I'll just come out and say it right now: this is my favorite film ever made. Stanley Kubrick got me into more serious films, which led me to the likes of Scorsese, Welles, and others. Out of his films, this one was my personal favorite, and after subsequent re-viewing, I realized that this is my favorite film period. To me, a favorite film is one that can warrant multiple viewings and never get old, and this is one of the few films that can make those viewings worthwhile. Yet the reasons why can sometimes be as mysterious as the film itself. To me, it's probably because the mere idea of it tricks and surprises you. If you are familiar with Kubrick's other work, then a horror movie may make you think that it will be as generic and bland as the horror movies that were coming out in the 70s and 80s (with some exceptions.) When you think about it, though, Kubrick's subtle and nuanced style makes this a lot less scream-horror, and more psychological-horror. Instead of making you scream, it makes you descend into madness like the character, which is probably the ultimate way of making you identify with him. According to the Youtube video "Film psychology THE SHINING spatial awareness and set design," the architecture of the Overlook Hotel has numerous flaws that make the actual building impossible to exist in real life. Also, the slow and hypnotic camera angles and pacing really sucks you into the world of madness and hysteria that is transpiring in the movie. By the end, in the hedge maze, your transformation to the world of the film is complete, as your feel just as disoriented as the main characters. This is a sharp contrast to the beginning, where Jack goes to the interview, where there are flat camera angles, easy to see and understand. The scariest horror movies are ones that convince you it could happen in real life, and The Shining does more than that. It convinces you that it is happening, as you get sucked into the illusion filled world using film techniques that Kubrick exploited to their fullest extent. Now even though it is my favorite film, it doesn't get 5 stars because it isn't perfect, mainly due to Shelley Duvall's performance near the end. But don't let that turn you off from the film, as it is one of the greatest I have ever seen. If you have a chance to watch it, go for it. You will not be disappointed.