The Shining Review
A revolutionary movie in the Horror genre.
Synopsis
Jack Torrance accepts a job to take care of the Overlook Hotel during the winter season, where his wife Wendy and their son Danny, live isolated from the rest of society. But a horrific story lurks within the hotel, spreading madness through the family.
Connection Between the Hotel and the Family
Right from the beginning of the movie we see how familiarized Jack is to the hotel, by quickly adapting to the isolated lifestyle, enjoying the experience, and in some point of the movie by interacting with past visitors (ghosts) to the hotel. As for Danny, he has a talent called "The Shining" in which someone can predict the future (an idea introducd by the hotel supervisor manager: Hallorann), but in the case of Danny he sees past figures in the hotel, specifically two twin sisters, and as the movie goes on Danny starts seeing both twin sisters dead body, which is a prediction to the bloody future in the hotel. Finally, Wendy is the only person that doesn't show any connections to the hotel, in fact, Wendy is the only self-aware person that suspect what the hotel is doing to her family and how it's changing their relationship.
Isolation Themes
Physical Isolation...
Beginning
In the beginning of the movie we see how distant the hotel is, by a long scene of a car drive with the family. Afterward, we see how the family initially shows positive responses to the isolation, as they see how Jack could expand on his job as a writer and for the family to reconnect with themselves after Jack "accidentally" hurt Danny due to his drinking.
Ending
Towards the ending of the movie we see the effects of isolation increasing, as the winter storms increase more, making the hotel becoming a prison and no escape possible. Later on, Jack cuts the all forms of communication and exit to the outside world, by cutting off the radio and destroying the snowcat. All of those choices cause the family to react in different ways.
Isolation Themes
Emotional Isolation...
Beginning
From the start, Jack begins to show signs of his past alcoholism and violence, by distancing himself from Wendy and Danny. As this isolation is also shown in Danny acts, as his interaction with Tony (his imaginary friend) increases, by him warning Danny about the dangers of the hotel and his increasing "Shining".
Ending
Towards the end of the movie, the senses of isolation affects the whole family, as Jack is completely consumed by the hotel spirits, by losing his sanity and connection to reality (due to his interactions with the ghostly figures from the hotel), as the spirits lure him to kill his family. Next, Danny and Wendy experience profound isolation as they struggle to survive Jack's violent and maniac attacks and the supernatural occurences in the hotel.
The Overlook Hotel
The Hotel istelf is a physical representation to isolation and the harsh winter weather increases the sense of isolation and no way of escape. As the ghosts also represent the Hotel's Evil Past, by showing the guests and past caretakers that were violently killed in the past. The ghosts of the hotel are a form to control Jack's action, driving him further to madness and pushing him to do violent acts to his family, because they need to be "corrected."
Towards the End
Towards the end of the movie Wendy and Danny are able to leave the hotel during the big winter storm, but Danny ran into the gigantic maze of the hotel due to Jack running after him. After Danny is able to run out of the maze he meets up with Wendy and they both leave the hotel via the snowcat (brought by Hallorann). Right before the final scene we see Jack running at the maze and not being able to do anything, and dying tragically due to the extreme low temperature.
The End
The last scene of the movie is a close up shot of a portrait from the 1921 Ball at The Overlook Hotel that shows Jack right in the middle of the portrait. This ending just reinforces the idea on how Jack was familiarized with the hotel and enjoyed his experience there, and how the ghosts knew the name of Jack before even asking. As this ending implies how The Overlook Hotel has a nature to consume the souls of those who fall under its influence and how this evil will endure and continue to entice new victims into the violent and mad past of the hotel.
Acting in the movie
Jack Nicholson
Jack is able to show the audience an amazing performance of how isolation can change someones way to act with his family. By portraying a mad man who is controlled by ghosts, Jack, so masterly, conveys horror into the audience. By giving quick looks to the camera, Jack makes us question if we are the next victim of his attacks.
Shelley Duvall
Shelley Duvall is by far the best actress in this movie. Shelley is able to portray so well how someone may want to escape their family, but, still loving them. As she shows the audience a performance of a lifetime, by her growing sense of fear and helplessness. Shelley, so astonishingly, makes every scream and every tear feel agonizingly real.
Danny Lloyd
Danny Lloyd conveys such a depth of maturity in this role that makes you wonder how a kid could do such thing. By his blend of innocence and eerie looks, Danny is able to show the audience a haunting but yet, a realistic performance.
Technicality of the Movie
Cinematography
The cinematography of The Shining by John Alcott is one of the most unique elements of the movie. As he is able to immerse the audience into this world, by using extremely wide shots to increase the sense of isolation, usage of bold colors such as red and yellow - to increase the sense of danger, and symmetrical shots to add an eerie atmosphere into the movie.
Screenwriting
The screenwriting adaptation of The Shining by Stanley Kubrick and Diane Johnson is impeccable, as they are able to write iconic and resonating dialogues that create a sense of danger/fear and psychological depth.
Score
The score of The Shining by Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind is used to build tension and create a eerie atmosphere into the movie. By adding dissonant tones and sudden musical cues, the score heightens the sense of dread.
Stanley Kubrick's Direction
Stanley Kubrick's direction in The Shining is the most necessary element in this movie, as his masterful and meticulous attention to detail showcases his ability to create a tense atmosphere in the movie. His direction elicits powerfull performances from the cast to capture the psychological torment and descent to madness. Kubrick's ability to blend supernatural horror and psychological depth makes The Shining a complete masterpice for the Horror genre and to cinema in general.