Enthusiasts of Stanley Kubrick’s cinematic masterpiece, The Shining, and Stephen King’s chilling literary work will be keen to explore the newly released limited edition 4K Blu-ray sets, now available through Amazon. These highly anticipated collector’s items from The Film Vault present both the Steelbook Special Edition and the Solus Steelbook Edition of the iconic 1980 horror film.
The Solus Steelbook Edition includes an elegant acetate slipcover. For a truly immersive experience, the Steelbook Special Edition offers a wealth of unique bonuses, presented within a specially themed cigar box. This includes two exclusive posters, five character art cards, and three rare behind-the-scenes production cards. Each Special Edition is individually numbered with a holographic sticker, underscoring its exclusivity and limited run of only 6,000 units, making it a highly desirable and fast-selling item.
Both editions of The Shining from The Film Vault are manufactured in the UK and feature region-free 4K Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray discs. Even when purchased from Amazon’s US platform, these sets are shipped directly from Amazon Global Store UK, benefiting from complimentary international shipping to US addresses. While delivery typically takes around two weeks, the inclusion of free international shipping adds significant value to these collector’s purchases.
Initially, these Film Vault editions of The Shining were exclusively available at Walmart in the US. They were offered at higher price points and quickly sold out in August, with many pre-orders subsequently cancelled due to inventory shortfalls. While the Special Edition did not return to Walmart, the Solus Steelbook Edition saw a brief restock on October 3rd, only to sell out again within hours. It`s worth noting that reseller prices for these items at Walmart are now considerably inflated.
The Shining is one of two acclaimed early 1980s horror films featured in The Film Vault Wave 3. Its companion release is the 1982 supernatural horror classic, Poltergeist. Similar to The Shining, Poltergeist was also a Walmart exclusive in the US but is now sold out there. However, Amazon currently stocks both the Poltergeist Special Edition Steelbook and Solus Steelbook, also shipping from Amazon UK with region-free 4K and 1080p Blu-ray discs. The pricing on Amazon for these editions is also more favorable compared to Walmart`s original offering.
The Film Vault Wave 3 Editions Now Available
- The Shining Solus Steelbook (4K)
- The Shining Special Edition Steelbook (4K)
- Poltergeist Solus Steelbook (4K)
- Poltergeist Special Edition Steelbook (4K)
In-Depth Look: The Shining Film Vault Steelbook Special Edition (4K Blu-ray)
The cigar box for the Special Edition showcases striking artwork: a large silhouette of Jack Torrance, fireman`s axe in hand, overseeing the ominous Overlook Hotel. The back of the box features Jack’s typewriter with a page famously filled with the repeated phrase, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
The envelope containing the eight art cards is a meticulously crafted replica of this iconic page from the film. The set includes five character cards, capturing memorable scenes, alongside three behind-the-scenes production photos, one of which shows director Stanley Kubrick on set.
The exclusive steelbook artwork, a collaboration by Matt Ferguson and Florey of Vice Press, is also featured on a new movie poster. A second poster is a carefully retouched version of Saul Bass’ legendary promotional poster for The Shining’s 1980 theatrical release.
With this Special Edition, the acetate slipcover is placed over the cigar box. The movie title and logos are printed on this transparent slipcover, offering collectors the flexibility to display the artwork with or without accompanying text.
Contents of the Special Edition:
- Steelbook with exclusive artwork
- Cigar Box with new artwork and Acetate slipcover
- Option to remove slipcover for a text-free display box
- 2 Posters
- New artwork by Matt Ferguson & Florey
- Retouched version of Saul Bass’ 1980 Theatrical Poster
- Art Cards
- 5 Character Cards
- 3 Behind-the-Scenes Cards
- `All Work and No Play` Envelope for Art Cards
- Numbered Holographic Sticker
- The Shining on 4K Blu-ray disc
- The Shining & Special Features on standard Blu-ray disc
In-Depth Look: The Shining Film Vault Steelbook Edition (4K Blu-ray)
The Solus Steelbook Edition, designed without an outer box, features an acetate slipcover placed directly over the steelbook case. Consistent with the Special Edition, the film’s title and logos are printed on this transparent sleeve, allowing for an aesthetic display that is either text-inclusive or text-free. It’s important to note that the steelbook case itself is identical to the one included in the Special Edition.
