Stanley Kubrick hailed The Shining as ‘the scariest horror film of all time’ before its release in 1980. Though the film opened to poor reviews, it has since become one of the most admired horror films in cinema history. Exerting an enormous influence on popular culture, The Shining has spawned a vast array of interpretations and conspiracy theories.

Roger Luckhurst’s illuminating study explores the film’s themes, tropes and resonances through a detailed analysis of sequences and performances. Situating The Shining in a series of fresh contexts, Luckhurst looks at the complex nature of horror cinema at the end of the 1970s and early 80s. Taking the maze of the haunted hotel as a key motif, he offers numerous threads with which to navigate the strange twists and turns of this enigmatic film.

This limited edition features original cover artwork by Mark Swan.