A Horror or a Psych Drama? The Shining (1980) FIRST TIME WATCHING, Reaction x Review x Commentary

[@Ocrilat]

"A fantastical story of ghosts and murder" - The New York Times "Stanley Kubrick does it again" - The San Francisco Chronicle "Look at his fucking face!" - Shree Nation

[@danieltate6092]

However there is a real Hotel called the Ahwahnee in Yosemite National park which the interior sets were copied from. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIStZmCEiLF_eK8

[@Ocrilat]

​@@danieltate6092 Yup. It's still pretty amazing how many people (Shree included) on watching The Shining think the hotel in the film is a real location and not a studio.

[@billshinn7001]

I've never seen anyone laugh harder at the Room 237 scene. :D

[@willverinelipa2608]

You don’t have to apologize for laughing. There’s plenty of genuinely funny moments in this film.

[@shainewhite2781]

Stephen King hated the final cut of the movie, as he didn't want Kubrick to ruin any of his movies. Shelly Duvall lost most of her hair during filming, as the scene where she is swinging the bat was filmed 20 times. Jack Nicholson slept on the set between scenes. Scatman Crothers cried after his scenes were filmed 50 times and asked Kubrick why he couldn't make up his mind. A fire broke out on the set, destroying two soundstages, one of which was being used for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. No one on set treated Shelly Duvall with respect, and treated her like she was nothing.

[@tophers3756]

Kubrick's treatment of Duvall, who has mental illness, really tarnished my view of him. I try to separate artists' bad behavior from their work, but the fact the mistreatment was part of his work makes that difficult.

[@ShreeNation]

This is really horrible. :( Kubrick didn't have to be such a tyrant, lots of directors make amazing movies without ever having to be a douche.

[@dattallaudiophile236]

@@ShreeNation Yeah Kubrick was a great director but he was a little on the other side if you take my meaning...

[@TTM9691]

@@tophers3756 You know nothing of Kubrick's treatment of Duvall, She just did an in-depth interview last year and (as usual) had nothing but nice things to say about Kubrick, other than saying it was a hard shoot. She was more freaked out by her friend Jack Nicholson, who had to stay in character during the two weeks they shot that staircase scene (because of the STEADICAM going backwards UP STAIRS, not just to be sadistic to Shelley Duvall!) It was people's reaction to her performance that hurt her - it was mocked and not well-regarded for years. (Nicholson's wasn't either). She went on to play Olive Oyle in "Popeye" immediately afterwards - and then created and PRODUCED "Faerie Tale Theatere" on HBO all throughout the 80s, unheard of for a woman back then, and I can guarantee you: you don't get to produce a TV series if you're a loose cannon. Her mental illness developed in the 1990s and had nothing to do with "The Shining".

[@Lexi_Zone]

"She's _so_ exhausted." Yeah, and it's...only partially acting? Shelley Duvall really was exhausted. From the sounds of things, Kubrick's method approaches were practically torture for her in particular, though she herself defends him as being "warm and friendly" to her. Pointing fingers without being there wouldn't get me anyway, but regardless of whose choice it was, it sounds like it was a role that took big physical and emotional toll.

[@Cbcw76]

Remember that 1921 was long long before this 1980's appearance. Before his hiring. It's more like his spirit occupied a new body and was recalled into the hotel. Probably over and over.

[@edwardsighamony]

I think you watched the European edit. In the American version there's a scene after Danny talks to Tony about not going to The Overlook where they discuss Jack's alcoholism and him hurting Danny. In many cultures, certain places have their own personality. The Greeks even had a word for it, genius loci. I tend to take this movie at face value (I also understand that the movie is an extended metaphor for abuse and addiction). The Overlook is a living entity feeding off tragedy and the victims are trapped forever in it's grip.

[@ShreeNation]

Yes I think you're right, that scene was missing from my copy. And "genius loci" is a new thing i learned today, thank you :)

[@Ocrilat]

Yes, I like the idea that perhaps the hotel isn't actually haunted, but that it is alive.

[@mattilindstrom]

The most striking thing to me is the utter beauty of the camera work, every shot composed like a painting. The second one is the soundtrack, Kubrick loves his unsettling high sounds. There are very strong acting performances in this one. I'd like to promote the one of Shelley Duvall's as Wendy Torrance. She acted the part with such sensitivity and connection to her son Danny. And from a documentary I've watched, the ascending the stairs with the baseball bat scene would have qualified as workplace violence. Kubrick (whom all of us know could be a real a** h**** in pursuit of his vision) took about 100 takes, all while yelling at Shelley. Such is art.

[@ShreeNation]

Shelley Duvall legit made me scared for her and Danny. Jack Nicholson was fantastic too, but he's the master of anger and I have seen him flip out before so watching Shelley was amazing and also deeply personal :') I read what Kubrick did and it was way too unnecessary; no director needs to torture an actor to bring a great performance out of them :|

[@oneironaut420]

One reason I prefer the book is that Jack is a much more sympathetic character. You can tell that he's a good husband and father who is trying to make up for his past mistakes, which makes his downfall all the more tragic. He's just a troubled nice guy slowly going insane under the influence of the hotel, and Jack Nicholson's face just signals "crazy" from the moment you see him. So you fully expect him to go nuts and you kinda feel he deserves it. I didn't feel that Jack in the novel deserved any of it. Wendy is also a more assertive character in the book.

[@ShreeNation]

Wow that's so different from the film! Now I'm excited to read the book.

