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The Shining

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 16.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Creepy suspense/horror film. Older teens plus.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–17

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Main character aims to murder his family.
  • Violence:

    Several axe murders, decomposed bodies; a child draws with blood.
  • Sex:

    Full frontal nudity.
  • Language:

    Very strong.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Cigarettes and alcohol.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Shining

Parents need to know that blood flows throughout this film -- literally -- in several notorious scenes. There are axe murders and decomposed bodies. The main character, a recovering alcoholic, slowly goes insane and aims to kill his family. He verbally abuses his wife throughout most of the film. There is some alcohol and cigarette use.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the relationship between fantasy and reality in the film. Do you find yourself confused about what's "really" happening at various points in the film? In what different ways could these scenes be interpreted?

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Our Members Say

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  •  I think this movie is

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See all 47 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title off for age 16 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    BEST STEPHEN KING FILM EVER

    Probably the best Stephen King film around. Very violent, very scary. NOT 4 KIDS!!!!

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    Better for older teens

    Okay, this movie is not an allout gorefest, but there are some bloody scenes (i.e. Blood literally flooding an entire room, disturbing images, a guyt gets chopped in bthe stomach with an axe) Warning: also has a very graphic scene of full nudity. Also has some language.

  3. I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    CREEPY!!!!

    What a great film! it is probably one of the scariest movies i've ever seen though! alot of people find "The Exorcist" the scariest movie ever, but i found it extremely scary, good film to watch with the family! it does contain a few F-words, and one nude woman walking out of a bathtub (her breasts, buttocks, belly button, pubic hair, and vagina are visible during this scene). but other than that scene this film is really really really spooky, and might give your children nightmares!

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    Great movie for the adult horror-fans.

    A Very good movie. adapted from Stephen King's novel under the same name. A big OFF or kids because the it is very profane. It has bad influences such as the main character is an insane recovering alcoholic whos wants to murder his family, full-frontal nudity of a old woman in a bathtub, intense language, verbal abuse, graphic scenes (a lot of blood and axe murders, etc.), alcohol and cigarette use. I first watched it when I was 11 at my grandpa's house and I loved it ever since, great movie for adult-horror fans.

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    Heres Johny

    Its a great movie better Halloween Freddy vs Jason combined its psychological unpredictibal the one bath room scene with the naked women who cares it ads suspence

  6. I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    Not Good For Young Viewers, but an Amazing Movie.

    I found this a positively amazing movie. However, sensitive or easily scared viwers should steer clear. My older friend was terrified by this movie, but when I first watched it, aged 11, I was amazed by it.

  7. I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 5.0

    I'm twelve, and this is my all time favourite movie. However, anyone who is easily scared should stay clear of this movie. Personally, I didn't find it at all scary, however, my older friend was terrified by it, so I'd steer clear if you're younger than fourteen.

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title off for age 15 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative role models

    very explicet but good

    very strong movie that has alot content movie and the book are awsome stephen king is the best author him and thomas harris are high on my list

  9. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative role models

    Creepfest has some very Gross Moments.

    This is a classic film; but a horror film nonetheless. I thought Jack Nicholson's preformance was quite good as the psychotic father. Parents: watch out for lady in bathtub (yuck) and the incredibly wierd "bear" scene (kids might not get it)! This is a very creepy film, but compared to today's horrors, it's actually not too bad. The only reason I give it 17+ is because of that freakin' gross lady in the bathtub!

  10. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    Great movie

    I watched this movie when I was 10 and I was absolutely horrified. Good for ages 14+.

  11. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Idaho
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    horrific

    you people have got to be kidding me!?????????? every ADULT, child, teen, or ANYONE you an ask about this film, will say it is one of the scariest movies they have ever seen. it is CONMPLETLEY innapropriate for ANY child or young teen.

  12. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

  13. I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    MUST HAVE!!!!!!!

    I'm 12 and love this movie, it's the best!!! Comical words and brill suspense!!! Love the characters and find it clever how it is films!!! Found nothing scary and my mum wasn't sure but now she has let my little brother (age 10) watch it because she said it is not scary!!!

  14. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Nebraska
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    BRILLIANT!!!!

    This movie is perfect for anyone!!! Although a little gory and graphic, this film can teach us much about how to deal with many different family problems. It also addresses a serious disease within the film. Cabin Fever. Cabin fever is not a joke and it can happen to ANY hard working person. This movie is perfect for anyone of any age.

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

  16. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    adgjdagj

    SFhadfhadg

  17. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    adgjdagj

    SFhadfhadg

  18. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title off for age 16 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    Oh my god!

    Will scare the sh-t out of kids 16 and under. Description and scenes of graphic violence, Full female nudity, and very strong language. Nowhere near as explicit as the book. Extremely good book and movie.

  19. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0

    I love it...so funny!

    If you watch it on tv, its not bad AT ALL.. ya, they do say some language, but everybody heres that. and yo onky see blood for like 2 seconds, and it looks fakey. i have seen it so many times i think its funny! its not scary. i think its great though!

  20. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

    Amazing? Yes. Scary? No.

    I love this movie. It's probably one of my favorites. Nicholson portrays the gradual insanity of Jack Torrance brilliantly. The plot and political subliminal messages are amazing. However, I don't see how this is inappropriate for under-16s. Yes, there is a river of blood, yes, we do see two bloodied bodies for five seconds, yes, Torrance does kill someone. The nude "rotting" woman is blurred out in the TV version, though it is clear that Torrance is sexually attracted to her (in beautiful form). Let's face it: in this day and age, kids are used to minor (yes, minor) to medium violence and by grade 6. Also, Torrance says "hell" and "damn" a few times. How the heck is that strong language? Poltergeist is worse than that, and its' language rating is Medium. Oh well. Amazing movie. Amazing actors.

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