The Shining

Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) agrees to take over the Overlook Hotel for 5 months during the winter in order to cure his writers block. Once him and his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and their son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), get settled in strange things start to happen: Danny has supernatural visions (blood, twins, etc) and Jack slowly starts to go insane. As Danny’s visions become more powerful, Jack progresses into full blown homicidal maniac as he wields everything he can against his family trying to fulfill his promise to sacrifice them to the hotel.  The hotel wants Danny’s soul since he has strong supernatural presence with his visions, by killing him the hotel could absorb him and shine brighter than ever before.  A lot of really interesting camera directing. The camera zoom onto the boys face when he’s playing darts and turns around to see the twins is incredibly dynamic and very visually interesting - reflects how shocked he looks. Jack looking into the maze transitioning to them walking into the maze is a really unique camera angle and perspective - also neat commentary on the character hierarchy as well. I like the really fast, dramatic camera changes/cuts that often precede the actions of the characters; this is seen with sharp audio changes as well - this is representative of characters’ looming horror - we see low-angle and stedicam shots as well. The spacing of characters in a frame is well-done, notably when a line Jack and Wendy are getting a tour outside the hotel which appears like the Beatles cover and when Danny is walking in on Wendy getting Jack resettled into his chair. Long camera shots through empty rooms Really great use of sound effects (and music) to build tension. The ball against the wall, type writer keys, peddling of the big wheel (starting it with his hand on the wheel is so real), etc. I read that The Shining demonstrates aesthetic by using, “diegetic sounds and non-diegetic music acts as a cue for the audience for what they should focus on.” Even the intro and outro music is creepy.  Jack Nicholson facial acting is so theatrical in the best way possible - you can see where his Joker performance 9 years later got inspiration. It is no surprise that he won an Oscar for this role; controversially I actually prefer this role to his in “one flew over the cuckoo’s nest.” I think Lloyd, for minimal acting and being so young, was actually great - he even feels like he would be Jack’s son. Duvall feels lackluster next to the two, but I’ll let it slide because from what I hear she was fighting incredibly tough conditions on set.  Kubrick loves his iconic and dramatic sets (like in 2001: Space Odyssey): naked woman in green bathroom, red mens room, etc.  Slow pace really drives creepy vibe rather than just scary. Lots of high anxiety moments: Wendy walking backwards up the stairs swing the bat at Jack, Danny trying to escape through the maze, Dick Hallorann’s death (which lowkey makes him pointless in the movie, I guess he survives in the novel). Can see Jack breaking in/out of his own body - the Gold room is the first true shift for me. The bartender, Lloyd, only appears after Jack says, “I’d sell my god damn soul for a beer.” Deal with the devil?  My favorite interaction/scene is when Jack re-enters the gold room and there is a roaring party ongoing. He orders another burbon on the rocks, attempts to pay, but then Lloyd says, “No charge to you, Mr. Torrance” “No charge?” “Your money is no good here. Orders from the house.” “Orders from the house?” “Drink up, Mr. Torrance.” “I’m the kind of man who likes to know who’s buying their drinks, Lloyd.” “T’s not a matter that concerns you, Mr. Torrance. At least not at this point.” “Anything you say, Lloyd. Anything you say.” The whole thing gives me Hellraiser: Hellworld vibes and also really drives home the idea that all of this is happening to Jack because he sold his soul.   Redrum into murder in the mirror into the axe against the door is a diabolical combo and an absolutely nightmare id imagine if you were watching this in a pitch black basement. Waiting behind the door hopelessly clutching to the knife as the axe destroys through the door is such an iconic scene.  I think it’s interesting that the victims get away and then the killer dies, not something you see a lot in modern horror films. Jack in the photo at the end is so cool, great way to symbolize him being absorbed into the history of the hotel - presumably he’ll be a ghost for the next person to fall under the curse of the hotel.  To note the bear scene makes more sense in the novel. Why jack Nicholson lowkey fine with that green tie. Reminds me kinda of the Amityville story. Room 237 was originally 217, but had to be changed since the real-life hotel had a room of the same number and didn’t want to scare away guests.  Quotes: “Hello Danny. Come and play with us.”  "Some Places Are Like People: Some Shine And Some Don't." "Remember what Mr. Hallorann said. It's just like pictures in a book, Danny. It isn't real." “Your money is no good here. Orders of the house”  “Here’s Jonny!” ~All work and no play makes jack a dull boy~