and deeply disturbing.
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Uninteresting ghost story sparked by meticulous detail and sets but finally vitiated by overlength and an absurdly over-the-top star performance.
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Most helpful member's review
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29 out of 30 people found this review helpful
One of the best
Stanley Kubrick was a gifted director and this is my favourite of his films.
Its a subtle masterpiece of tension, fine acting, design and horror atmosphere. The cinematography is exceptional and there are little details referring to the American Indians in many shots, giving a subtext to the whole story.
This is Jack Nicholson's best role without doubt but he's nowhere near as scary as the two little girls who keep appearing in the haunted corridors of the magnificent Overlook Hotel.
The mysterious appearance of party goers in the Gold room, with Grady and the bartender and the most beautiful gents toilet I've ever seen.
"All work and no play...." - I get shivers just thinking about it...
There is only one thing wrong with this film: the kid needs a haircut.
That's pretty good going, you have to admit...
I can't recommend it more highly. -
Most recent members' review
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7 out of 8 people found this review helpful
The definitive horror film
Kubrick's 1980 adaptation of Stephen King's novel, for all the 'scariest film ever' plaudits bestowed upon it, remains a film with a chequered critical reputation.
Many critics felt that Kubrick's stately pace and style did not suit the physical ferocity required for a horror film, a sentiment echoed by King, who famously said Kubrick knew nothing about the genre.
In fact, Kubrick was so ahead of the game that he was incorporating many horror devices that had not yet been invented, and have never been bettered (or even attempted again).
The genius of Kubrick's take on the material is that the story could be about a man's psychological breakdown (and the breakdown of his family) just as it could be a traditional haunted house tale, this being achieved by reining in King's more outre horror touches. Kubrick, meanwhile, pulls out all the stops with a series of the most terrifying sequences ever seen on film.
Anyone with an interest in cinema is urged to rent this landmark film, one of the few times that a horror film has escaped the confines of the genre, and entered the realm of classic cinema. -
News and features
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The Shining tops frightening film list
- 29 Oct 2009
The Shining has been named the most terrifying film of all time in a new poll. The 1980 Stanley Kubrick classic, starring Jack Nicholson as a deranged writer, topped the list of the world's scariest movies ahead of Rosemary's Baby, directed by Roman Polanski. The original Wicker Man from 1973 came in third in the Totalscifionline.com poll, which was dominated by horror classics. The top ten also included Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 thriller Psycho, John Carpenters slasher Halloween, and Night of... Read more
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Shining, The - HD DVD Version
Opening with spectacular aerial shots of a beautiful, mountainous landscape, Stanley Kubrick's horror classic THE SHINING, based on Stephen King's best-selling novel, sucks the viewer into his frightening tale with quiet, relaxing visuals - but the ominous soundtrack warns that all is not right at ...
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- Shining, The - BLU-RAY Version
- Blu-Ray: £12.93
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Opening with spectacular aerial shots of a beautiful, mountainous landscape, Stanley Kubrick's horror classic THE SHINING, based on Stephen King's best-selling novel, sucks the viewer into his ... -
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- The Shining
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Free Delivery - RRP £7.99 (you save: 38%)
Opening with spectacular aerial shots of a beautiful, mountainous landscape, Stanley Kubrick's horror classic THE SHINING, based on Stephen King's best-selling novel, sucks the viewer into his ... -