It was written by a horror writer. Not Stephen King but the commonly named Diane Johnson. She and Kubrick wrote the screenplay together. She wrote horror books too. Anybody ever read her stuff in book form? I haven't! Well, her horror writing expertise along with Kubrick's mega-superb direction is why the movie is so terrifying!
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Reply by bratface
on August 14, 2020 at 5:45 AM
Which of her novels are you considering horror? Most of her writings are considered to be 'satire'.
Here's a sad bit of trivia, her second husband (Dr. John F. Murray) died from Covid-19 in March 2020.
Reply by Benton12
on August 14, 2020 at 7:27 AM
Not what I heard. I heard she was a horror writer. Saw mention of it in a documentary video. Never read any of her books. Why would Kubrick hire a lady who wrote nothing but funny stuff to help him write a horror film?
Reply by bratface
on August 14, 2020 at 7:43 AM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Johnson
Reply by Benton12
on August 14, 2020 at 9:24 AM
Thanks!
Reply by bratface
on August 14, 2020 at 12:49 PM
You are welcome.
Reply by tmdb53400018
on August 16, 2020 at 9:52 AM
Hell no, it wasn't King. While his negative feedback toward the film has lessened over the years, his mixed response to it after its release is well-documented. King said that The Shining was the only adaptation of his novels that he could remember "hating." He even denied The Shining's effectiveness as an actual horror film.
Reply by wonder2wonder
on August 16, 2020 at 2:50 PM
So, Diane Johnson is a co-writer of "The Shining".
Reply by bratface
on August 16, 2020 at 3:36 PM
No, not the novel but the screenplay for the movie.
Reply by wonder2wonder
on August 16, 2020 at 5:53 PM
Yes, I understood that as well. But from the posts above, I got the impression that she might have been writing horror stories under a pseudonym, perhaps even assisted Stephen King.
Reply by Benton12
on August 16, 2020 at 7:33 PM
Assisted overrated King in what? The writing of this film?
Reply by wonder2wonder
on August 16, 2020 at 8:11 PM
The writing of his books.
Reply by tmdb53400018
on May 2, 2022 at 3:38 AM
Good write-up, and also don't forget the contributing factor of delightfully spooky sound track songs such as "It's All Forgotten Now" by Al Bowlly, Ray Noble & Orchestra...
Reply by Benton12
on May 2, 2022 at 9:45 AM
King's writing was so bad. One time somebody was mad at me and gave me one of his (SK's) lousy novels to read at bedtime. Terrible. Not scary. Just crummy, amateurish writing.
Reply by Tresix
on April 7, 2024 at 11:56 AM
I’ve watched this movie twice and I STILL think it’s overrated.