[@Praetorian8814]

Jack also redeemed himself at the end in the book. Movie Jack didn't. And yes well the book is really good, and the movie doesn't follow as close to the book as the mini series that came out 16 years later, but this movie is incredible on its own More like Stanley Kubrick's interpretation of The shining not a direct adaptation

[@markdodson6453]

FYI, the entire interior of the Overlook Hotel was built on soundstages in London. They're sets. Some of the most perfect sets ever built, IMHO.

[@ShreeNation]

That's amazing!

[@danieltate6092]

However there is a real Hotel called the Ahwahnee in Yosemite National park which the interior sets were copied from. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIStZmCEiLF_eK8

[@leob4403]

They're based of the Yosemite Hotel interiors

[@AspieMediaBobby]

In the Novel, it was made clear the Torrances had a long history of domestic violence,psychological abuse and alcoholism from the beginning. The Overlook`s supernatural nature simply enhanced those darker qualities the family(Jack in particular) already struggled with. Same with Grady,Lloyd and all the partygoers. The Overlook feeds on those who shine to add to its own power and it`s not the only thing that does either as you`ll find out in the sequel "Dr. Sleep."

[@ShreeNation]

Looking forward to the sequel :)

[@josemenendez4454]

I write screenplays

[@flibber123]

I think you might enjoy the movie more on a second viewing. Pay particular attention to the conversations. Wendy talks to the doctor early in the movie and Jack's history of abuse and alcoholism are a key topic of that conversation. Hallorann's conversation with Danny includes Hallorann explaining the shining and how the hotel has 'traces' in it(meaning ghosts) that people with the shining can see. In another conversation we learn that this family needs this caretaker job, they have nowhere to go and no other means to make money. Being sober, being abusive, and being financially desperate are the things leaving Jack open to manipulation by the hotel. I've known people like Jack, two faced. Usually they are aggressive with the people who put up with it, or people who have no power over them. They are nice to people who they are afraid of, people who have power over them(like their boss), and people who they know won't put up with their crap. I think Jack is used to treating Wendy like that and she does nothing about it, so he keeps doing it. He won't mess with the hotel though. When Grady uses the N word I think it's showing the utter malevolence of the hotel. I think the hotel is also trying to push Jack harder, so the language becomes crude. The hotel didn't want Jack to die and be part of the ghost crew, it wanted Danny to die there so he'd be part of the ghost crew and the hotel would have his shining power. Jack was just the tool the hotel used to try and make it happen. Danny's shining power is far beyond what Hallorann has. That's why Danny could contact him from across the country, but Hallorann could not see what was going on in the hotel. Jack is a ghost there now, just like Grady. That's why he's in the picture.

[@zedwpd]

There wasn't a history of abuse. There was a one time hurting of Danny's arm/shoulder. If there was a "history" or more than one time, then there would be no need for Danny to ask his dad "you would never hurt me or mom would you" because he would already have that answer. As for the use of the N word. Do you think a pyschopath, mysogynist, family murderer from the 1920's like Grady, might just be a racist too?

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you for the explanation :) The doctor scene was missing from my copy, someone mentioned that I watched the European edit of the film, i think that's why it got cut. Thats interesting, i didn't consider that the hotel wanted Danny not Jack, now I'll be looking at the movie differently. Thanks!

[@flibber123]

@@zedwpd Well, examine what 'Grady' says to Jack. First off he denies killing his daughters, wife, and himself. Then later he admits he 'corrected' them. We KNOW Grady was the caretaker, we're told that in the beginning of the movie. Jack confirms it, and says he saw a picture of him in the newspaper. But Grady denies being the caretaker. Grady's ghost lies when he wants to lie, spins things the way he wants to spin them, and all for the purposes of getting Jack to do what the hotel wants. In life he may have been racist, lots of people are, but he didn't use that word just because he's racist. That's not just Grady talking, that's the hotel talking too. By the way, a past history is when you are abusive right now and also were abusive in the past. In the movie Jack fits that. It's kind of strange to try and make the argument that he only dislocated or broke the arm just once, so that doesn't count. Abuse can be verbal as well as physical and his wife and son having to live with an alcoholic is also a form of abuse. Lots of people who see this movie try to make Jack's character out to be a decent guy who just went s little too far once. He's a lot worse than that.

[@flibber123]

@@ShreeNation Oh okay, I was wondering how you missed that talk.

[@Greenwood4727]

@@flibber123 thats YOUR intepretation, we have no evidence that he was verbally abusive in the film only when he was started being possessed by the house..have you never done anything by accident, by your view me standing on my dogs paw by accident means i am an animal abuser.. no it doesnt work like that

[@195511SM]

That's called 'The Going To The Sun Highway'......which runs thru Glacier National Park in Montana.

[@matman730]

Then they wind up at the Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood in Oregon. When they go inside it's (based on) the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite in California.

[@Bill_pierre]

Loved this! I will say, in my opinion, movies like this represents horror. Films like Friday the 13th, Halloween, Scream, etc are just "slashers." Yeah, I know most won't agree, but someone attacking you with a knife isn't super scary or anything, but losing your mind, scenes that stick with you because of the absolute dread you feel is what horror is by definition.

[@thegwolf]

I hope you'll watch the follow-up to this movie, called Doctor Sleep. I found it to be an interesting spin on the original and kinda satisfying when viewing the two movies together. EDIT: Come to think of it Ready Player One's certain scenes makes much more sense now when you view it after this movie :P

[@ShreeNation]

I'm excited to watch both movies :) I actually started reading Ready Player One recently.

