Room 237: Seven INSANE theories about Stanley Kubrick's The Shining!

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Also just for the record. The Native American reading of The Shining is really the most PLAUSABLE of these theories. I feel the way the presenter tried to prove it in the film was CRAZY.

[@swankybutters8371]

Bravo... You nailed it!!! PS: The Shining grows on you after a while.

[@michealmason8979]

My theory: The Shining is really a giant expensive ad for Calumet baking powder with a great story. PROVE ME WRONG!

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

You're totally right.

[@FeverDreamlandTheater]

Great / thorough look at this doc. The Shining is one my favorite horror movies so I generally find most theories worth at least hearing out.

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Awe thanks. I knew I wanted to do an episode on this film ever since I saw it. It's just a fascinating concept.

[@johnwatts8346]

jack Rs danny in room 237, thats the film, and btw- given that the film is about dv,- there is no hotel (or ghosts), the hotel is a metaphor for any ave stock family , coz thats where dv tends to happen, not in hotels.

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Excellent theory.

[@CaptainMorganThe3rd]

The guy with the Holocaust theory was one of my professors in college. He comes across a bit nutty in the doc, but he is truly a terrifically brilliant man and a massive Kubrick fan. His Film Images of WW2 class (connection much? Lmao) introduced me to so much classic film and taught me a lot about the relationship between art and history. I’m sure he knows bits of his theory are rather far-fetched, but some of his observations - like the typewriter changing colors between shots - are still fascinating regardless.

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

I truly feel bad for anyone in that documentary. It doesn't portray any of them in a great light. But gosh you met a full on celebrity.

[@toddaulner5393]

I have a theory about Holleran being a molester. Left alone with Wendy and Danny and looking at Danny and the porn in the boiler room and decorates his apartment with pornographic paintings. The only person murdered in the film too. Ice cream? Without the truck.

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

That's a dark theory. I can see it...

[@SquidwardLSDSquirtingOctopussy]

"Im sorry to differ with you sir...but...Holleran is not a molester, because...You are the molester, you've always been the molester... I should know sir...because you were my boy scout leader since the age of 10" "If...I may be so bold, sir..." Lol But in actually, according to the book, Holleran was abused by his grandfather & his grandma knew, but wouldn't dare to intervene. Which serves as a great parallel to the undoubtedly abuse of Danny from Jack, with Wendy also being in denial about it. And in the first scene of Holleran & Danny sitting alone together, he tells him how him & his grandma would also sit at the dinner table together without saying a word, & yet still exchanging looks would reveal more than words could. And then he tells Danny that he sees something in him, "The Shining" which in my humble opinion may be interpreted as a intuitive connection between victims of abuse. And it always felt very peculiar to me, how the Overlook Director would have the kitchen chef be in charge of the families well being, when it would make much more sense to assign someone with security or survival knowledge for that task. And in regards to his apartment being covered in pictures of naked women & has a very distinct flair, various studies have confirmed that victims of abuse often develop severe deficits in their love & relationship life, & get completely desensitized & distorted reality of what love actually ought to be, since in these movies, the emphasize on love is virtually none existent. And you wouldn't believe how many men & women join this profession to due unresolved mental trauma, which can also be confirmed via interviews. The beauty of The Shining or any other art medium that utilizes lots of subtexts & ambivalent innuendos is, that the possibilities of interpretation are virtually infinite. And it's a true testament to both King's & Kubrick's fantastic vision, that people still discuss the novel & the movie more than 40 years later so passionately & people still make all these brilliant essays & analyses. A original comment & review on your video shall soon follow. Bless you all

[@killdozer69]

I think hallorann was one of the young bellboys that woman in room 237 slept with. He got jealous because she of course was sleeping with other people and killed her, probably accidentally in a jealous rage. So he made it look like a suicide. That’s why Hallorann was killed by the “hotel” (a possessed Jack) when it had the opportunity. This all depends on when that all was going on with that lady and Hallorann was a young man.

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

That's a heck of a theory.

[@michaelbanaszak7775]

That theory of yours is awesome!

[@JoeRivermanSongwriter]

I saw one where they said the entire film was Wendy’s hallucination.

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Checks out as much as any other theory.

[@JoeRivermanSongwriter]

@@GirlBehindTheCounter Haha exactly

[@COLEYDTT]

She is way scarier than the film itself

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Who?

[@radiv6502]

In high school I was always an excellent English student, and won a creative writing award my senior year. In college I had a lot of terrible professors who's classes I struggled to stay awake during. I got told my interpretations were wrong so many times I didn't read or write again until years after college. Some professors just suck!

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Being a teacher is such a weird balance between your own opinions and text based analysis. There's such room for connection but also alienation.

[@comiccrazy3]

Wonderful review and you really look like a young Shelly Duvall- when you do that "bugeye" Could of done the whole cosplay for this one.