The captivating new artwork by Matt Ferguson & Florey of Vice Press masterfully depicts Jack Torrance navigating the hedge maze. The back cover prominently features the bathroom door, famously inscribed with “Redrum” in red lipstick by Danny. The interior artwork extends this theme, showcasing the hedge maze from the film on both sides.
Contents of the Solus Steelbook Edition:
- Steelbook with exclusive artwork
- Acetate sleeve
- Option to remove sleeve for a text-free display case
- The Shining on 4K Blu-ray disc
- The Shining on standard Blu-ray disc
Initially released in 2019, The Shining’s 4K Blu-ray remains a benchmark for film restoration from its era. Presented in native 4K (2160p) resolution, it boasts support for both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ for superior visual depth and color. Audio is delivered through DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound, offering a rich auditory experience.
Special Features Included with The Shining:
All 4K and Blu-ray editions of The Shining come equipped with a selection of noteworthy special features. Both the 4K and 1080p discs feature an optional audio commentary track from Kubrick’s biographer John Baxter and Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown. Additional bonus content, including a comprehensive behind-the-scenes documentary, is exclusively available on the standard Blu-ray disc.
- Audio Commentary: John Baxter & Garrett Brown
- The Making of The Shining (35 minutes)
- View from the Overlook: Crafting The Shining (26 minutes)
- The Visions of Stanley Kubrick (15 minutes)
- Wendy Carlos, Composer (7 minutes)
Introducing The Film Vault Collection
The Film Vault is an acclaimed series of collectible editions dedicated to iconic movies from the extensive catalogs of Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures. Launched in 2022 by Vice Press, a UK-based company celebrated for its officially licensed movie collectibles and artwork, The Film Vault focuses on delivering premium, high-quality releases. A notable feature of all 4K Blu-rays released under The Film Vault label is their region-free compatibility, ensuring they can be played worldwide. Due to Vice Press being a UK company, these limited-edition versions of cinematic classics are typically not regularly stocked by US retailers, making their Amazon Global Store UK availability particularly noteworthy.
The Legacy of Stephen King’s The Shining and Doctor Sleep
Stanley Kubrick’s enduring film, The Shining, is an adaptation of Stephen King’s groundbreaking 1977 horror novel. King himself is famously known for his reservations about Kubrick`s cinematic interpretation. This divergence in vision led to a separate miniseries adaptation for ABC in 1997, which aimed for a more faithful portrayal of the book, though it has not achieved the same iconic status as Kubrick`s film. In 2013, Stephen King released Doctor Sleep, a sequel novel that revisits Danny Torrance as an adult. This sequel was later adapted into a well-received film in 2019 by director Mike Flanagan. While both the Doctor Sleep novel and film are highly regarded, they are generally acknowledged to not quite reach the profound impact of their celebrated predecessors.
Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining: A Comprehensive Compendium
For the ardent devotee of The Shining, an extraordinary two-volume, 1,396-page box set titled “Stanley Kubrick`s The Shining” offers an unparalleled, in-depth exploration of the film`s entire production. This beautifully designed slipcase collection, crafted by M/M Paris and published by Taschen, stands as a premier collector`s item.
Penned by J.W. Rinzler and edited by Pixar director Lee Unkrich, this compendium is the culmination of hundreds of hours of interviews and extensive investigative research. The first volume, which features an introduction by Steven Spielberg, meticulously chronicles every step of the film`s creation. With approximately 900 pages, it provides an astonishing level of detail, making it arguably the most thorough “making-of” book ever published for a single motion picture. The box set also includes a luxurious scrapbook, filled with a diverse array of photographs, conceptual artwork, and production documents related to The Shining.
This compendium is widely acclaimed as an unmatched collection of behind-the-scenes material across any medium. It has a history of selling out rapidly upon initial pre-orders and remaining out of stock for extended periods, highlighting its immense value and popularity among cinephiles and fans of the film.