Disappointing... Jack Nicholson parodies himself while Kubrick fails to provide any thrills. [11 July 1980, p.8]

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

It’s the experience more so than the actual content of The Shining that radiates cold, anti-humanly indifferent terror.

Eric Henderson

Slant Magazine

The unhurried pace, extended dialogue scenes and those sudden, sinister inter-titles (One Month Later, 4pm) contribute to the insidious unease. Nicholson's performance as the abusive father who is tipped over the edge is a thrillingly scabrous, black-comic turn, and the final shot of his face in daylight is a masterstroke...Deeply scary and strange.

Peter Bradshaw

The Guardian