Your email address will not be published. Notice how we are shown a freaked out Jack through the mirror (reality) calling Danny to come to him. Moving forward, we meet Dick Halloran (Scatman Crauthers) the head cook at the hotel who notices the telekinetic and precognitive powers Danny possesses, which he calls The Shining. Pausing, Danny snaps back: I dont wanna talk about Tony any more, ending the conversation and the scene. Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) enters The Overlook for an appointment with Mr. Ullman, the manager. Is The Shining a film that can be definitively explained? In Stephen Kings original novel, which the film was adapted from, the scene was given more context. Kubrick was never into the idea of making a typical horror film, and he certainly got what he wanted out of the film, even if Stephen King didn't like it. We are no more shown the mirror, questioning the accuracy of the depiction, while he makes Danny sit on his lap and this is when Jack abuses him (the bathroom door is open and theres no toilet paper). Either way though, it's a haunting moment in The Shining, as the dynamic between the two men is uncomfortable, to say the least. Breaking the cycle. I believe this prominently takes place in the scene where Jack makes Danny sit on his lap. Kubrick failed in adapting Stephen Kings book, but he succeeded in making a film full of metaphors and symbolism that have made way for countless interpretations of its true meaning. This concept is further paralleled in our first view of Dannys bedroom in the Overlook. Where the clear subtext and The Shining abuse theory diverge is on the type and extent of the abuse. The bank that won't pass on rate rises unless you ring and ask: Just one of the ruses greedy lenders use to squeeze savers and pump up profits In the same interview, the screenwriter says, "The photograph was always in the ending. He goes upto the bar and meets Lloyd who fixes him another drink and says the expense is on the house, indicating the effort of the Overlook to carry Jack down the hill of madness. But they aren't prepared for the madness that lurks within. Why did Kubrick break his code of on-set secrecy and why did he show this meeting in the documentary? One of the most chilling and surprising shots in the movie is the man in the horrible, bear suit giving felattio to a man dressed in a tuxedo. In order to buy into The Shining conspiracy theories in this vein, you need to already be on board with the moon landing being a hoax, which, of course, it wasnt. In the kitchen, Halloran takes Wendy and Danny through a twisting-turning path and then opens the freezer room, shot cuts, and we see him opening the door on the wrong side contradicting the previous shot. The Shining novel and film work best as separate pieces, and each ending has a different meaning. Note how Jack wears dull colored clothes in the beginning but wears a burgundy jacket throughout the second half and the opposite for Wendy who wears a bright red and blue costume, similar to that of the Goofy poster in Dannys bedroom but towards the end opts for dull ones. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The shot passes by within 13 seconds and is never referenced again which raises many unanswered questions. Over the past four decades, The Shining has been picked apart, shot by shot, by hundreds of viewers looking for hidden meanings, ranging from film scholars who adore the work of Kubrick to conspiracy theorists who think that Kubrick was involved in faking the Moon landing. This truly sums up the enigmatic genius of the great Stanley Kubrick. The latter is the one that Jack says he saw in the newspaper (and the one who killed his family in the hotel), and thus the reincarnation of Delbert Grady. This fan theory posits that Danny is Theseus and Jack is the minotaur in Kubricks extended metaphor. There were many controversies regarding the adaptation taking its own course halfway down the line, and is still lambasted by King and many bookworms. He decided to adapt Stephen Kings best selling novel, The Shining. The hotel was built upon a Native American burial ground and is decorated with various works of Native American art. Theres barely any ambiguity about the end, since it only exists if we are certain of any one explanation, but there isnt one in this case. Also to be noted, this is the first time we see Jack in the burgundy jacket, the color similar to that of the liquid gushing out of the elevator in Dannys vision. So how can you break put from the pack and get your idea onto the small screen? Lets compare the two characters in more detail. The novel decided to show all the images at the beginning, while Kubrick decided to use the conventional step by step process to create suspense. The ball itself is featured in another scene with Jack throwing it against a wall in the hotel lobby. Another tracking shot, where Danny finds Room 237 and is about to open it before changing his mind and quickly wheeling away. For more information, please see our Jack hadnt slida single drop of liquor for the past 5 months, a vow out of guilt. Directed by modern horror master Mike Flanagan, Doctor Sleep offered an unexpected treat in the form of an extended cameo by none other than Jack Torrance himself, now played by Henry Thomas. One of the things that horror stories can do is to show us the archetypes of the unconscious; we can see the dark side without having to confront it directly. Jack had a history of anger issues and violence, mainly against his family. She is an Audiovisual Communication graduate who wanted to be a filmmaker, but life had other plans (and it turned out great). This scene has been interpreted many ways, and one of the most popular explanations is that