STORYLINE: A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter, where a sinister presence influences the father into violence. At the same time, his psychic son sees horrifying forebodings from both the past and the future. (IMDb)

   As mentioned in my blog for The Nightmare Before Christmas, I want to expand my holiday blog retrospective this year to include horror films for Halloween.  I can’t think of a better place to start then with The Shining, from Stanley Kubrick who was a master filmmaker.  Any chance I get to see a film by by the legendary director, in theaters, I am going to.  It was a visual feast to see the science fiction defining feature 2001:  A Space Odyssey (1968), as well an experience to view the greatest epic of all time Barry Lyndon (1975) on the silver screen.  However, to sit back, and discover the terrifying mystery The Shining, in theaters, is an experience all to itself.

    There are very few films, that when played theatrically in the local theaters, over and over again I am going to prioritize.  The Shining is one of those movies. 

    I am madly in love with the scenic beauty, this motion picture shows.  Everything from the gorgeous mountain shots, to the beautiful decorative hotel have me glued to a screen any size.  I also love seeing that giant hedge maze, and watching the climax of the film unfold, in said hedge maze, gives me chills each theatrical viewing.     

    Typically I use this platform to complain about music in modern cinema  being a crutch on screenplays and those acting then out. It’s true they are.  The Shining, a movie that is over forty five years old now, predates that problem.  It has a haunting score, used to its advantage.  It comes across well in the surround sound of the movie theater. (This is as close to a live concert as I want to get).

    I have been in love with The Shining ever since I first saw it many, many years ago, on dvd. I have since seen it in theaters multiple times, and treasures each viewing. 

   Until next time, I will see you at the movies!

2026 HOLIDAY RETROSPECTIVE: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), The Shining (1980)