12 Questions on the film
1 Why exactly is this film (and the book it was based upon) called "The Shining"?
Was inspired by a song by John Lennon, Instant Karma
Was inspired by a song by John Lennon, Instant Karma
2 What exactly happened to Jack? Why is he in that picture at the end of the movie?
Jack has encounters with ghosts, who insist that he has always worked at the hotel and that he must kill his family in order to have a higher rank in the hotel team.
Jack has encounters with ghosts, who insist that he has always worked at the hotel and that he must kill his family in order to have a higher rank in the hotel team.
The reason that apprars in the picture is why their soul has been trapper at the hotel that is all those who are in the picture died there similary to the he is to say that they lost the sanity and killed other guests giving to understand that the next those who arrive them will happen to them.
3 Who hurt Danny after his visit to room 237?
3 Who hurt Danny after his visit to room 237?
In the book, after Danny visits room 217 (237 for the movie) the ghost of the woman who killed herself in the bath chokes him.
4 After saying that he would sell his soul for just one beer, Jack looks up and greets the barman Lloyd. Since this was Jack's first time at the hotel, how could he have known the barman's name?
Know his name because he had seen his picture before
4 After saying that he would sell his soul for just one beer, Jack looks up and greets the barman Lloyd. Since this was Jack's first time at the hotel, how could he have known the barman's name?
Know his name because he had seen his picture before
5 Who or what is actually possessing the Overlook Hotel? Also, why do the said possessors want to drive Jack Torrance insane?
The hotel has its own personality, and it acts in a psychic way: it manipulates the living and dead for its own purposes; And magnificent the psychic powers of anyone who resides there making him see horrible scenes of the hotel's past. Danny has premonitions about the danger of staying at the hotel with his family and begins to see horrifying ghosts and visions of the hotel's past, but he tells himself that they can not hurt him, that they are "like a book" ( As Dick said). Although Danny is close to his father, he does not tell him about his visions because he feels Jack's work is more important to the family's future.
The hotel has a hard time possessing Danny, so he begings to own Jack, frustraiting gis need and his desire to work. Jack becomes unstable, and the sinister ghosts of the hotel gradually begin to possess him. After a series of actions on the part of Jack, manages to own it compley. The hotel intends to use Jack to kill Wendy and Danny to absorb the abilities of the little one.
The hotel has its own personality, and it acts in a psychic way: it manipulates the living and dead for its own purposes; And magnificent the psychic powers of anyone who resides there making him see horrible scenes of the hotel's past. Danny has premonitions about the danger of staying at the hotel with his family and begins to see horrifying ghosts and visions of the hotel's past, but he tells himself that they can not hurt him, that they are "like a book" ( As Dick said). Although Danny is close to his father, he does not tell him about his visions because he feels Jack's work is more important to the family's future.
The hotel has a hard time possessing Danny, so he begings to own Jack, frustraiting gis need and his desire to work. Jack becomes unstable, and the sinister ghosts of the hotel gradually begin to possess him. After a series of actions on the part of Jack, manages to own it compley. The hotel intends to use Jack to kill Wendy and Danny to absorb the abilities of the little one.
6 What is the significance of the man in the Chipmunk costume with the man in tuxedo seen by Wendy in the bedroom ? What are they supposed to be doing?
In actuality, the significance behind this scene is explained in much greater detail in the novel. It is a dog costume, not a chipmunk costume, and the character in the book is referred to as the "Dogman." In the novel he chases Danny through the hotel, scaring him with absurd sexual threats. The man in the tuxedo is Derwent, a corrupt playboy and former owner of the hotel. The pair were former lovers, but Roger, the man in the costume, is desperate to continue the relationship. Derwent agrees at only one cost - Roger must dress in a humiliating dog costume, walk on all fours and bark. This all happened in the past and is being relived in this scene. The Dogman is perfoming fellatio on Derwent.