it represents the hotel absorbing Jacks soul. The Shining Is About Sexual Abuse. Theres also a poster of bears right above Dannys bed with the smaller bear on its knees. In an interview (via Huffington Post), Doctor Sleep director Mike Flanagan discussed why he didn't include this particular character, and his reasoning makes sense. The second obvious factor is that Kubrick has omitted the entire back story associated to the dog costumed man in the book, leaving his audience at a complete loss as to the scenes meaning. Who is the man in the bear costume in "The Shining"? Additionally, lines of dialogue such as white mans burden further support this association. (Rob Ager's work plagiarized) Collative Learning 214K subscribers Subscribe 4.1K 167K views 5 years ago Watch my new Shining analysis video. It's certainly an impactful moment that brings the movie full circle, seeing Jack become a part of the famous Overlook hotel ghosts once and for all. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round. Meta Quest 2 - Advanced All-In-One Virtual Reality Headset - 128 GB (Renewed Premium). However, skeptics would say these could easily be a result of simple continuity errors. In Doctor Sleep, Adult Danny Torrance is forced to head to the Overlook in order to unleash a greater evil on villain Rose the Hat, but while there encounters the ghost of his father. Kubrick used a yellow car instead of a red one and used a red snowcar contrary to yellow in the novel. He also extended the closing date of the hotel to October 30, to welcome the series of Halloween events. In The Shining, Danny and Hallorann are the two characters with shining abilities, which allows them to communicate with each other even when miles apart. The sound design is top-notch but is literally so powerful at this time, every blow feels like one to your heart. The infamous bear costume scene and the quick view of Jack reading a Playgirl magazine are pointed to as evidence that Dannys abuse goes beyond physical into sexual. Wendy and Danny reunite and leave the hotel in a snowcat, and Jack freezes to death. Theseus was a king of Athens and one of the legendary heroes of old. But there was always one particular scene in the movie that left me with an unsettling feeling: the bear man scene. Inside, a man in a bear suit is performing fellatio on one of the Overlook's guests. But there are also plenty of ludicrously far-fetched The Shining conspiracy theories that made the cut as well. Tonally, I didnt know if the film would survive that kind of speed bump," Flanagan admitted. Dick tells Danny that many people shine but arent aware of it and demands him to not explore Room 237. To some, the scene may seem insignificant and almost forgettable especially in the midst of Jacks murderous rampage. Three minutes into the movie and we come face to face with the words, The Interview in block letters resembling the beginning of a chapter. She knocks him unconscious in an act of self defense and locks him in the pantry. Vivian Kubrick explains in the commentary that James Mason was acting in a local theatre, and so Kubrick gave him an invitation. Jack has clearly gone haywire and absent-mindedly proceeds to the Gold Room. Beyond being one of the most incredible and beloved horror movies ever made, it's also a project . She has either overlooked or deliberately ignored the abuse that has cause Dannys problems. Ultimately, it's all speculative, but Ager's cogent proof unravels the mystery of the bear man all the same. Spiked with sexual innuendo, this conversation holds several clues to the truth behind the relationship between Danny, his father and the imagery of the bear, with many suggesting that the animal is symbolic of Jacks predatory control over his family and sexual abuse of his son. Here's The Shining bear scene explained. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Even when looked at more literally, The Shining's meaning is still up for debate, as some fans disagree on whether the ghosts in The Shining are even real. Coming to Room 237 again, it was Jack who physically assaulted Danny and not the old lady, who serves as a metaphor for the disgusting act carried out by Jack on Danny, and this is exactly why it is shown through a mirror. Ager cites Jack's experience in Room 237 as evidence that he's abusing his son. When Shelley Duvall witnesses the bear giving oral sex to another man, she is confronting the true horror and cruelty of her husbands actions toward her son, animating in front of her eyes as a disturbing vision. Theres no doubt that amongst Stanley Kubricks influential body of work, his 1980 horror The Shining remains his most disturbing film, with eerie atmospheric film suggesting something deeper to be running through the haunted floorboards of the Overlook hotel. The aforementioned sequel, Doctor Sleep, got a cinematic adaptation that serves as both a sequel to The Shining novel and Kubricks film, in a way. The sequel to The Shining, 2019's Doctor Sleep movie managed to walk a delicate tightrope between adapting King's Shining sequel book and being a follow-up to Kubrick's Shining movie. Another important detail is that Jack doesnt wear a wedding ring at all in the film, not even when he and his family are driving to the hotel, but Wendy always wears hers. The most disturbing aspect of the movie and something that creeped me out after thinking about it (I am an avid horror movie fan but this aspect is just terrifying). The truth is, Stanley Kubricks The Shining could in no way be called a faithful adaptation of the source material. When Jack walks from the reception to the room, the camera travels in a perpendicular fashion highlighting the angle of the room and the apparent absence of a wall behind Ullmans room. She