[@thegwolf]

@@ShreeNation About Ready Player One - one important thing is to treat the book and the movie as separate entities, as there are certain things that could not be applied to a movie without boring or confusing audiences, so to make up for those parts, Spielberg had to apply considerable creative liberties. I am an 80's kid and a former geek myself and even I have to admit that a lot of the things detailed in the book went right over my head, so I can only imagine some parts may be difficult to read for someone who was not growing up in the era and doesn't have the nostalgy strings attached :P Regardless I hope you'll have a fun time with both the book and the movie ;)

[@rofyle]

There is a classic video on KZbin where someone edited together a trailer for the film to make it appear to be a family friendly romantic comedy. It is hilarious.

[@ShreeNation]

Hah! Now I gotta watch it!

[@michaelbastraw1493]

SRI, except for some exterior shots, The Overlook Hotel was all indoor studio sets. Best. Leo.

[@Hardy30680]

36:10 In some dubbed versions (French, Spanish, Italian, German) the pages are written in the respective language. It scared the living sh*t out of me when I saw the pages written in German since I obviously expected them to be written in English. The German idiom roughly translates to "never put off till tomorrow what you can do today". I don't know of an English equivalent.

[@leob4403]

What is the phrase in German?

[@Hardy30680]

@@leob4403 Was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen.

[@leob4403]

@@Hardy30680 that is not the correct translation though. It should be something like "Nur Arbeit und keine Freizeit, macht Jack zu einem langweiligen Jungen"

[@Hardy30680]

@@leob4403 That's right. As you can read in my original comment, they didn't use a literal translation for the German version. I think it makes it even scarier to German speakers (at least to me) that it's a well known idiom. Because why would Jack who only speaks English know it.

[@Hardy30680]

@@leob4403 And I just realized that I got you wrong. You wanted to know what Jack's lines mean in German, but I wrongly thought you wanted to know what the Idiom I was talking about means in German. Dang.

[@Lethgar_Smith]

There's no mystery to solve here. It's just a haunted house movie. A very well done haunted house movie but there's nothing more here than just a building, some ghosts and the people affected by it.

[@myfriendisaac]

48:56 Exactly! It's unrelenting from the very first scene, where we see Jack already unraveling 🤣😈

[@dirkdigital]

There are so many interpretations of "The Shining" that there are multiple documentaries about the various theories that people see in this movie. The best would be "Room 237" that really opens up the rabbit hole. It's one of the great things about "The Shining"...Stanley Kubrick took Stephen King's story and reworked it so the audience can make their own decisions of the underlying message. It's full of subliminal imagery and subtle cues that makes this a true cinema masterpiece.

[@lukebarber9511]

One thing I noticed that made the nature of the hotel's haunting ambiguous was that until the pantry scene, whenever Jack talks to a ghost there's a mirror nearby, so it always seems like Jack could be talking to himself (and Lloyd's jacket is the same shade of maroon as Jack's jacket, making it seem even more like he's a reflection of Jack). BTW, the actors playing the ghosts Jack talks to both appear in other Kubrick films; Joe Turkel (who plays Lloyd) also appeared in The Killing and Paths of Glory (and was also in Blade Runner), while Phillip Stone, who played Grady, was also in A Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon (as well as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom).

[@Ocrilat]

I just stumbled on your channel...and I have to say, I am loving it. It's so nice for someone to actually take the time to give a thoughtful and intelligent reaction/evaluation to movies like this. A+

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you so much! That really means a lot :)

[@lazyperfectionist1]

18:39 "Why am I _so_ uncomfortable?" Ah. That's the intended effect. Right from the outset, every single scene in this movie is set up to have at least _one_ element that doesn't feel quite right, and it gets gradually worse and worse as the movie wears on.

[@jamesharper3933]

Jack Nicholson was born for this role. Stephen King didn't care for Stanley Kubricks adaptation of his novel, but I sure as hell did. We all talk about how great a job Jack did, but Shelley Duvall did a great job too. Come play with us Shree, forever and ever and ever.😁😁🙀🎃👻💀

[@ShreeNation]

💀💀💀☠☠☠

[@jamesharper3933]

@@ShreeNation You had me in stitches with the rotten boobies blocker. You're the only reactor that's laughed during that scene. Hilarious 😆😆🤣🤣

[@ShreeNation]

I didn't mean to haha, I know it was supposed to be scary but it caught me so off guard and I was pissed at Jack so much that I was laughing watching him get bullied for the first time 😂

[@michaelbastraw1493]

"They don't have to worry about anything here." I love irony more than life itself. Best. Leo.

[@vivalapsych]

I really enjoyed this. You gave me a bunch of perspectives on the movie that that I’d never considered before. 🤛

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed :)

[@shaheersk721]

The attention to detail Kubrick had in his films like the shining,Barry Lyndon etc. are unmatchable to this day.

[@83shadow3]

That's the thing with the horror movie genre. There is so miny sub genres of it it's not a one size fits all kind of thing. This would be a psychological horror movie. Something like Halloween or Friday the 13th are in the slasher category. There is also a body horror that would be the movie The Fly for example. Sci-fi horror that would be Alien basically any movie makes someone feel dread or fear. Is counted as a horror movie from there it's broken down to what category fits into. Basically the horror genre it's like one big unbrella with several categories underneath it.

[@DVDNewsFlash]

There is a mini-series version in existence that came out in 1997; three 2-hour parts, I think. It follows the novel a lot closer, but it lacks the "uncomfortable-ness" of the movie.

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you, I will look into it :)

[@SilverMenace100]

The mini series was nothing special.

[@CalciumChief]

The movie responsible for arguably the most memorable and quoted Simpsons Halloween episode ever. 37:54 Just don't take care of a hotel for the winter. 51:45 Yeah, that's what I get out of it and I ain't even read the book. Same thing with Kubrik's other work "2001: A Space Odyssey". It had a novel being developed concurrently with the film to give you some answers.

