Fig. 1 The Shining Film Poster
Fig. 2 The Shining Film Still
An eerie psychological horror, showing the spirits of “The Overlook Hotel” rising and causing trouble for the winter caretaker and his family. “The Overlook Hotel” is isolated in the Rocky mountains, which closes for five long months in the winter, cutting it off from civilisation. To keep everything in order during this time, an off-season caretaker is required. Jack Torrance, an ex-school teacher, takes the job with in mind the thought that it is a peaceful place for an extended writing project that he is working on. His wife Wendy and son Danny are more than happy with the idea. However, Danny has an imaginary friend, Tony, who is less than keen with the idea. At the time that Jack is being interviewed and being told the tale of the caretaker, who many years ago had a mental breakdown and murdered his family.
At “The Overlook Hotel” the staff are busy packing everything up for the season. The Manger shows the Torrance family around this huge building, full of echoing passageways and enormous halls. As Jake and Wendy are shown the rest of the building, Danny is left with the head cook, Halloran. Halloran then starts to talk about people who “shine”. A paranormal power which allows you to see things that no one else can. Danny has this ability and explains his visions of murder to Halloran, who kindly warns Danny to keep away from Room 237 and that the hotel has an evil past that is best left to lie.
A month later the family have settled into the rhythm of living in the hotel. Although Jack is still suffering from writer block, he sits day after day at his typewriter in the centre of the hotels main hall. While Wendy looks after hotel and Danny plays around in the hotel. Tony shows Danny strange visions occasionally from the past and future which encourages the suspicion that Jack might hurt is wife and child. When the first snow falls and cuts the hotel off from civilisation, we see Jake lose his sanity as the weather, empty space and time close in on him. He starts to have a series of hallucinations which the former caretaker, Grady, had before he killed his family. These hallucinations slowly push him over the edge and suggest that he must kill his wife and son because of their transgressions. What unfold are scenes of horror, showing Jack stalking his wife and son through the hotel and the outdoor maze.
Fig. 3 The Shining Film Still
Kubrick constantly maintains this sense of unease throughout the film. With the appearances of mystery twins, the echoing emptiness of the hotel, the steadicam shots through the hallways following Danny on his tricycle and the unsettling effect of the sound of his wheels alternately going from wood to carpet. These along with many more all add to the suspense of Kubrick’s bigger shocks within the film.
Fig. 4 The Shining Film Still
In “The Shining” the creepy soundtracks that Kubrick uses in many of his scenes add to the intense tone of the film. At times the music was soft and quiet but when something intense is about to happen or is happening the music turn fast and loud. All in which adds to the suspense that builds up throughout the film. In one scene that the music is used so well is the opening scene when Kubrick camera glides trough the air over the mountains and eventually closes in on a car. Both the music and the camera position make the audience feel unease straight form the beginning of the film.
Fig. 6 The Shining Film Still
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