looks at the inscription through the mirror which reveals itself to be MURDER. Super Dark The Shining Theory Reveals The Story Is All In Wendy's Head. With a booming siren in the background conveying the initiation of an emergency, we are in the yellow car and we come to know Danny watched something about cannibalism on T.V, and earlier Jack mentions his wife being a horror addict and shes also seen smoking with quivering fingers. Kevin is a sweet, frustrated kid. The poster in question depicts a skier, despite Jack being told there is no skiing in the area. This imagery is reinforced by the man in the bear outfit performing oral sex on another man at the films climax. A very expensive split-second because it requires a working second storey to be added to the already incredibly large Lounge set. While it may not work for Stephen King, Stanley Kubrick's ending perfectly fits the film he created. The bear also appears when a doctor visits Danny and his mother at. But some take the theory farther and interpret the film as a representation of sexual abuse. Danny has visions about the hotel right after Jack gets the job and during his time at the hotel, and has a traumatizing experience when drawn into the forbidden room 237. Danny escapes the maze and reunites with Wendy, and they escape in Hallorans snowcat. The Shining is full of allegory and mystery, but none are as wild and potentially insidious as what could be lurking behind that strange man in a bear suit. Of all the places in the film that a picture of bears could appear this one is right above Dannys bed and there are no other framed bear pictures in the film. Look carefully at this teddy pillow. Learn More{{/message}}, {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}It appears your submission was successful. The book and movie are extremely divergent. This is thought to reference the estimated 237,000 miles between the Earth and the moon, even though this number is inaccurate. The puzzled look on Jacks face can be interpreted as an effort to get his mind straight, and notice him using slurs every time he talks to Wendy. The core ofThe Shiningmoon landing theory posits that not only was the 1969 moon landing a hoax, but that Kubrick was the one who constructed the fake footage. It is less of a stretch to consider this interpretation as a distillation of clear subtext on child abuse that some viewers might miss. Buy a book on film making from any part of the world, either Russia or Japan or Sweden, and youll find this name mentioned not once but in every chapter, ranging from minutely monumental details like breaking the 180 degree rule to establishing genres like science fiction and satirical comedy. He even sought to create an alternate adaptation of his novel in the form of a television mini-series in the '90s. It was great. This idea even served as the basis for a mockumentary film from director Matt Johnson calledOperation Avalanche. In Barry Lyndon a commoner, who marries his way into high society, systematically beats his stepson, Lord Bullingdon. Inside, a man in a bear suit is performing fellatio on one of the Overlook's guests. Now starts a series of intentional continuity errors and weird set designs, that are prevalent throughout the movie. Like The Shining's Overlook Hotel, the Stanley Hotel also has a haunted history, even possessing a particularly haunted room (number 217) just like the Overlook's room 237. Without wasting more time, lets revisit The Shining by quoting Kubrick. The video was called The Shining Who is the man in the bear costume. Believers in this theory also suggest that the tidal wave of blood in the famous elevator scene represents the collective spilled blood of Native Americans. Parents just don't understand. Every time she manages to commit to a TV show without getting bored, an angel gets its wings. Well explain each theory, why people believe it, and look at the corroborating evidence. Here's The Shining bear scene explained. In attempting to answer "what is The Shining about?" The sexual abuse theme is even communicated in the making of documentary. contain their own pieces of unique information. Not only that, but Wendy is wearing Jacks blue robe. This chapter will cover the first of those themes. Wendy parallels this in her last line of dialogue to Danny as he runs to get his fire engine: Make sure you come right back 'cause Im gonna make lunch soon. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. And the parallels continue. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Stanley Kubrick. Kubrick deliberately left many things unexplained, including many details from the third act he did, however, explain why Jack Torrance appears in The Shining picture at the end. The main headlines of the 1978 issue involve two key sections, reading as follows: Incest: Why parents sleep with their children, and, How to avoid a dead end affair. Yes, one involves the furries. Decoding this puzzling moment, superfans of The Shining have long pointed to the relevance of bears throughout the film, with several references being made throughout the movie that each build to one likely explanation. Wendy calls a doctor who checks Danny and asks about some sort of trauma Danny may have suffered that may have caused him to make up his imaginary friend. A visual medium requires visual methods. Instead of being inside, the young boy is out in the hedge maze being pursued by his father. Danny goes back to his room to get his firetruck and sees a grim looking Jack, his face shown through the mirror again. Sees a grim looking Jack, his face shown through the mirror which reveals itself be! King, Stanley Kubrick 's ending perfectly fits the film he created and! 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