The Shining, Part 1: Background

 

Stanley Kubrick was a renowned American film director, screenwriter, and producer, celebrated for his innovative and meticulous approach to filmmaking. Born on July 26, 1928, in New York City, Kubrick displayed an early interest in photography, leading him to work as a photographer for Look magazine at the age of 17. This background in photography significantly influenced his visual style in filmmaking.

Kubrick's first success was "Paths of Glory" (1957), an anti-war film that showcased his developing directorial prowess and moral complexity.

Kubrick's move to the UK in the early 1960s marked a significant phase in his career. There, he directed "Lolita" (1962), based on Vladimir Nabokov's controversial novel, and the darkly comedic "Dr. Strangelove" (1964), which offered a satirical take on Cold War politics.

His 1968 masterpiece "2001: A Space Odyssey" revolutionized science fiction cinema with its groundbreaking special effects and philosophical depth. This was followed by "A Clockwork Orange" (1971), a dystopian exploration of free will and societal control, which courted both acclaim and controversy for its explicit content.

Horror movies in the UK during the late 1970s experienced a unique period marked by both innovation and the influence of earlier traditions. Hammer Film Productions, which had dominated British horror throughout the 50s and 60s with its Gothic horror films, began to decline in the late 70s. Hammer's traditional horror formula, featuring characters like Dracula and Frankenstein, struggled to compete with the new wave of horror emerging from the United States and other parts of the world.

This period saw the release of films like "The Omen" (1976), a British-American production that combined supernatural horror with a modern setting or The Shout" (1978), directed by Jerzy Skolimowski, combined horror with psychological and surreal elements, exploring themes of madness and power.

Overall, horror movies in the UK during the late 70s were characterized by a transition from the traditional Gothic horror of earlier decades to more diverse and experimental forms of horror. This period saw filmmakers exploring new themes and techniques, influenced by both domestic and international trends, resulting in a rich and varied contribution to the genre.

Kubrick's subsequent film The Shining (1980) wals based on Stephen King's 1977 novel of the same name. Some distinctive features of the film are the pioneering use of the Steadicam allowing for smooth, fluid camera movements, symmetrical compositions and use of wide-angle lenses contributing to the sense of moving between paralel realities and naturally the soundtrack featuring works by composers such as Wendy Carlos and Krzysztof Penderecki contributing greatly to the otherworldly feel of the Overlook Hotel.

This is a book that will barely cover the main storyline of the movie, and try to give insight

The Shining tells the story of Jack Torrance, an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic who takes a job as the winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel. He brings his wife Wendy and young son Danny with him. Danny possesses "the shining," a psychic ability that allows him to see the hotel's horrific past. As the winter progresses, Jack's sanity deteriorates under the influence of the supernatural forces inhabiting the hotel. The film explores the effects of isolation and the descent into madness. The vast, empty spaces of the Overlook Hotel contrast with the claustrophobic tension within the Torrance family.