Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" is a psychological horror masterpiece based on Stephen King's novel of the same name. With its distinct visual style and haunting narrative, the film draws the viewer into an immersive tale of isolation, madness, and supernatural terror.
The plot revolves around Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), a recovering alcoholic and struggling writer who takes a job as a winter caretaker at the remote Overlook Hotel in Colorado. He is joined by his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and their young son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), who possesses a psychic ability known as "the shining."
Before the family's arrival, the hotel manager reveals the hotel's tragic past, including the incident of a previous caretaker, who driven by cabin fever, killed his family and then himself. Despite this disturbing revelation, Jack sees the job as a perfect opportunity to overcome his writer's block.
As the family settles into the isolated hotel, eerie incidents begin to unfold. Danny experiences horrific visions of the hotel's past and future, including the ghostly apparitions of the previous caretaker's daughters and torrents of blood pouring from the hotel's elevators.
Meanwhile, Jack's mental state deteriorates rapidly. He encounters ghosts from the hotel's past that drive him to madness and violence. Encouraged by the ghostly bartender and the previous murderous caretaker's apparition, Jack decides to "correct" his family, echoing the tragic events that occurred years before.
At the same time, Wendy, initially oblivious to the unfolding horror, stumbles upon Jack's 'work,' which reveals his descent into madness. In a terrifying sequence, Jack, now completely unhinged, chases his wife and son through the hotel with an axe.
In a thrilling climax set in the hotel's outdoor hedge maze, Danny manages to outwit his father, leaving him lost and frozen in the cold. Wendy and Danny escape, leaving a crazed Jack to perish in the icy labyrinth.
"The Shining" concludes with a chilling image of an old photograph, revealing Jack as a guest at the Overlook Hotel in 1921, adding a supernatural twist that implies the hotel's insidious influence might have been at play all along. The film leaves audiences questioning the line between reality and insanity, crafting an enduring horror classic that continues to captivate and terrify.