15 Scariest Stephen King Movie Moments
2. The Chase - The Shining
The Shining is rightly considered one of the very best horror movies of all time, built partly on Stanley Kubrick's masterful manipulation of his cast (which threatened to wade into criminal behaviour) and on his intellectual film-making pillars. It's a portrait of successful atmosphere building, and there are some serious, blood-curdling moments in there.
Easily the most terrifying part is not about monsters or ghosts or horrific visions either, it's simply Jack Nicholson's transformation as Jack Torrance into an unhinged monster. His unravelling is as irresistible as it is horrifying to behold, and when we see his breaking point - when Wendy discovers his "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"... mantra, it's a brilliant crowning moment.
And then Jack goes full Big Bad Wolf, murder shining in his eyes, and we can't help but empathise Wendy as she's terrified to the point of hysteria...