Some places are like people: some shine and some don't

The Shining portrays the story of a man, Jack, who takes his family to an abandoned, haunted hotel in the attempts to write a new novel. Along with his wife Wendy and schizophrenic son Danny, they arrive at the Overlook Hotel in the hopes of Jack writing his novel in the serenity of the mountains. As Jack arrives at the hotel to scope out his new home, the manager informs him that Overlook is haunted by the murders of a woman and her two daughters. Jack promptly states that this will not be a problem, but back at the house Danny’s “shining” Tony seems to imply there’s something else in store. One day as Danny cruises down the narrow hotel halls; Tony begins to take over muttering the iconic word: “redrum”. Wendy goes to the study to check on Jack to find him passed out in front of his typewriter. She looks at his pages to find that he has not been writing a novel at all, but the phrase "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," or rather: an unstable boy. She finds out alcoholic Jack has been transformed into a homicidal maniac with an axe to grind.

The Shining was everything I was promised. After hearing reference after reference to this classic, once it was suggested I finally decided to watch it. It was not the kind of movie that would leave you quaking in your sheets, but the kind that will give you chills as you read the words, “redrum” on the mirror of Wendy’s vanity. With the help of the musical score, I knew exactly what every scene was going to entail. It was just when the horror would occur that kept me on my toes. This movie is not about ghosts and hauntings but about the constant fear of going insane and discovering the only monster you should fear is yourself. I give this a solid 4.7/5 naked old ladies.