Greetings, and WELCOME BACK TO OCTOBER HORROR FEST!!! I am once again back to complete the challenge, and I am so excited to finally begin.

Just a bit of background! My name is Danny, and this is my third year doing October Horror Fest. In 2022, it started off as a bit of a side challenge. I wanted to watch a spooky movie or a horror movie every single day for the month of October. This challenge means a lot to me, as it’s inspired several others to follow it. Right now, I have friends and new horror enthusiasts ready to begin the challenge with me. Unfortunately, I failed my first year, and I didn’t complete the challenge. However, everything changed last year. For those returning, welcome back! For new people, last year, I turned October Horror Fest into a daily column. I would review a movie, and post a new article every single day. This year, that trend remains the same. Lots of content will be coming your way for the next 30 days! However, I will be changing the formula based on reception. Last year, my articles did get a “bit” long, and was tiring for both me and all of you. I may scale them back, and focus on the other side of film review. How it was made, its impact on the genre, etc. However, it all depends on you guys. Whatever feedback you have, I’ll be totally receptive!

The rules of the challenge have not changed since last year. However, be ready for all new scares! This month, I will not be repeating any movie I reviewed last year. All new films and media will be coming your way. For the rules, as I’ve said, they haven’t changed. If you want a full rundown, be sure to check out day one from last year. For the people who don’t have the time or patience (trust me, I get it), the basic rules are as follows.

I have to watch a Halloween-related piece of media every single day for the month of October. It DOES NOT have to be horror (contrary to the name!) If I want to watch something a bit lighter, like “Halloween Town” or “Hocus Pocus”, I am able to. It does not matter what it is, as long as the said piece of media relates to Halloween. From short films to feature length animated spectaculars, as long as it has Halloween elements, it’s eligible. For some specifics…

If I begin a movie on a given day, and it finishes the next day, this still counts for the challenge. Although this happens rarely, it may happen. I went further into this on my previous day one, but I’ll be sure to let you all know.

That seems to be enough for me! I am so excited to begin this journey with you all for the second year in a row. Now, without further ado, sit back, relax, turn off the lights, grab some Candy and Popcorn, and let’s review…

THE SHINING (1980)

Our tale begins with Jack Torrance, a loving (but flawed) father who is trying to look out for his family. He is applying to be the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel for the winter season and is bringing his family along with him. Wendy, his wife, and Danny (yup…) his son, are both coming with him after he gets the job. Danny, however, is special.

Young Danny Torrance possesses a gift. Described by Dick Hallorann, its name is The Shining. This gift allows Danny to communicate telepathically, read minds, and see visions of the past and the future. This gift will be instrumental in the rest of the film. For the first few days, everything’s looking up for the Torrances. Jack is an aspiring writer and is focused on his work. Danny and his mother are getting along great, and are having lots of fun.

However, this era of fun has come to a slow and declining halt. Danny begins to have episodes where he talks to his “imaginary friend” Tony. Tony is the best example of the shining effect. However, Wendy doesn’t understand this. Slowly but surely, we see Stanley Kubrick’s genius film-making come into play. The film begins to be separated by timestamps. For example, we flash a month into the future after the Torrances arrive at the Overlook. From there, everything goes downhill.

The first sign that something is an array comes from Jack himself. While “writing” his book, Wendy comes to check up on her husband. However, he snaps. Jack, as we first see here, begins to lose his sanity and his soul to the hotel. He curses out his wife, and sends her away in a fit of unsolicited rage. From there, we begin to travel through the next fateful week.

Jack grows more and more insane, learning about the past of the hotel. Eventually, he goes to the bar, after having been sober for six months. He hallucinates, (or the hotel shows him a vision) of the past. He talks to the bartender, who he somehow knows the name of…

Jack begins to drink and drink, talking to the oddly dressed 1920s era barman. He leaves, after Wendy informs him that someone else is in the hotel. Jack goes to confront this force, and the famous “women in the bathtub” scene commences. I would describe it in detail, but honestly, I think such a classic horror moment should be left up to you all to research. After this, Jack completely loses himself. Danny eventually succumbs to “Tony” as all of this is happening. While Jack slips further into madness, Danny slips further into his abilities. He sends out a distress call to Dick Hallorann, who begins his journey from Florida to the Overlook.

At the apex of the madness, the final descent into violence begins. Jack finds himself in a hallucination caused by the hotel. He is at a 1920s party, but all the party-goers are victims of the hotel. A party-goer, a man who killed his family during his tenure at the Overlook, tells Jack he has to do the same. Jack understands, and begins to come after his family.

After some small fighting between Wendy and Jack, the final battle begins. Jack slashes his way into where his wife and son are hiding, screaming the famous line, “HERE’S JOHNNY!” Danny is able to slip out the window, and Dick finally arrives at the hotel. He enters, and is brutally killed by Jack, who now knows where Danny is hiding. After a final run inside of the frost-covered maze of bushes outside the hotel, Danny escapes with his mother. His father freezes in the snow, and we see his snow-covered corpse.

The frame snaps back to the hotel. We zoom in on an old fashioned image. Jack Torrance smiles at us from a black and white picture, we zoom in on his face, as we see the following words. “Overlook Hotel, July 4th Ball, 1921…” Jack, as we know him, has been absorbed by the hotel.

The Shining has quickly become one of my favorite Horror Films. Having only seen it for the first time today, I was totally unexpected to find how much I loved the story. From the masterpiece stories of Kubrick and King, to the horror tropes and famous scenes, it is one of the best I’ve seen.

AND THAT IS THE END OF DAY ONE! I am so SO excited to keep up the journey, and this is just the beginning! I hope you all enjoyed it!!! But, before you go, I have to ask you all something. Have you ever felt like you know things? That you see things that others can’t see? Well, my friends, you may just shine…