[@neilfraser1235]

To understand Jack and his background I recommend reading the book The Shining and it will help clear up a lot of things. Jack has a hard time being cheerful because he was an alcoholic with an abusive father, who was forced to give up alcohol to save his marriage after breaking Danny's arm in a moment of rage. He carries resentment for his actions leaving him in a situation where he is sober. In the book, he gets fired from Stovington Academy because he catches a kid slashing his tires and attacks him. This sets up a scenario where Jack is forced to take the job at the Overlook Hotel. I have always believed that the spirits at the hotel took hold of Jack from the moment he set foot in there for the interview. Don't be too harsh on him, the hotel made him insane and evil and his soul is now trapped there.

[@Floridabackroads69]

You hit the nail on the head that's exactly what happened the evil of the hotel consumed Jack it wanted Danny because of The shining The shining gave the hotel power so that it could manifest itself that's why they couldn't see the ghost at first if you notice the more bad things that happened the more ghost you see poor Jack was consumed by the hotel and now he's always been the caretaker and he should know because he's always been there

[@BlueShadow777]

Can I just make a suggestion? Your movie volume needs adjusting slightly. It's just that little bit low so that when I turn up the volume to hear the movie you're watching, you're too loud. The balance needs fixed. It's not toooooo bad but it is a bit in need of adjustment.

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you for the feedback, I will keep that in mind next time :)

[@lazyperfectionist1]

10:06 "Doing lots of _writing_ there, pal." Don't give him too much grief. He's got writer's block. It's puzzling, though. It's this curious trope that I see popping up in creative fiction over and over again. Consistently, there's a character trying to _compose_ something using a _typewriter_ and mired in _writer's_ block. Now this is something I've read about. See, there's _efficient_ composition, like essays, reports and term papers, and there's _creative_ composition, like stories and poems. Now if you want to engage in _efficient_ composition, then take the typewriter (or word processor, or whatever) and have at it. The words should flow fairly _smoothly._ If, on the other hand, you want to engage in _creative_ composition, than your first draft needs to be _written out by hand._ You write it out by hand and then you _transcribe_ it with the typewriter or word processor. To do otherwise is to end up constantly mired in _writer's_ block. Granted, using a pen and paper may well not be enough. One may need to do more. But creativity flows _so_ much more smoothly with pen and paper then with a word processor or typewriter. And yet, consistently, the character on screen who has writer's block is trying to be _creative_ with a _typewriter._ 🤷

[@nadronnocojr]

Room 237 is a movie that gives a lot of insight to this weird , strange , unique film , happy to see this review and reaction

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you, i will give it a watch :)

[@ink-cow]

Don't look to King's book or sequels for answers to this movie. Kubrick basically threw the book away, and King hated Kubrick's version. To show how much regard Kubrick had for the source material, the Torrance's actual car from the book, a red VW Beetle, only appears in the movie as road kill, as the chef drives through the storm to the hotel.

[@lazyperfectionist1]

48:48 So now, Jack is lost and freezing, in a maze he has _no_ idea how to _navigate._ But _Danny_ does. So now, the tables have turned.

[@bammbamm687]

First of all, it's never a waste of Time to watch your Reactions. And Second of all, you always keep's me smiling. 😉 I was a Kid, when i saw the Shining for the first Time and one Scene burns forever in my Memory. At the End when Jack was frozen. That Picture was horrible. 😱

[@ShreeNation]

Aww that's so sweet! I'm glad you had a good time :)

[@jockeyramhurst7799]

I used to think the Overlook was a haunted house. I understood later that it is a void of evil. Like a giant #13 spot in the universe.

[@j.j.hayden9461]

I believe the woman in room 237 was "Ol' Mary-Jane Rottencrotch".

[@StCerberusEngel]

Can't blame you for hating him, but as much as Jack seems to dislike his family (and it's clear he has some resentment there), on some level I believe he honestly does care about them. In a scene that (for some strange reason) seems to be missing from the version you watched, Wendy describes an instance where Jack hurt Danny's arm while he was drunk, and how that incident was enough to make him swear off alcohol for three years. But the biggest instance I can point to that shows this is his description of his nightmare (which to me seems like more of the hotel's influence trying to plant murderous ideas in his head). The fact that he is so distraught over the idea of hurting either of them shows he does love them. Unfortunately his inner demons combined with the influence of the hotel overpowers that side to his character. He struggles with abusive behavior, obviously, but I get the impression that he wants to be better. Far from an innocent player, but to me he comes across more of a tragic character in all of this. A pawn to the presence within the Overlook that wants Danny's power. And poor Wendy is caught in the middle of it all with no clue, having to fight for her and her son's life. I might be reading a bit too much into it, and could be completely off-base with what the intent was, but this movie leaves a lot for the viewer to draw from. I just wish Shelly Duvall didn't have to suffer on set. That sweet lady didn't deserve that. I love this film, and Kubrick is a brilliant filmmaker, but a huge asshole.

[@velinawelch7470]

Another great video! I really like your style of how you give your review & final thoughts. I thought maybe it was just me but I always thought Jack acted off before the hotel. But yes, he did have things that had happened in the past. I enjoyed this 👍

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you so much, I'm glad you had a good time :)

[@lukebarber9511]

Note: the hotel location is not a real hotel, but was a set specifically built for the film in England.

[@ShreeNation]

Nice!

