Jack Torrance, a recovering alcoholic and aspiring author, moves his family to the frigid mountains of Colorado to seek a job as the off-season caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel. He is joined by his creative wife Wendy and son Danny. The manager gives Jack a comprehensive tour of the enormous hotel as it is getting ready to close for the season.
At the same time, the elderly chef, Mr. Hallorann, is having an engaging conversation with Danny about a unique psychic gift known as “The Shining.” Mr. Hallorann makes sure to warn Danny about the hotel’s abandoned rooms, in particular the off-limits Room 237. Jack and Danny are both intrigued by the conversation.
But instead of breaking out of his dreary creative rut, Jack gradually begins to go crazy while he is being held captive in a big, silent jail where strange things are happening to him and he has troubling visions. Now, Jack’s ideas, which are constantly going over and over in his head, are demanding a blood sacrifice. Is there a chance that Jack might kill someone?
This iconic horror film by Stanley Kubrick perfectly exemplifies his vision, and today you can enjoy the timeless classic for free.
The Shining Trivia
The props department created a flimsy door so that Jack could easily smash it in the stall scene. However, Jack Nicholson tore it apart far too readily because of his experience as a volunteer fire marshal. Thus, the props department had to construct a more robust door.
Both Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall have spoken out about their displeasure with the film’s reception, claiming that Stanley Kubrick should not get all the credit for the film’s success and that the performers, crew, and Stephen King’s source material all deserve equal recognition. Nicholson and Duvall have remarked that the picture was one of the hardest of their lives. Nicholson says Duvall’s portrayal was the toughest role he’s ever seen one actress play. Even Duvall admits that this was the most challenging role she’s ever had to do.
