A Review Of The Film The Shining By Stanley Kubrick

The Shining by director Stanley Kubrick adapted from the novel by Stephen King. The Shining revolves around the life of the Torrance family (including Jack, Wendy and Danny) in the luxurious hotel Overlook, when Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) is recruited to look after the hotel throughout the winter. Thinking that it was just a normal job that could take advantage of the isolation in the near future to write books, Jack did not expect the move to this famous hotel to put his family in danger. The film was filmed carefully, all the small details in the scene are intentionally arranged to increase the feeling of stuffy, mysterious hotel. Symmetrical compositions are used frequently to deliver eye-catching frames.

Honestly, I think the horror scenes from the movie aren't scary or creepy. Partly because the film uses old techniques, they cannot compare to the jump-scare screen by high technology like today. The spooky scenes of the movie follow a formula that uses long tracking shots and an intense music scene to signal the demons are approaching. Director Stanley Kubrick always arranged the details on the film so that the viewers must be confused. As Jack's mental state gradually became seriously worse, the scenes also gradually became protracted between the real and the unreal. The ghosts that Danny saw were real. But what Jack and Wendy witnessed in the Overlook hotel is not necessarily real. Because both are going through a terrible mental event, which leads to it, the viewer's judgment is also shaky. The first is the long tracking shot scenes that made the director's name used in the film, typically the first part of The Shining. He carefully paned the camera closely to follow the character Danny Torrance as he rode along the winding and long corridors of the Overlook hotel. Next was the sound of the boy's wheel hitting the wooden floor, which was once again silent as he ran on the carpets. These scenes were intentionally extended for more than 3 minutes to give viewers an overview of the layout of Overlook - the main context of the film. Long, narrow corridors, with similar doors. The pale yellow light bounces off walls and things that do not bring any warmth despite being yellow themselves evoking warmth, safety, and brightness. In contrast, when combined with the hotel's maze-like image, it made the background of The Shining look more freaking. The intent of these scenes is to increase viewers' expectations. Of course we know in advance that spooky scenes are just waiting to appear somewhere during Danny's bike ride. But the visual and sound effects not only increased the suspense but also made people startled when the scary scene actually appeared, despite the initial predictions. Combining these factors together, director Kubrick keeps the intense emotions of the film continuously without letting viewers rest. He deliberately cornered the film slowly to the climax and let the audience feel the gradual madness of Jack. 

For the young generation like me The Shining may be outdated, the film's effects may not match modern thrills, the acting may be more exaggerated, but I think no one can deny the value the film has left. For a horror film about how to build characters and a haunting atmosphere that profoundly affects viewers' senses. That's what not many modern horror movies can do. That’s also what I think why The Shining by Director Stanley Kubrick still successful and attract many film lovers even though it was almost forty years since its first released.