Among horror fans, there’s an agreement that one movie stands out as the best: The Shining.

There are a multitude of reasons why The Shining is by far the greatest horror film of all time including a decorated director, breathtaking cinematography, complex themes, dedicated actors, and iconic scenes making this masterpiece that much better.

First, it is directed by one of the most respected and greatest movie directors ever, Stanley Kubrick, who has a stunning lineup of movies he has directed. Some of his most iconic include 2001: A Space Odyssey, Full Metal Jacket, and A Clockwork Orange. Out of all of these heavy hitters, none were horror films; however, Kubrick makes up for it with his magnum opus, The Shining. 

Mandeville High School sophomore Christian O’Callaghan was moved by Kubrick’s films, especially The Shining. “Kubrick has a very impressive history of movies he’s directed that will be hard for anyone to get close to. Among all of his films, The Shining is not only Kubrick’s best but also the entire genre of horror’s too.”

Moreover, Kubrick brings his impressive background in cinematography to the film. This perfectly complements the main theme of the film: isolation. Kubrick uses liminal (large or empty) spaces such as the sizable hotel that main character, Jack Torrance, is tasked with taking care of while in its offseason. Kubrick utilizes this liminal space to create a terrifying atmosphere of loneliness that could bring anyone to madness. 

Alongside this, Kubrick also uses the hotel’s grass hedge maze to create a shot that not only looks incredible but also foreshadows what happens at the end of the movie. This shot depicts Jack’s wife, Wendy, taking their son, Danny, to the hotel’s hedge maze. While walking around the enormous maze, the camera zooms out and shows the two, almost lost in the maze, blissfully wandering around.

This shot also foreshadows the end of the movie. In the scene, both Wendy and Danny are frantically fleeing from Jack who has gone on a murderous rampage from being driven insane by the maze.

Saint Paul’s English teacher Whitney Brown is also impressed with the movie’s cinematography, particularly the use of one camera system, Steadicam:

“I’m no expert on cinematography, but the first thing that comes to mind is the use of Steadicam. You’re left feeling as if you are frantically wandering the halls of the Overlook. Also, there are these lingering wide-angle shots that make the hotel weirdly inviting. It’s kind of like a visual siren song. I wish I could take my family there on vacation!”

Throughout the film, Kubrick uses the idea of liminal spaces to create shots to make the viewers feel uneasy, almost as if they are isolated themselves.

The Shining also gives a thoughtful look into how addiction affects people’s lives.

In Jack’s case, alcohol is the catalyst for his spiral into madness.

After being stuck at the Overlook Hotel for an extended period, Jack begins to feel unsettled by the isolation of his job, which puts him on edge with his family.

After a violent episode, Jack winds up at the hotel’s empty bar, where he is met with a ghost-like bartender. This bartender offers Jack a drink, which he accepts, and jokingly adds that he would sell his soul for it. This comment is taken literally, and Jack’s soul is taken by the spirits of the Overlook Hotel, causing him to continue to torture his family.

This proves that Jack’s addiction was so strong that he would give up his soul, his spiritual body, just for one drink. That one drink also resulted in his eventual death and the traumatization of his family.

The Shining also has two of the most impressive acting performances in movie history in both Jack Nicholson and Shelly Duvall. Specifically, Duvall is known for her dedication to the role of Wendy Torrance. According to chargerpress.com, Duvall would shoot at least 35 takes per scene for Kubrick’s satisfaction. These takes often involved Duvall being attacked by Nicholson, who was likewise deep in his character. This created an authentic atmosphere that most movies cannot match.

Although her dedication proved beneficial for the product, the number of takes took an emotional toll on Duvall. This eventually led Duvall to a 21-year hiatus from acting.

The Shining has also given horror some of its most iconic moments.

One example of this is the Grady twins. Although they are some of the lesser significant characters in the movie, they are known for their eerie presence caused by their monotone voices, which don’t fit their childlike appearance. The twins also have a disturbing backstory that only adds to the creepiness of their characters.

The Shining also popularized one of the most iconic phrases in movie history, “Here’s Johnny!” Jack Torrance recites these words in a fit of rage while attempting to get to Wendy’s hiding spot. According to Screen Rant, this scene was improvised. Jack Nicholson, the actor who plays Jack, borrowed these words from the intro to the Johnny Carson Show. These two words continue to live on through pop culture.

Because of the aforementioned reasons and its cult following, The Shining remains the greatest horror movie of all time, 43 years after its release.