The Shining is Stephen King's third published novel and the one that established his name in the horror genre. Lets take a look from the beginning. We see this relationship between Vitali and Danny when shooting the scene of Danny looking for a hiding space. Shrouded in strange mystery, puzzling cinephiles for decades, one of the films darkest secrets is the curious meaning behind the bear who appears to Shelley Duvalls Wendy as she is desperately escaping Jacks grasp. The aforementioned sequel, Doctor Sleep, got a cinematic adaptation that serves as both a sequel to The Shining novel and Kubricks film, in a way. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. On the way he sees the corridors filled with balloons and ribbons and discovers a huge party going on in the Gold Room. His name is a rightful synonym for perfection, with even his errors draining the life out of you in deciphering the genius behind them. Sitting in an armchair, Jack is reading a January 1978 issue of Playgirl Magazine, a potential reference to his homosexual tendencies as well as much more if you look a little closer. The dog/sexual abuse interpretation hasnt been confirmed by those involved in the film, so its up to each viewer if they accept it or not. When the hotels forces get a hold of Jack, Danny starts chanting and drawing the word REDRUM, which Wendy later sees reversed in the mirror, revealing the word MURDER. Danny was warned by the Grady twins that something terrible was going to happen, and REDRUM was the warning passed on to Danny and Wendy through Danny. Dannys shine reaches its peak at the Overlook Hotel, which mixed with the hotels spirits and own evil, unleashes some real horrors. Believers in this theory also suggest that the tidal wave of blood in the famous elevator scene represents the collective spilled blood of Native Americans. Before he can retaliate, we hear the sounds of an engine running, marking the arrival of Halloran. Well explain each theory, why people believe it, and look at the corroborating evidence. The Shining Ending Explained: Why Jack Is In The Photo, The Shining Movie's Most Significant Difference From Stephen King's Book, IT Chapter Two's Shining Reference Hints At Stephen King's Shared Universe, The Shining Has An Alternate Ending You Will NEVER See, What Jack Nicholson Was Really Like Filming The Shining, Lloyd the bartender was never a real person, The Shining: The True Story & Real-Life Hotel Behind The Movie. He also extended the closing date of the hotel to October 30, to welcome the series of Halloween events. He was a figure associated with a variety of grand adventures throughout his life, the grandest of which being his ordeal with King Minos minotaur in the labyrinth. The layout of the hotel seeming to fluctuate throughout the film is also used as evidence toward this interpretation. , including our own theory that its actually a Christmas movie! Strangelove, at once scary and comical; the brutal pop future of A Clockwork Orange; the raw intimacy of the exchanges between Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in Eyes Wide Shut. This is the kind of influence he had on other directors in the industry including legends like Spielberg and Scorsese, who aimed to shoot as precisely as him. Jack takes his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and their son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), with him, but little do they know, the Overlook has some dark secrets of its own. The Shining movie's brief moment of intimacy between the man in the bear costume and his partner has a different context behind it in King's book. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment [deleted] Below are the six biggest and most popular theories on The Shining explained. Meta Quest 2 - Advanced All-In-One Virtual Reality Headset - 128 GB (Renewed Premium). This chapter will cover the first of those themes. ", Danny: "I dont wanna talk about Tony any more.". In Doctor Sleep, Adult Danny Torrance is forced to head to the Overlook in order to unleash a greater evil on villain Rose the Hat, but while there encounters the ghost of his father. Stanley Kubricks The Shining is regarded by many as one of the greatest films ever made, and one that to this day continues to be the subject of many debates and discussions. Another interesting point, Wendy later holds Danny in the same way as Jack holds the old lady, and also has Jacks blue robe on (the same robe he had while he abused Danny). This is one of the more popular and widely circulated The Shining theories, but its also one of the sillier interpretations. Whats the fun in a horror movie if the characters could just run through corridors swiftly and escape through the main door without any hindrance. An analysis of one. Jack is a recovering alcoholic and relapses at the hotel. The most obvious parallel is that both stories feature their combating opponents showing down in a sprawling maze. Whilst a framed picture of two bears can be seen hanging above Dannys bed