The Shining, a movie that almost immediately starts by simply utilizing the basic premise of King's 1977 novel, and forges ahead with a wonderfully creepy journey, but one that is very untrue to the source material.

The Shining centers on the Torrance family, made up of former schoolteacher Jack, his housewife Wendy, and their son Danny, as they venture to the remote Colorado resort, The Overlook Hotel, to work as its caretaker during the winter offseason. Jack is immediately enthused at the prospect of having some dedicated time for a new writing project, while Wendy is keen to let the family have some more time together amid their efforts to reconcile from problems stemming from Jack's alcoholism. However, as the hotel seems to house a darker presence, the Torrance family's quiet stay becomes a haunting one.

The Shining's Numerous Plot Diversions Make Its Runtime Harder To Justify

Kubrick's Streamlined Approach Is Still A Frustrating One

In the 45 years since it came out, Kubrick's The Shining has frequently found itself in the crosshairs of King fans, and the author himself, for the various changes it makes to the source material. Given how expansive the book is, I can respect the fact that fitting it into a feature-length runtime would have required some changes, but since Kubrick still extends it to a 144-minute runtime, complete with long shots simply following characters through the halls of the Overlook, the changes do become a little grating as time goes on.

These changes also make many of the movie's characters feel far less well-rounded than they do in the novel.

Jack's gradual decline into insanity feels more compelling in the novel, given it largely comes from his investigation of the Overlook's history, which also makes him more susceptible to its possession of him in later chapters. For the film, however, Kubrick certainly takes his time exploring this descent into madness, but it feels far more unmotivated. The director clearly wanted to make The Shining more about cabin fever than anything explicitly supernatural, despite a few scenes having no other logical explanation.

These changes also make many of the movie's characters far less well-rounded than they are in the novel. It feels like Wendy and Danny's roles were changed entirely from King's novel out of a fear of Kubrick's about the actors' ability to authentically portray their written counterparts. Additionally, Dick Hallorann seems to only exist to explain Danny's Shining abilities to the audience and then get killed off, despite there being a lot of great wider lore for the character both in the 1977 book and its sequel, Doctor Sleep.

Kubrick's Remarkable Grip On Atmosphere Largely Makes Up For Its Narrative Foibles

Skillful Direction & A Haunting Score Keep Us Grounded In Terror

Despite the movie's various novel changes making for some frustrating narrative choices, it's hard to deny that part of what makes The Shining a horror classic is Kubrick's excellent direction. He and cinematographer John Alcott make some fascinating choices when it comes to the visual design of the film, really allowing us to feel immersed in the Torrances' stay at the Overlook and just how creepy such a large hotel being empty would feel.

One of the best examples of the movie's impressive visual style remains the various trips through the halls of the Overlook. Whether it's Danny riding through the halls on his tricycle, which includes the iconic run-in with the Grady twins, or Jack strolling through them out of boredom and inability to overcome his writer's block, Kubrick and Alcott do just enough to make it feel like the scene is alive without letting the camerawork distract from the impressive production design for the grand hotel.

Another major reason why The Shining remains a haunting watch is the mesmerizing score from duo Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind. The pair, who also worked with Kubrick on A Clockwork Orange, really amplify the ominous atmosphere of the film. Whether it's the opening track mixing electronic synthesizers with a deep trombone or the rattling sound during the movie's more horrific moments, Carlos and Elkind somehow also find a unique way to capture the icy feel of the Overlook's setting as much as its supernaturally tense environment.

Strong Performances Keep The Shining Afloat, Despite 1 Glaring Miscast

Shelley Duvall Haters Can Be Damned

As much as strong direction can keep audiences engaged in a horror movie, having a talented cast is just as important. Luckily for The Shining, Kubrick assembled a thoroughly talented roster to play them. Despite the changes to the character making her a far less resilient figure, Shelley Duvall truly made the best of a bad situation with her turn as Wendy, arguably serving as the closest thing to our emotional anchor for the film. Her characteristics are also somewhat in line with how one living in a relationship with a history of domestic abuse would be — trying to keep the peace while still caring for their child.

The biggest figure who remains a real dividing point for me in The Shining's cast is that of Jack Nicholson as the Torrance family patriarch, Jack. Much like Duvall, Nicholson certainly takes the material he's given to deliver a compelling performance as we watch Jack's descent into madness, but because he's meant to be a caring family man, he feels woefully miscast. From the drive up to the hotel with Wendy and Danny to the movie's ending, it never feels like he actually loves the pair, making his downturn feel less surprising, and more inevitable.

The Shining is available to stream on Max and Prime Video.