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Awe thanks!

[@donaldmcfinniganiii9923]

You know your a GENIUS when you make a movie about a crazy guy who loses it, little by little and then release it for people to say it sucks ass. Then years later and after your DEATH, people are like this is a masterpiece! and look at all the things we discovered and found without on confirmation from the director (who's dead) lmao I feel like some people really just need something to latch onto long after the experience is done Stanley is a genius, cause im sure he's watching all these people go on about something that ended and want to continue to make something out of nothing lol I find it funny cause I love this movie for what I see. Good story telling, good pacing, amazing cinematography and HORROR lol I leave it there and come back to ride again cause Im familiar with it

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Yeah I think people go a bit nuts with all Kubrick pieces but this one just really brings the theory out of people.

[@GetMeMore]

Cool video with some mild swearing, yay. My theory of what you are looking at Is your blooming sense of cinic commentary on film theory bull :)

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Yeah I guess the older I get the more I realize that theory is very subjective. Also yeah I have a bit of a mouth on me...which certainly adds flavor to my content despite subtracting class. lol

[@nerdfatha]

I took one film theory class in college and at least 6 literature classes, and some writing workshop classes that were like lit class but you examined the work of your classmates. What I gathered from all of these was the fact that you can have whatever interpretation you want as long as you have examples and a logic that can back it up. I only ever had one professor who just flatly said "No, you're wrong and I'm right" and was usually an asshole about it. It was really fascinating to see how academic interpretations can change around a work as years go by. . Granted, its easier to see this for written works as they have been studied for far longer. Like The Great Gatsby being considered derivative trash when it was released only to be later hailed as a classic after it had such wide readership by the soldiers of WWII and some of those soldiers became Lit professors themselves. Auteur theory is very much along the lines of author theory and they try to do the same things, but I firmly believe auteur theory falls apart because, as you said, there is so much collaboration on film. I'm not saying that directors have no unifying vision, but that the level of detail some people seem to think the director is focused on is a bit insane.

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

I totally agree. It's interesting to watch how low art becomes high art. This really happens in horror. I've seen some reviews for Texas Chainsaw Massacre in the 70's that call it absolute trash. But now it's seminal viewing and cited by several well known directors as the film that got them started on the craft.

[@nerdfatha]

@@GirlBehindTheCounter It seems that getting horror right is really hard. Scaring a viewer or a reader takes timing and balancing tension. So many attempts swing and miss at that. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre does this so well and it just ratchets up the tension and scares and oddly enough has barely any blood, especially for an iconic slasher flick. I wonder if the he highly regarded horror films of today, like Get Out and Hereditary will age as well. Maybe some forgotten flick that no one remembers now will be what has a resurgence in 30 years. aaaaand I'm rambling.

[@peteburkeet]

Where did you go to film school? I feel like art educations in general need a huge facelift.

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

More like media school rather than film school but Boston University all the same. Go Tarriers. Funny enough I studied TV there.

[@gerald997]

Your research is constantly fantastic! I learn quite a bit from watching your reviews. The way you prepare, articulate, and present your film knowledge is very insightful and inspiring!

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Oh my goodness thank you. I try to well researched but honestly lots of creators on this platform blow me away.

[@dx42]

When Danny's playing darts, you said "despite the fact that he's dead". Ummm, what? Danny doesn't die in the entire movie. ???

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Super strange!

[@connectivitytissues1429]

Homegirl, you're far from basic, and this was a hella fun watch. Keep up the good work! (Loved and subbed.)

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Thank you so much. Welcome to the Counter Crew!

[@connectivitytissues1429]

@@GirlBehindTheCounter thank you kindly.

[@RostClan220]

Always love to hear a lot of theories!

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Happy to provide them!

[@bhamacuk]

Debunking the myths! I love it. I think people have really over analysed the film. Yes Kubrick is a genius film maker but I think it is too much to say that he gave as much forethought to the details as suggested by the myth makers as it is too complicated to conceive, thinking of all those individual elements and clues etc before and during the making of the film

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Totally agree. Like a ton of people had a hand in making The Shining and they did put pieces of themselves into it as well. That's sort of the problem with Auteur Theory it gives esteem to the director without acknowledging anyone else.

[@intelligenceservices]

everything kubrick did was random, he wasn't such a control freak or ocd with details. nothing to see there. he meant nothing, so there's nothing to interpret.

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

I think I take more of a middle stance. Some stuff was purposeful but Kubrick didn't have his hand in EVERY decision. A bit like any director.

[@thelatelatehorrorshow]

LOVE THIS VIDEO. GREAT STUFF.

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Thanks so much ! It was a ton of fun to make. :)

[@TheSoullessTrenchCoat]

Awesome Breakdown I have too check out these two documentary cuz haven't seen em love your breakdown of film theorys in the end of the day it's just opinion

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Totally agree. I think film theory is more of a litmus test of what YOU believe rather than what the director does. It's just fascinating that all of these theories are just SO different but they came from the same film.

