One of the most famous filmmakers of the twentieth century was Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999). He is widely considered to be the greatest film director and producer of the cinematic history. His works has brought on the screen many interesting topics such as science fiction, with 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), war, with Full Metal Jacket (1987), psychology, with Eyes Wide Shut (1999) and the horror of the madness with The Shining (1980). In every movie the viewer can see the originality of the Author with his attention to details.

In my opinion The Shining is one of the most beautiful movies by Kubrick. It is a psychological horror thriller movie, based on Stephen King’s novel, and it has the power to keep the viewer in suspense in front of the TV. The main character is Jack Torrence (Jack Nicholson) a writer who accepts to take care of the Overlook Hotel during winter in a remote mountain locality.

During the interview, Jack is informed by the hotel’s manager that the hotel was the scene of a terrifying fact: a previous caretaker killed his family with an axe, then he killed himself. Jack does not seem worried by this frightening event. He moves into Overlook Hotel with his wife Wendy and his son Danny and starts his new job. For some time, everything seems to be going well: Danny plays, Wendy relaxes and Jack spends his spare time writing a new book but everything changes when Danny begins to have some strange terrifying visions and, above all, when Jack’s mental health starts deteriorating: this situation marks the beginning of a nightmare…

The Shining is a horror masterpiece: Kubrick is able to show the journey that leads to madness and describes every detail of this change with great ability. I think that the movie is also a description of human fragility and it shows us how life can suddenly change.

Giovanni Covino

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