The Overlook Hotel lies in an isolated spot in the middle of the Colorado Rockies and is only open to guests in the summer. It's a spooky, haunted place, filled with the sinister presence of the people who have died there, most under strange or malevolent circumstances. In particular, winter caretaker Delbert Grady was driven mad by the evil forces at work in the hotel, and committed suicide after killing his wife and children.
Jack and Wendy Torrance have no idea of the hotel's dark past when they arrive. Jack is taking on the position of winter caretaker, looking for a fresh start after being fired from his job as a teacher. He has unresolved anger issues and is an alcoholic in recovery, and assaulted one of his students in a fit of drunken rage. Now in recovery he is hoping to start anew. Danny, the Torrance's son, has supernatural powers that his parents do not know about. This is known as "the shining"; but it is recognized by the hotel chef, Dean Hallorann, who has similar abilities and attempts to mentor him so that he can understand his gift. The two become close quickly, but Danny is still uncomfortable living at the hotel where his presence seems to have caused a spike in malevolent activity.
Danny sees ghosts at the hotel and most are not friendly. He also sees apparitions becoming real, and the topiary animals in the landscaped gardens begin to come to life and act threateningly towards the Torrance family. Because Danny has supernatural abilities, it is very hard for the hotel to possess him and so attentions are turned towards possessing Jack instead. Jack, like Delbert before him, starts to get cabin fever and goes a little crazier every day. He has frequent arguments with Wendy and takes refuge in the hotel bar, which is not stocked because there are no guests in the winter to serve; however, this time the bar is fully stocked with liquor and Jack partakes of several drinks. He begins to see the ghosts of past guests at a party, and flirts with a ghostly woman who tries to seduce him. Finally the ghost of Delbert Grady tries to convince him to do as he did and kill his family. He resists initially but then starts to falter. He attacks Wendy but she is able to outwit him as he is impaired from the alcohol he has consumed. She locks him in the walk in pantry but Delbert's ghost frees him after he has promised to kill Wendy and bring Danny to him. Jack finds a croquet mallet and attacks Wendy with it but she escapes again, locking herself inside the caretaker's office suite.
Danny sends Hallorann a psychic distress signal and hurries back to the hotel from his winter job in Florida. He is attacked by the topiary animals and by Jack. Jack chases Danny through the hotel and has him cornered on the top floor, but for a moment seems to become more like his old self again and urges Danny to run away from him. Danny doesn't; he tells Jack that he is not really Jack, but the hotel possessing him and assuming his appearance and identity. Jack, possessed, attacks himself and beats his own head in with the mallet. Danny tells the hotel it will shortly explode because Jack never relieved the pressure on the boiler; grabbing his mother and Hallorann, Danny flees. The boiler explodes, with Jack still in the building. The Overlook is completely destroyed, but the hotel's malevolent spirit makes a last-ditch attempt to possess Hallorann. He fights this off and instead leads Wendy and Danny to safety.
It takes over half a year, but Danny is finally starting to work through the loss of his father, aided greatly by Hallorann who is working as a summer chef at a hotel in Maine, where Wendy is recuperating from the injuries Jack inflicted whilst possessed.