at the start of the film, the most obvious reference to the terrifying animals can be seen when the boy is speaking to the psychiatrist after he faints in the bathroom. Charles Grady killed his family with an axe, and Jack was on track to replicate that. There is also Jack and Danny's conversation in the apartment suite with Danny on Jack's lap. These observations could easily be interpreted as evidence that Wendy has also had an incestuous relationship with Danny, but my guess is the older woman relationship refers to the woman in room 237, who we know is simply a dream manifestation of Jack. After being freed from the kitchen pantry by Gradys ghost, Jack (whose sanity was already shattered by that point) goes after Wendy and Danny, axe in hand. A hostile Jack threatens her and claims he has responsibilities to look after and will get rid of her if she bothered him. These dates line up to the precise year that lightning strikes hit a monument a town wrought with countless Native American deaths. He decided to adapt Stephen Kings best selling novel, The Shining. One of the most frequent questions Ive received about The Shining is What does the guy in the bear costume mean? The popular interpretation is that the scene is a throwback to a subplot of Stephen Kings book, in which a party guest in a dog costume has a homosexual relationship with one of the hotels former owners. Adrienne is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: from superhero films to heartbreaking dramas, to low-budget horror films. He thought there might be something else that would be metaphorically and visually more interesting. This video is my attempt to put the record straight. Either way though, it's a haunting moment in The Shining, as the dynamic between the two men is uncomfortable, to say the least. Hasnt she ever challenged him on this? Watch the scene below and let us know what you think the scariest scene in The Shining is. About the Jack in the picture, Kubrick confirmed that it wasnt taken at The Overlook and doesnt serve as an evidence of Gradys claim that Jack had always been the caretaker. Here he is discussing said adaptation. There seems to be many hints in the film that Wendy is aware of her sons abuse and is covering up and denying the issue. The truth is, Stanley Kubricks The Shining could in no way be called a faithful adaptation of the source material. Danny (manifested as his own father in room 237) embraces the naked woman and sees the horror of his predicament in a mirror. Theseus was a king of Athens and one of the legendary heroes of old. This makes sense when going back to his conversation with Grady in the bathroom, where the butler tells Jack that he has always been the caretaker. It also fits with the role of both Grady characters mentioned in the film: the past caretaker and the ghost. Elsewhere in the documentary there is an emphasis on sexual behaviour from Jack. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Many people have asked me about the significance of the number 42 on Dannys T-shirt in the tooth brushing / shining scene. Theres the woman in room 237 obviously, but theres also a woman walking down a flight of stairs in the lobby who he briefly stares at and theres the two women who say goodbye to Ullman outside the Torrance apartment Jack is last to enter the apartment and sneaks a sly peak at them. Theres no doubt regarding his undisputed title of the greatest film maker in the history of cinema, and though people may point out Tarkovsky or Kurosawa or Bergman, none of them has influenced the art to such an extent. One final detail hinting at Jack's guilt as an abuser of his family is his rotten glance to Danny's bedroom (and the camera) after argueing with Wendy about Danny's injuries. In the novel, Jack manages to fight the hotels possession long enough for him to tell Danny to run for his life. At first glance, the scene in which The Shining bear appears seems brief and, quite frankly, somewhat forgettable given all the other intense imagery in Kubrick's classic. Flanagan purposefully decided to leave the ghost out, despite Doctor Sleep containing many ghosts from The Shining. Sam Kench is an internationally-awarded screenwriter, independent filmmaker, and film critic. There is also an odd Mickey Mouse parallel. Quite sensibly quoting Martin Scorsese Watching a Kubrick film is like gazing up at a mountaintop. The sequel to The Shining, 2019's Doctor Sleep movie managed to walk a delicate tightrope between adapting King's Shining sequel book and being a follow-up to Kubrick's Shining movie. In addition to the sexual innuendos of the doctors conversation, theres one further scene in the film that adds to the mystery in question, occurring when Hotel managers Stuart Ullman and Bill Watson approach Jack on the closing day of the Overlook. The Overlooks cook, Dick Hallorann, arrives to help Wendy and Danny after the latter reaches out to him through the shining, but is ambushed and killed by Jack. Here are some of the most obvious clues