Loathed on its first release, especially by Stephen King, Kubrick’s uncanny, anti-gothic masterpiece has long since taken its rightful place among the most celebrated of horror films. King claimed that Kubrick had no understanding of horror, but he was clearly wrong. From the opening helicopter shots of a tiny car on an isolated highway to the final chase through the maze, The Shining uses all the techniques of cinema to create an atmosphere of prevailing unease. Kubrick subverts King’s haunted hotel story by setting this tale of a family isolated over the winter in bright, cavernous spaces which echo the emptiness of the protagonist’s tortured mind.

There are many stand-out moments: Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall’s excessive performances, the crashing appearance of the murdered girls in the corridor, and of course, “here’s Johnny”. But what is most striking about the film is its subtle touches; the distorting wide angle lenses as Wendy and Danny walk through the maze; the sound of Danny’s tricycle as he rides it over wood flooring and rugs in the hotel lobby; Jack staring down at a model of the maze, which dissolves into a high angle shot of the real maze with Wendy and Danny in the centre. On the big screen the film is a revelation. If you have never seen it, go now. If you have seen it before, go again. This is a film that should be enjoyed… for ever… and ever.

See both The Shining and Room 237 for £8. Joint tickets must be purchased in person at DCA Box Office or by calling 01382 909 900. Tickets for each film purchased separately will be charged at the standard rate.