The Shining is a 1980 film directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall. It follows a writer and his family going insane while stuck in a winter lodge by themselves. Although this movie is revered by most people, I personally didn’t particularly like it.

The Shining centers around Jack, a writer who is hired to look over a hotel lodge during the winter when all the guests are away. However, it is soon revealed that all is not well at the Overlook hotel, as both ghosts and insanity grip the family.

Jack Nicholson, is simply incredible in this movie, he’s charming and scary at the same time. He’s very subtle as well with his acting. Even at the start of the movie, he seems slightly off, even prior to him going to the hotel. It makes his transition to madness more believable. He’s easily the best part of this film, and he makes it.\

However, in spite of Jack Nicholson and his incredible acting, this movie is very confusing. I don’t think I get overly confused at films too often, but this one really didn’t make any sense. Is the problem at the Overlook hotel ghosts? Does it drive people insane? How is Jack’s son telepathic? The movie raises many questions but answers none of them. Granted, I haven’t read the novel, but still. I should be able to watch the movie without reading the book.

Overall, the Shining, at least to me, is only alright. It’s very badly paced, it’s confusing, and it has a very unsatisfying ending. I’m probably in the minority with these opinions, as usually I don’t like Kubrick’s works while the rest of the world adores him. Nonetheless, I really didn’t like The Shining all that much.