Why Is Stanley Kubbrick Used In The Shining

Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is known as one of the best horror films of American cinema. The film explores both psychological and supernatural themes of horror combined into one story line. Adapted from Stephen King’s novel of the same title, Kubrick elevates the story by introducing visual and auditory elements to amplify the horror that is portrayed in the original novel. Kubrick’s artistic style is something like no other, and the uncomfortable atmosphere that circulates throughout the film brings forth a unique element of horror to the spectator. This film had a significant impact on the film industry, as it incorporated formal elements that transformed the way spectators view horror films. Kubrick’s film has certainly made itself a classic
I was a fairly new movie-buff around the age 15, so I didn’t know much about films other some of the big Hollywood films shown at large theatres. I had not yet become very adventurous. The Shining, however, kickstarted my interest in more artful and obscure films. Upon first watch, I was very unsure about the meaning of the film. The lines between the supernatural and psychological issues were blurred and I didn’t know how to react to the events taking place. Obviously it was creepy and left me feeling uneasy, but I didn’t know why. Sure, someone died, but the main characters survive with the exception of Jack Torrance, but this seemed okay since he was the one who was committing murders. But was this okay that he died in the end? He was a danger to his wife and child, but was he necessarily a danger to them before they accepted the position to become the caretakers of them? Was the hotel the real danger to them? If so, why did Danny and Wendy Torrance not suffer from the same tormenting that Jack did? These are all questions that were left unanswered at the end of the film for me. Upon watching the film a few more times, I developed a meaning that sat well with me, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that every detail of the film makes sense to me. This is not a film that is for leisurely watching. To really understand the film, one must be focused and willing to
We have no choice as to see what the camera wants us to see (aside from shielding our eyes from bloody axe murders). As an audience member, we have no choice as to what information we are given from the film. What the camera shows us is what we learn. The filmmaker controls what information is easy to understand and what things should be kept hidden. In the case of Jack Torrance being released from the pantry where his wife Wendy has locked him, we are made to assume that the spirit of the previous grounds manager unlocks the door. We don’t see this happen, yet we know it does because of the diegetic conversation that Jack Torrance has with the voice on the other side of the door. This adds an element of confusion as the audience cannot logically support this action. In general, we tend to believe that ghosts do not exist. We are at a conflict with this action. The knowledge that we bring to the film about the supernatural conflicts the events of the film. We are never told how this door is opened; we are only left to our assumptions in this scene. Kubrick has control over this feeling in the audience. By placing the camera within the pantry with Jack Torrance, we are left to figure out the actions on our own. There is a strategy to placing the camera and what information a shot will hold within a