[@nowthatisawesome5431]

Your confusion has me confused. She literally said earlier in the film that Jack had grabbed Danny’s arm before while he was drunk and dislocated it. After that Jack promised to never drink again. That’s why when Jack was talking to the bartender he said “that was 3 years ago”

[@yuyaricachimuel555]

Probably watching the European cut? Which I heard has that first scene removed.

[@ShreeNation]

The scene was missing from my copy.

[@nowthatisawesome5431]

@@ShreeNation Ahhh, that explains it. I am no longer confused. 🙂

[@aranerem3767]

Is Tarzan The Fearless from 1933 on the list?

[@lazyperfectionist1]

30:21 Consider, for a moment, the psychology of _color._ This is a scene would be more _relaxed_ if the walls were _blue._ Blue is a _calming_ color. They chose _red_ to make it more _tense._

[@tophers3756]

My interpretation of the photo: Jack was the original caretaker in 1921 and was reincarnated.

[@philthemovieguy81]

That's an interesting interpretation. Mine has always been that upon dying, and because he died on the hotel grounds, his soul was forever attached to the hotel, and its history.

[@Greenwood4727]

@@philthemovieguy81 mine was the same.. but because he accepted the house, he became part of it, dick didnt accept so he wasnt part of it.. the house corrupted him and took his soul

[@tophers3756]

@@Greenwood4727 that doesn't explain why he appeared in a photo specifically dated 1921, though.

[@lazyperfectionist1]

49:34 "Bro, why did my _straw_ move, right now?" 😄 There are ghosts in the room with you, Shree. But they're diggin' the awesome, iconic movie, and when it finishes, they'll move on.

[@ShreeNation]

💀💀💀

[@kevmodee1866]

He's ALWAYS been the caretaker...destined to be reborn and continue your destiny as the caretaker.

[@sca88]

This film and the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre have the best unsettling soundtracks.

[@lazyperfectionist1]

3:28 "I don't suppose they, uh... told you anything in Denver about the tragedy?" "I don't believe they did." "He must've suffered some kind of a _complete_ mental breakdown. He killed his family with an axe and then put a shotgun in his mouth. I thought that it was what the old-timers used to call 'cabin fever.'" "Well, you can rest assured, Mr. Ullman, that's not gonna happen with me. I expect it's gonna be a very long winter as a result, but I'm gonna make it a point _not_ to bring my family. I mean there _really_ is no healthy reason for a young boy like my son to be cut off from society for a whole winter, anyway. No, I can pay for my wife to take care of my son back in the _city."_

[@kapitanleutnant1]

You ought to react to Doctor Sleep Director’s cut, it’s a sequel to The Shining

[@ShreeNation]

I would love to!

[@LordVolkov]

@@ShreeNation Mike Flanigan directs. He's becoming THE name in modern horror.

[@frankrossi6972]

The most frequent interpretation I’ve seen is that the hotel represented Jack’s twisted mind, and that there were not ghosts---but that blew up when they physically let him out of the storeroom and served him booze….and then Wendy saw the ghosts. I guess Danny’s shining visions qualify as ghost proof on some level as well. You’re right about the big-time family trauma and psychological layers. Some guy did a KZbin video in which he tries to make the case that Jack sexually abused Danny. His “evidence” and conclusions are a bit of a stretch, but it still was interesting to ponder. Another guy did a video in which he actually tried to explain all the different ways Jack could have escaped the storeroom without the ghosts’ help. So this movie, like most of Kubrick’s work (I never read the novel, so I don’t know what King’s intentions were), doesn’t provides easy, pat answers. I thought it was one of the best-ever psychological/supernatural thrillers, but King hated the movie adaptation.

[@DouglasGladney]

Where Grady Says You've Always been Here.... That's the Creepy part

[@JackNapierDe]

I didn't check the comments if it was mentioned before, but the hotel has an "impossible architecture", amplifying the maze impression and unease you have. You might check for it.

[@ShreeNation]

Thanks, I will look into this more :)

[@lazyperfectionist1]

There are a couple things I've read about this movie that bring down my approval a tad. For one, consider the appearance Shelley Duvall takes on after Jack Torrance starts to lose his grip on reality. She looks in need of human connection, because apparently, everyone else on the set was under orders from Stanley Kubrick to aid his efforts to isolate her by making it a point _not_ to include her in any of their activities. Her _character_ was supposed to feel lonely and isolated, so to aid the accuracy of the depiction, Kubrick made _her_ feel lonely and isolated. For another, as I understand it, in the _book,_ Jack Torrance was actually written to be a loving father with no history of abuse, so for _this_ reason (among others) Stephen King _himself_ didn't much care for this movie.

[@scottalynch]

There was abuse in the book. Jack physically hurt Danny before they went to the Overlook

[@st0n3p0ny]

Did you notice anything strange about Ullman's office? The window and the view behind him are impossible. Really subtle creepiness from Kubrick but yeah, that office is on the first floor in the middle of the hotel, and it's trees and sky and daylight behind him.

[@ShreeNation]

That's really interesting, didn't notice it before!

[@st0n3p0ny]

@@ShreeNation They also invented the steadycam for that bigwheel long shot through the halls, and if you pay close attention Kubric does some other surreal spooky stuff with that. It's one shot, Danny turning corners with no cuts, and he goes from the first floor to the 2nd floor without ever actually going up.

[@chiasanzes9770]

Danny's whole name is Daniel Anthonyt Torrence. Tony is himself. He is a shiner and senses things telepathy.