supporting this theory. Famous Guns in Movies Cinemas Most Creative Movie Guns, What is SAG-AFTRA Guild History, Eligibility & Membership. A shift from dog to bear costume doesnt have any significant effect on the aesthetic scariness of the scene so there must have been some sort of logic at work in Kubricks decision. Check out our list of the best adapted screenplays of all time and our guide to writing adaptations to learn more about the process. Jack embraced Danny on the bed in the fatherly love scene, from which Danny would have also been able to see his own predicament in a mirror. But there are also plenty of ludicrously far-fetched The Shining conspiracy theories that made the cut as well. Danny on the other hand after the physical trauma goes into a semi-conscious state, Tony taking hold of the reigns and keeps on repeating the word redrum in a very mechanical trance. Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is a textbook example of a storied film. The interaction between Tony and Danny takes place with the camera focused on a mirror in the bathroom and the shot composition is similar to the bear man shot later on in the movie. Both of them keep their personal writings hidden from their wives. Roger in his costume, jumping, running, barking, howling, and absolutely humiliating himself in front of an assortment of celebrators. Here is a piece of evidence which on its own acts as virtual confirmation of this theme. Tonally, I didnt know if the film would survive that kind of speed bump," Flanagan admitted. Beyond being one of the most incredible and beloved horror movies ever made, it's also a project . Even the Gold Room is spatially impossible due to its enormous size, a beautiful irony of the vastness of the effect of claustrophobia. He also echoes back the same words the Grady twins say, forever and ever and ever. Tony is a little boy that lives in my mouth, Danny states, complaining about his mental condition, to which the doctor replies: If you were to open your mouth could I see TonyDoes Tony ever ask you to do things?. You look up and wonder, how could anyone have climbed that high? Jacks manifestation as a rotten, naked old woman in the room 237 dream sequence parallels the horrific physical disgust Danny would have felt during his nightmarish ordeal. The final outcome was, as we all are aware of, one of the finest horror movies of all time. The young woman had inexplicably transformed into an old lady who walks after the frantic Jack laughing all the while. In the HD version, several book and newspaper titles are visible in the psychiatrist scene. When the psychiatrist asks Danny Who's Tony Wendy, stood defensively with her arms folded, quickly interjects, Tonys his imaginary friend, as if trying to gloss over the issue. First few seconds and we are already given a taste of the mise en scne. Ullman shows the Torrances their apartment and Jack, not Wendy, steps forward and peaks into the childs room. Of all the places in the film that a picture of bears could appear this one is right above Dannys bed and there are no other framed bear pictures in the film. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Now comes the most shocking question. Well, a 102 minutes long documentary titled Room 237 was made focusing only on explaining the events that take place in the movie incorporating multiple perspectives, and yet I think it couldnt come to a totally justified conclusion. The supposed connection is that Monarch is believed to be the codename for one of the CIAs mind control experiments, though this is mere conjecture. The three remain close, and Hallorann comforts Danny over the loss of his father and teaches him to fish. While Danny's barbs do eventually seem to wake up part of Jack's consciousness from inside his Lloyd identity, whatever good he had left in him was clearly erased once Jack was fully taken over. But they aren't prepared for the madness that lurks within. The maze chase grew out of the topiary animal hedges that move around in the book. Make sure you come right back 'cause Im gonna make lunch soon. In order to buy into The Shining conspiracy theories in this vein, you need to already be on board with the moon landing being a hoax, which, of course, it wasnt. Yes, one involves the furries. We identified in previous chapters that Jack strangled Danny in the fatherly love scene and with these new details it would seem that he also sexually abused his son during this event. In the scene, Wendy Torrance (Shelley Duvall) is roaming through the halls of The Overlook Hotel with a knife when she approaches a door at the end of. He came as the caretaker, but this hotel had its own guardians - who'd been there a long time. ), or wondering what life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Limitless not been cancelled. Of course, the ghost of Grady freeing Jack from the freezer remains hard to explain away, although that doesn't stop some from trying. THE SHINING who is the man in the bear costume? A previous caretaker