Day 8: Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (1980)

Isolated in the mountains of Colorado the Torrance family will spend months living at the Overlook Hotel. Jack Torrance a former teacher and writer got the job as the caretaker of the hotel through spring. Based on Stephen King's novel the movie keeps the core elements of the story and excises most of the supernatural occurances. It focuses on the family dynamics and the psychological effects of being isolated. The horror comes from the downward spiral of Jack's character and the strain between him and his family. Danny his son possesses a gift that the hotel's cook O'Halloran shares with him he calls shining. Danny can see things from the past and the future. What he sees is terrifying. Wendy grows concerned over Danny's well being and suggests they leave the hotel which Jack objects to. This leads to a horrific and violent finale in which mother and son fight to survive. The hotel comes alive with ghosts haunting Wendy. Jack chases Danny through the hotel and outside through the maze where it inevitably ends. The Shining is psychological horror movie that is quite unnerving. It stays with you. Upon repeat viewings you find new things which make you question what is real or not. There have been numerous theories about The Shining some of them explored in the movie Room 237. The Shining wasn't well received in 1980 but has since garnered the acclaim it deserves.