[@yyoshman]

even though i do not know two shits about film theory i really enjoyed these theories and its always fun to dunk on people who have differing opinions than ours

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

I mean we're not dunking on people with different opinions. Just looking into how film theory can be so amorphous and you can literally prove ALMOST anything. How much of film theory just looking into production mistakes is my real question? Or trying to figure out what each department was thinking during a film shoot.

[@yyoshman]

​@@GirlBehindTheCounter i said that as a joke but still i agree

[@DashingPunkSamurai]

Such a great documentary. One of my favorite ones about film alongside Electric Boogaloo and Jodorwosky’s Dune

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Omg I LOVE Jodorowsky's Dune.

[@Oranjee1089]

Hello Counter girl. nice video.. endless ambiguity. a question how many people (,ghosts) in room 237. I mean there was the beautiful woman then there was the laughing woman but! But but but! When the scene turned to danny having a seizure and back to the bathroom again. a scene of an angry woman coming up from the bath. was she the one supposedly tried to strangle danny. Thanks for the video. subscribed notifications on P.S. I see a bit of Shelley Duvall in Bridgette Bardow.

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Oh thank you. I do think Shelly is an absolute icon.

[@Mrodriguez231]

Hello ^_^ great review. So many theories on this film.

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Glad you enjoyed it! Love to hear every crackpot theory!

[@Mrodriguez231]

@@GirlBehindTheCounter haha oh man where to start… I think this movie will keep us guessing for centuries.

[@michaelbruin8972]

Don't know how I ended up here..... but good job on the video.

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Thanks. It was a weird journey but we all survived.

[@FatbabyVHS]

you really havent even scratched the surface to the depths of Kubrick. Not saying you are wrong to have an opinion, but if you actually liked the film, I would suggest finding what it does for YOU rather than everyone else. Room 237 is so over talked about, just sit down and experience it for yourself next time. There is something WAY more than what is on surface Kubrick wants you to figure out in this story.

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

My point of the video was to talk about film theory itself and how (after a while) it sounds a bit over serious for something this un serious. But in terms of a video about The Shining, id love to do one but I feel I wouldn't add a ton to the conversation that hasn't already been said WAAAAYYYY better. So just went at this film from a different angle.

[@Sammydx1]

I cant believe i wasted money on this. One woman says the posters on the wall in the rec room are monsters or something... Its clearly a guy sking and a cowboy on a horse.... I wish i had what she was smoking

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Totally get it. I wish I had the confidence to be this obsessed with The Shining and my own opinion of it.

[@natasmean4374]

Love your video-

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Thanks. It was a lot of fun to make.

[@cv507]

kubrick gives you lil detailce... v v

[@connectivitytissues1429]

(3:16ish secs) it's been months now. I sleep with my front door unlocked. Completely in the nude. And I haven't one single, solitary dream sex demon visit me... have I done something wrong? Or do they simply not exist? I'll try again tonight. For science.

[@thydarklight]

Great content ❤

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Thank ya! Wish my editing was better back then, so this really means a lot to me.

[@pinkspoon7483]

You should have more subs. 🆒

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Awe thanks.

[@RadReviews777]

Stanley with an "e". You gotta fix it. I can't just have you desecrate the great Stanley Ipkiss like that. The Shining is my fav horror movie and one of my fav movies in general, and I really enjoyed Room 237. I've seen a lot of people hate it, but I don't think they seem to understand that it's about obsession rather than actual legit theories 😛 Ascher is one of my fav current doc directors tho. Have you seen his new one A Glitch in the Matrix?

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

OH MY GOD IM DYING ! I did Mr. Kubrick such a dirty. Yeah it was a fascinating documentary and I don't feel mean spirited at all. Haven't seen a A Glitch in the Matrix yet but I'm pumped to check it out.

[@RadReviews777]

@@GirlBehindTheCounter Haha 😂 Yeah, it's a lot like Room 237. It's basically about obsession with the simulation theory. Idk if you smoke or not, but if you go in and watch it high, it's a hell of an experience. Especially considering the highest I've ever been, it felt like I was in a simulation 😂

[@highschoolbigshot]

The book was much better

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

The book is fantastic.

[@VideoTasties]

I enjoy the Doc but half way through it gets a bit far fetched

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Totally. I mean some of the theories definitely hold water, especially the Native American one, but the way these experts try to prove them is just nuts.

[@VideoTasties]

@@GirlBehindTheCounter they could probably find things in any film. Kubrick just put things in for fun. I love his layout of the hotel.

[@ericfurst6091]

You have big 👀 😉

[@GirlBehindTheCounter]

Thanks. Blame genetics lol