The Shining

In The Shining - directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on Stephen King's iconic novel - we are introduced to the Torrance family. Jack Torrance, a former schoolteacher and aspiring writer, sees an opportunity for a fresh start when he is offered the position of winter caretaker at the grand and secluded Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. Eager to find solitude and inspiration for his writing, Jack sees this as a chance to bond with his wife Wendy and their young son Danny, who possesses an extraordinary psychic gift known as "the shining."

After the family settles into the expansive and eerie hotel, it becomes evident that they are not alone. The Overlook Hotel has a dark and haunted past, with a long history of violence and madness. The spirits of its previous occupants linger, trapped within its walls and corridors, and they soon begin to exert their influence on Jack's already fragile psyche.

As winter sets in, cutting off all outside communication and isolating the family, the Overlook Hotel transforms into a nightmarish labyrinth of secrets and horrors. Jack's mental state deteriorates rapidly as he becomes increasingly obsessed with the hotel's dark history and the malevolent spirits that inhabit it. Delusions and hallucinations blur the line between reality and nightmare, pushing Jack further into a descent of madness.

The Shining is a masterclass in psychological horror, skillfully weaving together themes of isolation, supernatural forces, and the disintegration of the human mind. Kubrick's direction and Jack Nicholson's iconic performance as Jack Torrance create an unforgettable cinematic experience, further cementing the film's position as one of the best movies about multiple personality disorders.

Release: 1980

Stars: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%