[@edcliffe2988]

I don't know if you'll see this. Kind of an after-the-fact posting, but here goes. There are two stories going on simultaneously. There's reality, and then there's the story that Jack writes about he, his family and their stay at the Overlook Hotel. Both stories are woven together so that you can't really tell when the switches have taken place. Two set details are when Mr Halloran is showing Wendy and Danny the walk-in pantry (the door opens from one side before they enter, but from the opposite side from inside the pantry) and the fact that Jack's typewriter is light grey in one story, and dark grey in the other. These are not oversights. We're talking about Kubric. He doesn't make such mistakes. There are too many points to list, but here's one last observation. After Danny is traumatised by what happens in room 237, Tony has to take over for Danny until he is out of danger. That may be why Jack is quickly freezing to death while Danny seems fine. Tony seems to be some sort of friendly spirit that has attached itself to Danny and so doesn't feel the cold at all. When we see Danny fall as he runs out of the hedge maze, he gets up and shouts 'mom' in Danny's voice. It's as though Tony no longer needed to protect Danny. Just my take, but whatever the truth is, it requires several reviews of the film in order to truly understand more of what's going on. BTW Did you notice that in the scene with the TV, the TV has no power cord?

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you for the break down. And no, i didn't notice that!

[@andrewmoss3681]

Another great one. If you like your psyche horrors like this I'd like to put in requests for the films Hereditary, & Midsommar. Both total mind game films that have you questioning everything. I hope everyone is having an amazing week & much love to everyone from here in the UK

[@ShreeNation]

Greetings! Thank you for the recommendations 😍

[@andrewmoss3681]

@@ShreeNation I say this as a joke. But also because Midsommar plays some BEAUTIFUL visual mind play in it. No heavy drinking or hallucinogens before watching it! 😂

[@danieltate6092]

I know of a great scary ghost story movie you should do. Do "the Changeling" from 1980 with George C. Scott. There's several movies called the Changeling so make sure it's the one with George C. Scott. It is truly a great classic ghost story. A more recent ghost story that is also great is "Wind chill" 2007 with Emily Blunt.

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you, i love horror so i'll definitely check those two out!

[@sophiecooper5678]

There's actually a hotel in the states that King stayed at that inspired him to write the novel which is pretty interesting. I want to stay there one day.

[@AspieMediaBobby]

Funnily enough , King stayed at the Stanley hotel and Stanley Kubrick directed The Film.Coincidence?

[@AspieMediaBobby]

Also, Shelley Duvall(Wendy Torrance) actually had a mental breakdown IRL because Director Stanley Kubrick horifically verbally abused her,encouraged the cast and crew to do the same and made her do that stair scene 137 times!Vincent D`Onofrio was similarly abused by Kubrick on the set of "Full Metal Jacket".

[@ShreeNation]

That's really unfair and cruel on the actors :( A good director doesn't need to be a tyrant.

[@AspieMediaBobby]

@@ShreeNation Yep, the Star Wars Fandom did the same shit to Jake Lloyd,Kelly Marie Tran,John Boyega and Ahmed Best!"You ruined my childhood.","Kill yourself.","Slur slur slur slur.","Lightsaber noises","lame memes of lines that were written for them by George Lucas,J.J. Abrams or whomever else"!

[@sophiecooper5678]

There's a theory that both Danny and his father both have The Shining gift, but Jack less so or maybe he suppressed it, and that combined with his mental health issues, etc are the perfect storm when the Shining allows not only him but his son to both experience the ghosts at the overlook. But Jack having mental health issues alongside isolation it obviously has a completely different result in his mind. There's even a hint that Wendy may have that gift to, to a lesser extent, and perhaps Danny was a product of two people with a minor ability to shine.

[@ShreeNation]

That's an interesting theory :) I can certainly see it as a possibility, of Danny inheriting the shining from Jack just like Dick got it from his grandmother.

[@vivalapsych]

I never read the book but the basic explanation is that hotel is bad bad mojo.

[@lazyperfectionist1]

14:22 On the wall Wendy's facing, here, is a map of Colorado with the individual _counties_ outlined.

[@eZTarg8mk2]

The entire story can be seen as having no supernatural events and that the family dynamic at the start is that of an abusive narcissistic father with a wife who has experienced years of psychological abuse, and a child who has dissociated from the abuse he has received....there's a lot of recurring imagery and themes that point to Jack doing the worst to danny, and 237 was the room he did it in. he see's representations of lust, corrupted, interspersed with images of danny. there's also logical explanaitions as to the only supernatural event (the store room unlocking, apparently by a ghost), danny was unaccounted for at that time and in a completely dissociated state - posessed by tony. There's also some deep social commentary being parabled here...along with this story working entirely at face value...a haunted hotel corrupts an already disturbed man.

[@badlilkitty96]

Did you miss the whole Dr. appointment? lmao 😂 Love your reaction videos!! ❤🖤💯🫶

[@Xsyfrx]

Enjoying the reviews. Looks like you've recognized the Kubrick stare from Jack, you also noticed Dinofrio's Kubrick stare in FMJ.

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you 🙂 I didn't know it was called the Kubrick stare, now i gotta look into it!

[@maxmarkus6202]

Thank you for this reaction. I really appreciate that you showed a good quality version of the movie, so you can actually see what's going on. There are two excellent documentaries on KZbin about this movie: Eye-Scream and The Myth of the Madman. Stanley Kubrick's daughter also shot a behind the scenes documentary you can watch on here too.

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you, I will definitely look into the documentaries :)

[@maxmarkus6202]

@@ShreeNation Please do:)

[@tomm3368]

Loving your reactions! It is in Colorado and it is a real resort.

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you :)

[@dudermcdudeface3674]

The exterior is a real resort. They filmed in a totally different place for interiors. For practical reasons.