In actuality, the significance behind this scene is explained in much greater detail in the novel. It is a dog costume, not a chipmunk costume, and the character in the book is referred to as the "Dogman." In the novel he chases Danny through the hotel, scaring him with absurd sexual threats. The man in the tuxedo is Derwent, a corrupt playboy and former owner of the hotel. The pair were former lovers, but Roger, the man in the costume, is desperate to continue the relationship. Derwent agrees at only one cost - Roger must dress in a humiliating dog costume, walk on all fours and bark. This all happened in the past and is being relived in this scene. The Dogman is perfoming fellatio on Derwent.
7 "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" is supposed to be scary, but I don't understand. Why is it scary and what does it mean?
The phrase in itself is not scary, the fact that Jack had typed it out thousands of times is. It shows the deterioration of his mental state.
8 Who is Tony?
Tony is perceived differently by different people in the novel. Danny sees Tony, at first, as a flesh and blood person. Until the end of the novel, Tony's face is obscured by shadow and distance. Danny isn't sure who he is. Jack and Wendy think Tony is your standard imaginary friend, one who happens to coincide with Danny's frightening episodes of wild utterings and trances. Dr. Edmonds, Danny's psychiatrist in Sidewinder, thinks Tony is a product of Danny's mind, brought forth by family stress. Readers don't quite know what to make of him, though he seems a fairly benevolent figure in spite of his radical communication techniques.
Tony is perceived differently by different people in the novel. Danny sees Tony, at first, as a flesh and blood person. Until the end of the novel, Tony's face is obscured by shadow and distance. Danny isn't sure who he is. Jack and Wendy think Tony is your standard imaginary friend, one who happens to coincide with Danny's frightening episodes of wild utterings and trances. Dr. Edmonds, Danny's psychiatrist in Sidewinder, thinks Tony is a product of Danny's mind, brought forth by family stress. Readers don't quite know what to make of him, though he seems a fairly benevolent figure in spite of his radical communication techniques.
9 We see Jack in the picture at the end of the film which was painted in 1921 which I guess means that Nicholson was either possessed or reincarnated...but does anyone have a definite answer? Or does Kubrick just want us to decide for ourselves?
The idea is that Nicholson's soul has been around for a long time, and that each time he is reborn he returns to the Overlook Hotel and goes on a murder spree. This is facilitated by the evil, restless spirits residing in the hotel.
10 Who is the old woman in room 237 and what is her significance?
In the book, she is Mrs. Massey, an older woman who is seducing a man much younger than her, until late one night he leaves in the car they arrived in, and doesn't return. Distraught, Mrs. Massey kills herself with liquor and sleeping pills while taking a bath. However, since none of this is in the actual film, fan theories have sprung up regarding her importance to the movie. One theory is that she is in fact Grady's wife, and 237 is where he murdered his family.
11 Does Danny's ability to "shine" have any connection to Jack's insanity and the events that occur in the hotel?
Effectively, Danny's shining is what brings the hotel to life. Because he has such an incredibly powerful shine about him, all these weird ghost things in the hotel are able to materialize and reveal themselves. These weird ghost things are always present to some degree, and those people with a small degree of shine get glimpses of them - like Dick Hallorann. (It's not quite made clear in the movie, but Dick saw the woman in room 237 in the book). However, Danny's shine is so great that he gives these forces enough life to appear to those without any shine, people like his father and mother. As it's the hotel that's slowly driving Jack crazy, and the hotel gets its power from Danny's shining, then I'd say there's definitely a connection between Jack's insanity and Danny's abilities. In the movie, it's not as clear as it is in the book, but Jack is effectively possessed by the hotel. He's not a flawed drunk with an anger problem who loses his mind because of isolation. He's a flawed drunk with an anger problem who's doing the best he can, until the forces of the hotel get inside his head and make him lose it.
12 If Jack is a reincarnation, how does he not know Danny possesses the shining? The other ghosts, such as Delbert Grady, who have always been there, can see Danny's talent. If Jack has always been there, how come he can't see what Grady sees?
Jack is the same soul as the man in the 1921 ball photo, but that does not necessarily mean he retains their full memory. Jack also has the ability to Shine, but probably does not know how to use, or is even aware that he has the ability to Shine.
Jack is the same soul as the man in the 1921 ball photo, but that does not necessarily mean he retains their full memory. Jack also has the ability to Shine, but probably does not know how to use, or is even aware that he has the ability to Shine.
