The Shining UNEDITED REACTION (early access)

I have such conflicted feelings about this movie. It's fantastically unsettling and gorgeously shot and acted. It does change a lot from the book, which normally doesn't bother me, but one of the big changes was making Wendy a much more passive, weak character. That's reportedly one of the reasons Stephen King hated the movie as well. Also, the way Kubrick terrorized Shelley Duvall is horrifying. Her hair was falling out from the stress at one point. At some point I think we really need to have a reckoning on what we accept from "auteur" film-makers. In no other job would we respond to "made an employee sick from harsh treatment" with "wow, such genius, so legendary."

Lisa Ferguson

'It was weird' also really sums up Kubrick's style aha

The film is great but nothing compared to the book! Kubrick's adaptation is amazing but there's a reason Stephen King hated him since he got rid of so much of the original story. If you like Kubric though you should definitely give '2001: A space odyssey' It was filmed/released alongside the novel and both are seen as sci-fi classics!

Also 'Tony', Danny's imaginary friend, is like a future version of Danny talking to and warning his younger self.

Trav Gorin

So Kubrick did intentionally change the soul of the story quite dramatically to the point where the film would leave you feeling confused and uneasy. The downside to that though is it no longer makes enough sense. Ninetailed Brush is right, why is this movie called The Shining? It could have just as easily been called The Overlook. I think the 1997 mini series of The Shining did a much better job at conveying the story and being more 'horror'. Probably due to King himself writing the script. If you haven't watched Doctor Sleep yet, I would recommend watching that version first, or I could just explain a few things. So first, Danny is meant to be extremely powerful with The Shining. Much more powerful than Dick. Which is why to Dick, the things he saw in the Overlook were like pictures in a book. But for Danny, they come to life. Because the evil in the Hotel feeds on death and also feeds on The Shining. That is the reason why the hotel doesn't want Danny to be able to leave. Because with Danny, it can get stronger. The Hotel also traps tormented spirits of people who have died at the Hotel. That's just a basic outline of the actual plot to the story. There's alot more to it obviously. Oh and fun fact, The Overlook Hotel was inspired by a real hotel that King stayed at and is still reported to be haunted. It's called The Stanley Hotel in Colorado.

Trav Gorin

It's kind of weird because when Jack is being told about the past tragedy, he had no idea about it, but when he meets Grady in the bathroom, he says he recognizes him from the newspaper. It would make sense for him to keep coming back to the hotel as if he is a part of the hotel. Also his timeline doesn't make sense because he says the accident, when he hurt Danny, was 3 years ago but Wendy tells the doctor lady he decided to become sober only 5 months ago due to the guilt of the accident. I also think it's interesting that we only get to see what Jack sees once he says he would "sell his soul for a beer" kinda like the hotel was like sure thing.

Kayla Montufar

Doctor Sleep follows Danny as an adult and it shows more of the ~shining~ ability. I'd vote for a watch. :) also, check out "The Wendy theory" by Rob Navarro on YouTube. It's a total theory but it shows how Wendy may have actually been the one hurting Danny and her interactions with Jack may not be what they seem.

Sara McRae

The shinning is probably one of Kubricks most well known films but I'd say a clockwork orange is his most notorious he personally saw to it that it was banned here in the UK till after his death as he lived here and the film was causing much controversy at the time with copycat crimes and a media backlash. Hope you enjoy the shinning I personally love it although I know Stephen King doesn't but I have not read the book so can't compare.

Linda Wightman