Stephen King's Fiery Critique Of ‘The Shining’—Why The Master Of Horror Hates One Of the Greatest Horror Films Ever Made

The story behind Stephen King’s disdain for everyone’s favorite horror classic.

Jesse

• Published in Film & TV
• September 29, 2024

When you think of classic horror movies, The Shining undoubtedly comes to mind. Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s novel has cemented its place in cinematic history as one of the greatest horror movies ever made.

But while moviegoers continue to sing its praise, there’s one person who isn’t joining the fan club—Stephen King himself. The master of horror has made no secret of his disdain for Kubrick’s take on his novel.

So, what exactly went wrong? How could a film that’s so revered by audiences be so despised by the person who inspired it? Luckily, King has been pretty vocal about what he feels went awry, and trust me—this isn’t just a case of an author nitpicking a few details. 

In fact, he’s gone on record saying it’s the only adaptation of his novels that he outright hates. He’s been pretty clear about the fact that Kubrick’s adaptation didn’t just tweak the story—it completely missed the point.

For King, the film strayed too far from the heart of his novel, losing the emotional depth and character arcs that made it so terrifying. Even after over four decades, King’s disapproval still lingers—and for good reason. 

Let’s break down exactly why the master of horror remains unimpressed with Kubrick’s so-called masterpiece.

King wasn't happy that Kubrick chose a scenic location rather than somewhere spooky

First off, let’s talk hotels. If there’s one thing King is passionate about, it’s the places that inspire his stories. The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, was the muse behind the fictional Overlook Hotel in The Shining.

King and his wife stayed there in 1974, and the deserted corridors and unsettling atmosphere left such an impression that it sparked the idea for his novel. So, imagine his disappointment when Kubrick opted to film at the Timberline Lodge in Oregon instead. 

Not only did it lack King's personal connection with The Stanley Hotel, but Timberline’s management even asked Kubrick to change the infamous room number from 217 (as in the book) to 237 (which is a non-existent room at the hotel.)

The irony? Room 217 is now the most requested at the Timberline Lodge. Looks like the original haunted room had the last laugh!

But King’s grievances didn’t stop at the hotel. He also took issue with Kubrick’s portrayal of Wendy Torrance, who was played by Shelley Duvall.

In the novel, Wendy is a strong, resilient woman who stands by her family in the face of supernatural horror. But Kubrick’s Wendy? She was more ‘damsel in distress’ than a real survivor. King didn’t mince words; he boldly declared she was just “there to scream and be stupid.” Ouch.

King was disappointed at how Wendy and Jack Torrance were depicted

King’s grievances didn’t stop at the hotel. He also took issue with Kubrick’s portrayal of Wendy Torrance, who was played by Shelley Duvall.

In the novel, Wendy is a strong, resilient woman who stands by her family in the face of supernatural horror. But Kubrick’s Wendy was more of a ‘damsel in distress’ than a real survivor. King didn’t mince words; he boldly stated that she was just “there to scream and be stupid.” Ouch!

There have been allegations that Kubrick’s relentless directing methods drove her to exhaustion, isolation, and tears.

And then we have Jack Torrance, the story’s unraveling protagonist

In the novel, Jack Torrance begins as a relatable, recovering alcoholic, a detail reflecting King's own life. King wanted an "everyday" actor like Christopher Reeve for the role, but Kubrick chose Jack Nicholson.

Even though Jack Nicholson delivered a beautiful performance in the movie, King wasn't impressed, as he felt Nicholson lacks the character arc he envisioned.

"I don’t like the arc that Jack Nicholson runs as Jack Torrance," he said to the New York Times. "Because it isn’t really an arc — it’s a flat line. He’s crazy from the jump." 

In addition, the movie focuses more on Jack as the antagonist rather than the supernatural forces of the Overlook Hotel. This differed significantly from the novel’s depiction.

The book and the movie are two worlds apart

In the end, the film and the book are almost two entirely different stories. Despite King’s admiration for Kubrick as a director, he just couldn’t reconcile these differences.

Even though King’s disdain for The Shining has softened over the years, he still isn’t a fan. However, the fact remains that Kubrick’s film, love it or hate it, is now a cornerstone of cinematic history.

Jesse