Stanley Kubrick's The Shining - Masterpiece or Misfire

Twenty-six years ago this past June, Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s terrifying best selling novel “The Shining” opened in theaters and soon after the debates began. Had Kubrick crafted, as the ads proclaimed, “the ultimate horror film” or had he produced a monumental misfire?

Critics clearly sided with the latter while audiences were divided into two camps. Those who had read the novel, myself included, were roundly disappointed for the most part. Those who hadn’t read the novel loved the film and believe it to be a modern horror classic, which is evidenced by the fans currently ranking it the 64th best film ever made on the Internet Movie Database.

“The Shining” tells the story of a fragmented family, torn apart by abuse and alcoholism, trying to put the pieces back together by starting over at a Colorado hotel that closes every winter due to the remote mountain location. The Torrance family is hired to maintain the upkeep of the hotel in the off-season. Naturally there are past horrors to be revealed, particularly a former caretaker who murdered his family after going stir crazy due to the desolation. Soon after everyone is gone the ghosts of the Overlook begin to make themselves known, especially to father Jack and son Danny, who has the gift of “shining,” a form of ESP. Jack, now a freelance writer, finds he can’t concentrate on his writing and begins seeing spirits, particularly that of the former murderous caretaker. King’s story was chillingly written with images still embedded in the mind almost 30 years after publication.