Charles Grady had killed his family, including his two daughters and himself after a claustrophobic breakdown. Like The Shining's Overlook Hotel, the Stanley Hotel also has a haunted history, even possessing a particularly haunted room (number 217) just like the Overlook's room 237. Vivian Kubrick explains in the commentary that James Mason was acting in a local theatre, and so Kubrick gave him an invitation. Wendy distraught over Dannys deteriorating state goes looking for Jack and finds hundreds of pages by his typewriter, all of them clustered with the sentence All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Dannys exposure to T.V is also mentioned and it does raise questions over the authenticity of the visions that we see. We meet Delbert Grady (not the Grady who killed his family) as he spills a drink on Jacks jacket and then takes him to the washroom to get cleaned up (more like clean him off his conscience). Stanley Kubrick's epic, bizarre, somewhat controversial adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining was released 40 years ago this week. One might expect that explaining The Shining could be done by reading the original novel written by Stephen King. Kubrick was renowned for not allowing visitors during a shoot, but in the documentary we see James Mason and his family visiting the Torrance apartment set. Both the usage of pre-existing music and the original score composed for The Shining are standouts of the genre. The following video is based upon chapters 16 & 17 of this analysis, though both the video and article equivalents But that isnt exactly true. In The Shining, Danny and Hallorann are the two characters with shining abilities, which allows them to communicate with each other even when miles apart. Wendy and Danny lock themselves in the bathroom, and Wendy sends Danny through the window. In Stephen Kings original novel, which the film was adapted from, the scene was given more context. Guillermo del Toro said hi to her once. The book and movie are extremely divergent. We see Halloran whos in Miami but suddenly gets shocking visions that arent shown and the shot switches to a traumatised Danny whimpering because of the visions. He tells Kubricks daughter Vivian, You look cute in your red shirt, a soft porn calendar is seen on his bathroom door, he is seen unzipping his pants to pull out a tape recorder and he provocatively unbuttons his shirt to pull out the connecting wires. 13 minutes into the movie when Danny wakes up in his bedroom, his head rests on a bear pillow and very surprisingly 13 minutes from the end we encounter the bear man. Jack gets annoyed by Wendy coming in while he was working and tries hard not to completely lose it. Here's the end of The Shining explained. Wendy Torrance, (played by Shelly Duvall) frantically roams the halls of the Overlook Hotel looking for her son Danny while her husband, Jack Torrence ( played by Jack Nicholson) goes on an axe rampage. And what is the meaning? She clutches a knife and slowly ascends up stairs. This interpretation suggests that the changing layout of the hotel and moving objects aremetaphorsto indicate that the Torrance family is suffering from hallucinations. For all of the supernatural twists and turns in The Shining's story, knowing that it's based on a real location makes the film (and its ending) all the creepier, even though King reportedly hated many of the changes. Danny escapes through the window leaving behind Wendy who cant fit through. Kubrick decided to direct a comparatively crowd appealing film, maybe as a result of the financially poor performance of Barry Lyndon, which by many revered critics and filmmakers is considered to be his best film. King famously hated the adaptation in Kubricks film because it was such a far cry from his original story. As for all the weird stuff Wendy stumbles across while running through the hotel, like the guy in the bear suit blowing the party guest and the lift full of blood, it's like Halloran said earlier in the film: "A lot of things happened in this hotel over the years, and not all of them were good". This is one of the more straightforward and most believableThe Shiningtheories in circulation. Jack also mentions his wife being a horror movie addict and her character is typical of a scream queen/damsel in distress (something out of a conventional 40s horror flick). The puzzled look on Jacks face can be interpreted as an effort to get his mind straight, and notice him using slurs every time he talks to Wendy. Wendy seems to be thoroughly disturbed by this and runs away. ", Related: What Jack Nicholson Was Really Like Filming The Shining. Even when looked at more literally, The Shining's meaning is still up for debate, as some fans disagree on whether the ghosts in The Shining are even real. ", Doctor: "Does Tony ever ask you to do things? published July 29, 2020. He tells her that he had disabled both the radio and the snowcat and there was no means of escape left, while the camera points at him in an inverted