The Shining (1980)

⭐ 8.5/10

(Originally written by Joseph)

Am I... Am I starting to like horror movies? I think I might be? Does that make me a psychopath?

I think I'm really starting to dig movies with a terrific sense of mystery that start to get dark and creepy. This is a movie about Jack Nicholson getting hired as an off-season caretaker at a hotel, essentially getting to stay at this massive resort with his family alone while snow blocks all routes to and from. But the hotel has had some suspicious activity in previous winters, and, well, let's just say all work and no play make Jack a dull boy.

I thought this movie was awesome as a slow burn, never giving you too much at once, slowly building up the creepiness. There are essentially only 3 cast members, and all three, including the child, were phenomenal. It's a beautiful, focused, single location movie that really sends a shiver down your spine.

This isn't the scariest movie ever, and I, a coward, didn't have much of a problem with it. There are a couple grotesque scenes, but they are pretty brief. There is also the "Danny's not home" scene which was the only moment I was genuinely freaked out. So if you're looking to get into some classic horror like me, I think this might be a pretty good movie to start.

I think it's kinda cool that two masters of their trade, Kubrick and King, collided in the creation of this movie, and then disagreed on it so strongly.

So yeah, solid movie, though I can't say I loved every aspect. I didn't totally understand everything I don't think, especially when it came to the ghosts, and it seemed like a few things were just thrown in there for unnecessary twists. But still solid and I'm glad I watched.