10 Things Only Stephen King Fans Will Understand

6. Having That Argument About The Shining

No matter how many amazing, critically acclaimed books Stephen King has written or will write, The Shining will always be remembered as one of his most popular and iconic works.

The same can be said of director Stanley Kubrick's films. Of all the classic films he directed, The Shining is undoubtedly up there with his most revered. The problem? King didn't like Kubrick's adaptation. In fact, he doesn't like the film at all. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he had quite a lot to say:

"The book is hot, and the movie is cold; the book ends in fire, and the movie in ice. In the book, there's an actual arc where you see this guy, Jack Torrance, trying to be good, and little by little he moves over to this place where he's crazy. And as far as I was concerned, when I saw the movie, Jack was crazy from the first scene. I had to keep my mouth shut at the time. It was a screening, and Nicholson was there. But I'm thinking to myself the minute he's on the screen, 'Oh, I know this guy. I've seen him in five motorcycle movies, where Jack Nicholson played the same part.' And it's so misogynistic. I mean, Wendy Torrance is just presented as this sort of screaming dishrag. But that's just me, that's the way I am."

When it comes to the film adaptation of The Shining, it's hard not to experience a kind of mixed loyalty. I mean, the film is great €“ right? Does that make me less of a King fan for saying it? Or is King actually right? The whole thing is pretty confusing, and the source of many arguments amongst fans. Just pick a side and don't back down!