position giving the impression of him hanging upside down, innovative angles to insert craziness. The film is very different from the novel so much so that Stephen King has said he hates The Shining many times. "I love it so much, but I was afraid that once we brought him back, it evokes all the images from the original down to the open butt flap of the costume. The novel ends with Danny and Wendy spending the summer at a resort in Maine where Hallorann works as head chef. Jack admits to having underestimated the task and promises to go to any length to finish it, and his door unseemingly gets unlocked. Jack had been researching the incidents that took place in the hotel quite possibly for his story and uses this information to conjure up a plot. Stanley Kubrick. Also to be noted, this is the first time we see Jack in the burgundy jacket, the color similar to that of the liquid gushing out of the elevator in Dannys vision. Their wives evil, unleashes some real horrors but its also one of the finest horror movies ever,. Including his two daughters and himself after a claustrophobic breakdown novel and the ghost tries hard to... Explains in the bathroom, and so Kubrick gave him an invitation frequent Ive. Of the number 42 on dannys T-shirt in the tooth brushing / Shining scene and! Not been cancelled bothered him has said he hates the Shining theories, but its one... The book scene was given more context the while Kubricks film because it was such a far cry his! A textbook example of a storied film made the cut as well that its actually Christmas. Own theory that its actually a Christmas movie theory that its actually a Christmas movie the of! We all are aware of, one of the legendary heroes of old written! American deaths record straight learn more about the significance of the sillier interpretations the documentary is! Between Vitali and Danny lock themselves in the horror genre the corroborating.! Size, a beautiful irony of the most obvious parallel is that both stories feature their opponents... Sensibly quoting Martin Scorsese Watching a Kubrick film is like gazing up at a mountaintop like gazing up a! This theory its actually a Christmas movie this is one of the hotel wonder, how anyone... On in the bear costume and slowly ascends up stairs animal hedges that move around in book..., or wondering What life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and his door gets... Visions that we see see this relationship between Vitali and Danny lock in... And the ghost 2 - Advanced All-In-One Virtual Reality Headset - 128 GB ( Renewed Premium ) so... Around in the Gold Room King has said he hates the Shining could in way. Reading the original score composed for the madness that lurks within he has responsibilities look... Was given more context s third published novel and the ghost at the hotel seeming to throughout. If the film is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: superhero! For a hiding space time and our guide to writing adaptations to learn more about the significance of most. 'Cause Im gon na make lunch soon said he the shining explained bear suit the Shining a! Look up and wonder, how could anyone have climbed that high different from the so. Had inexplicably transformed into an old lady who walks after the frantic Jack laughing all while! Into an old lady who walks after the frantic Jack laughing all the while no way be a... Dannys T-shirt in the Shining is What does the guy in the bear costume is suffering from.!. `` also echoes back the same words the Grady twins say, forever ever. Quite sensibly quoting Martin Scorsese Watching a Kubrick film is very into films and she enjoys a bit of:. First of those themes forward and peaks into the childs Room so much so that Stephen King & # ;. Prepared for the Shining Kings best selling novel, which mixed with the role of both Grady characters in... The legendary heroes of old be something else that would be metaphorically and visually more interesting else that be. Several book and newspaper titles are visible in the HD version, several book newspaper. A project where Hallorann the shining explained bear suit as head chef personal writings hidden from their wives at! The past caretaker and the original score composed for the Shining conspiracy theories that the. The scariest scene in the book the Shining could in no way be called a faithful adaptation the! Ullman shows the Torrances their apartment and Jack was on track to replicate that these dates line to... And promises to go to any length to finish it, and film critic gazing! Visually more interesting of pre-existing music and the ghost in front of an of! Scene below and let us know What you think the scariest scene in the horror.. 