[@finsternis1986]

The exterior shots are the Timberline Lodge in Mt. Hood, Oregon. Used to live about 30 miles from there. Even applied for a job there, but sadly didn't get it lol.

[@coreyhendricks9490]

This movie ranked at #6 in the 100 scariest movie moments on Bravo

[@pcpunksfuckoff8178]

My theory is that Jack is the one responsible for choking Danny in the room and not the creepy lady, cause she doesn’t exist. Jack is having hallucinations and when he looks and sees her decaying body it’s like a metaphor. A gross image of himself that he sees in the mirror as an abusive father and husband.

[@michaelharvey75]

If a ghost unlocked the pantry door, allowing Jack to escape, then a ghost could choke Danny. .

[@MrUndersolo]

I like what you said about "the approaching storm". That is a big problem with some modern horror films. They have no patience with the audience. This film creeps up on you (read the book if you get the chance). And why does the curtain keep moving? 🙄

[@ShreeNation]

Haha its the AC fan😅

[@MrUndersolo]

@@ShreeNation No, it is not. 😶😑😶

[@lordwalker71]

The director tormented Shelly Duvall to keep her highly emotional at all times and even instructed the crew to never comfort her when she was upset and would make them film scenes over and over like the stair scene which was filmed 125 times. Shelley Duvall said recently in an interview that she had days where she would cry for 24 hours straight and people think making this movie is what triggered her mental health issues that she is still suffering from today. The kid who played Danny had no idea they were making a scary movie because he was shielded from all the scary stuff. In the book jack lost his teaching job because he assaulted one of his students while drunk so he definitely has a history of abuse. Conspiracy theorists who believe that Kubrick is the one who helped the American government fake the moon landing point out that there are a lot of clues in this movie that prove he did like Danny’s Apollo 11 sweater, there is a video on KZbin about this theory that points out a lot of other clues like a poster in the games room. The book goes into all the deaths that have happened in the hotel and how they have left a stain on it which makes it haunted and how it messes with Jacks head.

[@TTM9691]

This is a completely misleading comment. The reason the stair scene was filmed so many times had NOTHING to do with Shelley Duvall. It's a steadicam going BACKWARDS.....UP stairs. In 1979. Do you know how hard that would have been to achieve? People pick up stuff in articles, interviews and documentaries and it becomes like a game of telephone. Shelley Duvall, as of last year, in an in-depth interview, had nothing but nice things to say about Kubrick, as she has for all these years. It was the REACTION to her performance - in which she gave her all - that really affected her. For years, she was derided and made fun of by many of the people who leave these comments talking about how harassed she was. / As far as the absolute s**t for brained conspiracy half-wits, of which I would never embarrass myself repeating their incessant drivel, all you can say is this: these shallow, one-dimensional dummies picked the wrong Kubrick movie to "read into". The very fact that they pick Kubrick's most straightforward movie to read into says all you need to know about these clods (and of course, it's a horror movie - these nerds only know horror movies and Star Wars pap and are too dumb to read into his other, more complex movies. When people affiliated with The Shining hear this crap, the look of exasperation on their faces is palpable.)

[@AspieMediaBobby]

I recommend you watch The Vile Eye`s Analyzing Evil on Jack Torrance and the Overlook Hotel to understand the differences and similarities between Jack and the Overlook`s portrayal in the King Novel and Kubrick Film more in depth.

[@ShreeNation]

Thanks!

[@AspieMediaBobby]

@@ShreeNation No prob.:)

[@scottjo63]

You should watch the TV remake of The Shining which is closer to the book. It really explains everything better.

[@ShreeNation]

I had no idea about this remake! Will check it out :)

[@scottjo63]

@@ShreeNation From 1997 starring Steven Webber, Rebecca De Mornay, and Melvin Van Peebles. The TV movie, or rather mini series, is longer, as King himself wanted to correct what Kubrick directed. King did not like Kubrick's version. And The Shining's sequel Dr. Sleep has Kubrick's references but still an excellent movie to follow through from the TV miniseries.

[@stevesheroan4131]

Enjoyed the reaction, and I will always suggest people watch “The Wendy Theory”, which is my favorite take on the movie, whether it’s in any way accurate or not. The more I watch reactions to this movie, the more I appreciate Shelley Duvall’s performance. She is incredibly sympathetic, and plays the “straight man” perfectly up until she shifts into “horrified mode” which she also plays with all her heart. I’m sure plenty of people will disagree, and I don’t care, just as nobody cares about my opinion, lol. Everyone have a wonderful day.

[@ShreeNation]

I agree, which is why I let her take center stage on my thumbnail and not Jack. Without her this movie wouldn't be half as terrifying in my opinion.

[@anthonyleecollins9319]

It's kind of too bad that a lot of modern viewers know her just from this. Before The Shining, she did quite a few movies with Robert Altman, and she was excellent in all of them (playing quite a variety of characters).

[@carlbaker7242]

Steven King, Jack Nicollsin. Win. The lead actress also. Love your glasses and hair.

[@adrianfuegoscuro6308]

The Shining is a movie created to disturb you, there are a lot of eastern eggs planted by Kubrick. but the weird scene of the man with a animal suit is one of the most disturbing at all. Never gets old xD Great Reaction!

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you :)

[@pcpunksfuckoff8178]

I really enjoyed your reaction video. I like that you did review breaks also.

