the shining start with jack torrance ( jack nicholson ) drive to an isolated hotel name the overlook situate high in the colorado mountains for an interview with it manager stuart ullman ( barry nelson ) about become the winter caretaker . ullman tell jack that he will be responsible for the basic upkeep of the hotel but will be almost totally isolated from the rest of the world for six month a the harsh winter set in . together with his wife wendy ( shelley duvall ) and young son danny ( danny lloyd ) jack move into the hotel and at first everything seem fine and it a beautiful hotel and absolutely huge and whatever they need be at their disposal . however the overlook hotel have a murky past with a previous caretaker murder his entire family before commit suicide and danny have the ability to hine which mean he have psychic power that let him see and hear thing ordinary people can not . a the day and week and month begin to pass jack become more and more insane and danny keep eeing thing and people while wendy becomes frantic a she doesn not have a clue what happen to her family and a a heavy snowstorm leave them trap jack finally lose it . this english production be co write and co produce and direct by stanley kubrick and be a fine horror film . it appear that the shining be another film that exist in two distinct different version and the one i will be comment on be the short european cut that run just under 2 hour in length . the script by kubrick and diane johnson and be base on the novel by stephen king which i have not read so i can not compare them and go for psychological horror rather than visual with only one murder during the entire film . there be very few character in the shin with jack and wendy and danny the only one that really matter and since the film concentrate on them almost exclusively you care for them and become involved with them and what they go through . the pace be somewhat slow but this be one film that do not feel that long and keep you interested throughout . on the negative side i do not think the reason behind jack go crazy and want to kill his family be strong enough to convince me and the fact that jack escape from the freezer without any explanation bug me and i do not know if i miss something but that end do not make any sense to me whatsoever and i be still try to work out what that picture be all about . there be very little in the way of violence or gore and a couple of rotten zombie ghost and someone be kill with an axe but the shining be a horror film that doesn not need to rely on blood and special effect a it have a gripping story . with a budget of about $ 19 and 000 and 000 the shining be technically flawless a you would expect from an obsessive filmmaker such a kubrick and the cinematography be brilliant with some fantastic free flowing and smooth steadicam shot a the camera effortlessly follow the character around the maze of corridor and the set look absolutely real and instead of clichéd old haunt house theme like dark corner and basement and cobweb kubrick brings thing right up to date with brightly lit corridor and massive open expansive space and a modern decor ( well 80 modern and just check that red toilet out . ) . the acting be good from everyone involve although as usual in horror film the little kid be highly annoying and nicholson seem crazy from the very start . the shining be an absorbing film that i enjoy watch although i be not sure i would watch it again anytime soon . for those look for explosion and fancy special effect you will be disappoint and for those look for a good haunt house type horror with a strong story i definitely think the shining be for you and well worth a watch in my humble opinion .