Ask anyone what Stanley Kubrick is known for and you’ll hear many great movies. The Shawshank Redemption, Eyes Wide Shut, and the LEGENDARILY popular 2001: A Space Odyssey. However, there’s only one movie that many( including me) , consider to be a horror masterpiece- His movie adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining. Wnna know why? Here’s why. THE STORY: If you haven’t read the book, here’s the breakdown. Jack Nicholson’s Jack Torrance moves with his wife and son to work as a caretaker of The Overlook Hotel for the winter. His son, Danny, possesses a special ability called the Shining. The Hotel is haunted, and wants Danny’s powers. That’s the movie. While the novel focus more on the characterisation, Kubrick relies on the tension and atmoaphere to create real terror. THE DIRECTION: The Shining isn’t filled with jumpscares and monsters to terrify the audience, amd instead, builds a creepy atmosphere that really sets the feeling of A family quietly going mad together. The movie starts with a slow pace and tone, slowing ramping up the atmosphere while prodding at the audience for some truly unsettling moments, only to bring the movie to a thundering crescendo in the last half of the movie. This is intertwined into the ending, which, to this day, still creates conversations on what actually happened. Mix that with Kubrick’s Good stuff.THE ACTING: A good movie is destroyed when it’s actors don’t portray their characters well. This is NOT the case for this movie. With all round great performance by the cast( including Jack Nicholson) , and partially due to Kubrick’s sadistic direction, the movie is played out outstandingly.THE VERDICT: Truely great cinematography, a chilling atmosphere and really great acting makes The Shining a true classic. It’s not like the run-of-the-mill horror movies you see daily, and it’s scares get under your skin really quick. I recommend it as a Must-Watch-Before-You-Die movie.