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The Shining (1980): Film vs Book
Film · 1980 · Directed by Stanley Kubrick · Starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall
About the film
A family spends a winter as caretakers of an empty mountain hotel.
How close is it to the book?
Loosely based on the bookA cold, stylish film that changes much of the novel's story and characters. Its author has said he disliked it.
Read or watch first?
See the film as a horror classic, and read the book for the very different, more human tale.
What the book gives you
The Shining by Stephen King
A masterclass in atmosphere that makes a snowed-in hotel feel alive. It is a gripping, atmospheric read, ideal for a stormy night.
Who will like it: Horror fans who love atmospheric, slow-building suspense in a remote and spooky setting.