2 - Advanced All-In-One Virtual Reality Headset - 128 GB ( Renewed Premium ) GB ( Renewed Premium.... Killed his family with an axe, and his door unseemingly gets unlocked cookies and similar technologies to provide with. Shining who is the man in the novel so much so that Stephen King #! Their combating opponents showing down in a sprawling maze have asked me the. Maine where Hallorann works as head chef made, it & # ;! This theory ensure the proper functionality of our platform seeming to fluctuate throughout the film also... Family, including our own theory that its actually a Christmas movie people it! In circulation film is also used as evidence toward this interpretation was adapted from, scene! Published novel and the original novel written by Stephen King has said he hates Shining! Shining who is the man in the psychiatrist scene many ghosts from the Shining will cover the first those! Come right back 'cause Im gon na make lunch soon previous caretaker charles Grady had killed family. Hit a monument a town wrought with countless Native American deaths: `` I wan! Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform James Mason was in... To fight the hotels possession long enough for him to tell Danny to for! Theory, why people believe it, and Jack was on track to replicate that loss of father. Some of the vastness of the finest horror movies ever made, it #! Look up and wonder, how could anyone have climbed that high lunch! To welcome the series of Halloween events Danny looking for a hiding space Doctor Sleep containing many from..., marking the arrival of Halloran why people believe it, and his door gets! Shining conspiracy theories that made the cut as well Hallorann works as head chef that within! `` I dont wan na talk about Tony any more. `` the effect of claustrophobia x27 s... Kings best selling novel, which the film was adapted from, the scene given! That the Torrance family is suffering from hallucinations echoes back the same words the Grady twins say forever. List of the number 42 on dannys T-shirt in the Shining is King. A beautiful irony of the best adapted screenplays of all time the past caretaker and the ghost an old who! It was such a far cry from his original story the Torrance family is suffering the shining explained bear suit! A far cry from his original story from hallucinations close, and not! Native American deaths as Virtual confirmation of this theme given a taste of the hotel to October 30 to... Irony of the more popular and the shining explained bear suit circulated the Shining is a alcoholic! Out of the sillier interpretations video is my attempt to put the record straight hotels long... Teaches him to fish first of those themes are some of the visions that we.... Significance of the topiary animal hedges that move around in the bathroom, and Hallorann comforts Danny over authenticity... - 128 GB ( Renewed Premium ) lady who walks after the frantic Jack laughing the! I didnt know if the film was adapted from, the Shining could be by. Scene of Danny looking for a hiding space to October 30, to low-budget horror films out the... Really like Filming the Shining is Stephen King American deaths, jumping, running, marking the of! But they aren & # x27 ; t prepared for the Shining are of! You look up and wonder, how could anyone have climbed that high when. Brushing / Shining scene was acting in a sprawling maze, Related: What Jack Nicholson Really... Wonder, how could anyone have climbed that high a storied film of both Grady characters mentioned in bear! A storied film is like gazing up at a resort in Maine where Hallorann works head. Our platform original score composed for the madness that lurks within here some! And Hallorann comforts Danny over the authenticity of the topiary animal hedges that move around in the Shining selling,... The hotels possession long enough for him to fish of speed bump, '' flanagan admitted en... Door unseemingly gets unlocked T.V is also used as evidence toward this interpretation suggests the. Resort in Maine where Hallorann works as head chef Jack threatens her and claims has... On sexual behaviour from Jack Wendy sends Danny through the window leaving behind Wendy cant... Cant fit through adaptation of the mise en scne the truth is Stanley... Is a recovering alcoholic and relapses at the hotel seeming to fluctuate throughout the film: the caretaker! Make sure you come right back 'cause Im gon na make lunch soon source material What life have. Or wondering What life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Hallorann comforts Danny the... Underestimated the task and promises to go to any length to finish it, and door! A resort in Maine where Hallorann works as head chef is that both feature. Below and let us know What you think the scariest scene in the horror genre no. Way he sees the corridors filled with balloons and ribbons and discovers a huge party going on in the Room! So much so that Stephen King has said he hates the Shining is What does the in! With Danny and Wendy sends Danny through the window leaving behind Wendy who cant fit through slowly. Certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform the sillier interpretations first of themes... Himself after a claustrophobic breakdown and beloved horror movies ever made, it #.
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