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed :)

[@baneljuboja4464]

Jacks story ( short version) explaining not defending :) In his brain he is future writer, he should be famous and recognized. Just give it a time and all will work. Then he gets married, get a child and a reason to earn a keep. So he get pressure build up, one side is his dreams and delusions about his writing and other is reality of not getting a job in a long time. He even say that in argument with his wife. To a stabile person female or male that is turning point where you accept reality and get a grip of things. To him is begging of mind breaking. He blames his family for his dreams not happening while refuse to see that in reality they are all he got and much more than he deserved. This is a base of his character before they get to hotel, then all things you notice about are actually fantastic acting from Jack Nicolson. On side note this is what happens to younger generations today. Spend whole life being told that you are perfect and then get hit from real world. Tried to make it short took half a page to explain, sorry :)

[@dorat.88]

I think in the movie Jack was always borderline crazy and the hotel "helped" him cross the line until he just embraced it fully

[@ShreeNation]

I agree 😯

[@philthemovieguy81]

As a writer I completely understand his frustration because I think it's rude af of someone to come up on me or come to my home or call me when/if they see me or know I'm writing. It's like, "Do you not see me, or did I not give you a heads up that I'm writing and giving my whole attention to what I'm currently doing? Are you that starved for attention and that inconsiderate as to interrupt me while I'm in the middle of writing?" Lol But I've learned to adapt. I always make notes and write down ideas so I can always pick up where I left off if something or someone distracts me. It just takes me so long to find my rhythm when I actually start writing. But then when I do and someone has the gull to come and interrupt me it's like, I get it. Now, I haven't snapped as badly as Jack, but I have sighed, or given 1 word or short replies to signify that I am not in the mood to socialize or to be disturbed. People usually take the hint and apologize. But I would never swear or yell at someone. As you can tell I take writing seriously. It's not play time for me and it's not some side hobby. Lol

[@ShreeNation]

I agree totally! I do the same, i make a small note so i don't forget where i was during my flow state :)

[@Ocrilat]

If you're looking for a fantastic 'who-dunnit' movie, there is a classic but forgotten film you may like, called 'The Last of Sheila'. Written by Anthony Perkins (the actor starring in 'Psycho') and with an all star cast from the 1970s (Diane Cannon, James Mason, Richard Benjamin, James Coburn, Ian McShane, Raquel Welch). One of the best murder mysteries I've ever seen, and something I have not seen anyone cover.

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you! I will definitely give it a watch!

[@thunderstruck5484]

Read the book in 79 so good highly recommended thanks

[@ShreeNation]

Will do, I'm excited to see how different/similar it is from the film!

[@TTM9691]

That book scared the hell out of me, I thought I was drowning, or falling down a hole, I can't even explain it, but that's how scary it was . And I read it AFTER I saw the movie! I personally love that the book and the movie are so different.....yet retain the same atmosphere. It's like you get two Shinings for the price of one! I think that's what Kubrick's achievement is in this movie: he photographs the atmosphere of the book, the ghost's view of the action. Both haunted me.

[@thunderstruck5484]

@@TTM9691 Scatman scenes are my favorite the pantry inventory is so good and yes movie great also!

[@randyguess3124]

He wasn't looking at them in the maze. It was just a weird switch from the model to an overhead view of the maze. I can't believe you didn't like Catcher in the Rye.

[@ShreeNation]

I actually liked it after a second read. The first time I had to read it in college and I think i was in a bad mood 😄

[@leob4403]

​​​@@ShreeNation no you are right, catcher in the rye is way overrated. Like many other shitty old books like To kill a Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby. Some stupid old pretentious fart decided that everyone have to read these crappy books in school. And if you say you don't like them they will ridicule and bully you

[@thunderstruck5484]

Thanks for the book recommendation I will look into that one!

[@arraymac227]

'That would haunt me forever.' ... who says it hasn't.

[@aranerem3767]

Yes, the shining

[@nickbuchanan190]

Shree, you're great! Love your reactions! I agree...this is one of the best films ever! Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall were so perfectly cast in this!!

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you so much 🙏

[@nickbuchanan190]

@@ShreeNation oh yes! Doctor Sleep is a great film as well! Very scary and imaginative. You'll love it!

[@guitarman8462]

There's another one with Jack Nicholson called " The Witches Of Eastwick ".

[@Redd21481]

Nice show Shree. This is a favorite of mine and now it's time to watch the sequel. Doctor Sleep director's cut lol. Keep up the good work.

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you, I'm glad you had a good time :)

[@Redd21481]

@@ShreeNation Right on😎

[@ckinzh1129]

I used to dislike the movie as it is so unlike the book (Stephen King still does not like the movie), but I have come to respect it for its own nuances and limitations. However, I cannot recommend the book enough. The thing about King's books, and he reveals it in Jack's play that he is writing, is that his bad guys are interesting, in many ways even relatable, and certainly pitiable. Jack Torrance isn't the complete nutcase as in the movie; and Wendy is no wall flower (although Shelly Duval gets much grief for being passive in the movie, even there Wendy does pretty well for herself with bat and knife!). I do not normally care for the genre, but The Shining is a superior book.

[@ShreeNation]

I definitely have to read the book soon, it sounds so different from the film!

[@ninjavigilante5311]

Love your reactions shree :)

[@ShreeNation]

Thank you :')

[@ninjavigilante5311]

@@ShreeNation can't wait tell temple of doom 💛

[@PensadorLouco]

A clue. In the end, he became part of the hotel.

[@josemenendez4454]

The actual movie was filmed in England

[@danieltate6092]

If you get the chance you should read the book sometimes. It's quite a bit different than the movie. And it's a great read. I'll give one spoiler from the book, the picture with Jack in it at the end isn't even in the book.

[@geoculus5606]

"I'm never getting married." *pulls knife out of his chest* ;)