The Shining Movie Analysis - Research Paper Example

The Shining Movie Analysis The shining is a British American horror movie which was released back in 1980. The movie was directed by Stanley Kubrick and co-written by the famous novelist Diane Jhonson. The movie is starred by Jack Nicholson, Danny Lloyd, Shelley Duvall and Scatman Crothers. The Shining is based on the novel written by Stephen King which does by the same name as well, however, critiques acclaim that the movie doesn’t do much justice to the original novel (Adams & Vancouver 1982). The storyline of the movie revolves around the character Jack Torrance, who is a writer also a recovering alcoholic. Jack also has a son who is blessed with psychic abilities to reveal the things from the past and present, also to see supernatural beings. Jack takes up a job as the caretaker of an isolated hotel, Overlook Hotel, during the off-season which is inhabited by ghosts. Once the family settles in the hotel, they are trapped inside due to a snowstorm after which Jack is undertaken by a supernatural being which makes him attempt murder on his son and his wife. The storyline is conveniently supported by the modern score along with the innovative soundtracks which have acquired appraisal from many critics (Films Media Group 2005). Moreover, the cinematography of the movie, The Shining, is also quite brilliant in essence, also the use of Steadicam has also been used conveniently. Moreover, Kubrick`s utilization of mise-en-scene can also be commented on, as the setting, lighting, human figure placement and the composition of the movie can be interpreted in many different ways. More so, the interpretation of the visuals in the movie, which belongs from the genre of horror movies, has also been critiqued often for being too controversial (Henry 2005). Since ‘The Shining’ is a horror movie, the setting of the movie is quite an essential element as it adds to the look and feel of the entire film. In this context, the open shot of the movie alongside the music choice create an astonishing effect for the viewers. Also, the scenery involving mountains gives the horrific effect to the opening shot fulfilling the purpose of frightening the viewers. Also, the location of the Overlook Hotel is quite frightening as it is secured in the middle of mountains at an isolated place with not many signs of human presence. Also, the night shots are quite candid as they further enhance the horrid as the Hotel seems like a monstrous beast during these shots. Moreover, the shots are taken in such a manner that it seems like the hotel is looking at the humans with a cold, scary eye. To further add to the horror, there is a creepy maze alongside the hotel which leaves an expression of amazement on the viewers as if it is some kind of a trap for humans. However, the amazement of the setting doesn’t end here. Rather, the inside view of the hotel resembles that of another maze, which is equally unreasonable for human presence. Critiques have remarked the setting of the film as quite brilliantly shot, as instead of exposing darkness and mere panick, the director managed to make use of glowy spaces and gigantic nature of the hotel to reflect horror and fright in the setting. This remark stands credible as unlike typical horror movies where darkness is used as the tool to exhibit horror, Kubrick preferred to use well lit spacious setting to exhibit dreadful aura (Sypos 2010). Also, the use of electric sparks and exploding synapses create yet another amazing effect for the movie. Moreover, the setting is also brilliant in the context that each frame has been strategized in such a way so as to create a psychological effect on the viewers (Powell 2005). For instance, the corridors of the hotel are quite thin, while the bathrooms give a cold expression, and at the same time the ballroom exhibits a certain illusion which ultimately transmits horror into the minds of the viewers, similar to the effect a writer tried to give to its readers. Some of the critics have also commented that the Hotel is designed in such a way to express the characteristics of hell, while Jack represents the Devil, where the viewers may perceive Jack`s mind as haunted into the hell-hole where he is trapped. Also, the vastness of the hotel represents yet another dreadful feature of human mind where its vastness tends to entrap the devil rather than liberating it. Thus, the vastness along with the emptiness of the spaces in the movie are significant aspects of the setting, where the mountains and the snow are further used to create a psychological effect on the viewer`s minds. Moreover, the human placement figure is yet another feature of the movie which must be elaborated on. Figure placement implies the way in which the director utilizes his characters as props, rather a tool to play around with to give a particular effect or to communicate distinct meanings to the viewers (Bacher 1978). In context to the movie, The Shining, there are differing views on whether or not he has utilized human placement to his advantage. A few critics are of the view that Kubrick hasn’t used human figures accurately, for instance, the setting and the soundtrack in the opening shot are dreadful, where, soon after a tiny car is followed by the camera which then begins to zoom in and after a closer shot, it swoops off into another direction. This particular shot reflects that in the vastness of the space, Kubrick doesn’t bother to signify human characters which imply an impersonal attitude towards the movie. Similarly, another scene may be referred in this context, where, Jack is looking down towards the model of the Hotel`s maze where he sees tiny human figures impersonating his wife and son. Here, the characters in the maze are so tiny that Jack deems them inhuman and intends at murdering them. Thus, the relationship of the setting of the movie to its character seems rather mismatched in this context. However, another point of view in this regard implies that the insignificance or rather the tiny nature of characters in the maze are used brilliantly to create horror in the film by implicating that the human figures are repressed by the vastness of the mountains. Thus, similar to that of the setting, this element is rather used to instill fright and dreadfulness into the audience by striking the psyche of the viewers. In essence, though the human characters may seem insignificant, yet considering the mise-en-scene of the movie, the utilization is quite intuitive on part of the director. As mentioned above, while analyzing the mise-en-scene the insignificance of human characters seem convenient, in the same way the use of lightning is also insignificant yet serve the purpose in the film. The movie, unlike typical horror films, doesn’t employ shadows, chiaroscuro effect via lightning and other similar effects. The kind of vision which Kubrick has used to direct the movie suits the lightning effects, simpler in nature, to the look and feel of the movie. The bedroom along with the bathrooms in the Overlook Hotel are lurid in appeal and color, however, the element of shining which he added to the setting seems quite logical to the mise-en-scene of the movie (Bordwill & Thompson 2004). The lighting is used merely to imply coldness and the impersonal nature of the appeal of the movie to the viewers. However, an interesting utilization of light can be observed in a scene where Jack has his first encounter with Lloyd, who`s the batman in one of the Lounges. Here in this scene, quite a startling effect has been created with a well-lit light. Also, the ceiling carries lights running in diagonal directions which again reinforce the concept of emptiness, loneliness and vastness of the universe in comparison to humans. Furthermore, well-lit lighting effect can also be observed right behind the bar of the hotel which resembles that of the light lit in the snowstorm taking over the exteriors of the hotel, which further enhances the element of horror. Also, the light behind the bar lights up Jack`s face as well, which gives away creepy expressions while he is conversing with Lloyd. Moreover, the red color lit in the Gold Lounge is also essential to the mis-en-scene of the movie. This red color scheme can be compared to a few furnishings in the hotel, a few of the walls, also Lloyd`s Jacket and his face. This color red may be related to the concept of murder and blood to reinforce the element of horror in certain scenes. Also, Gothic color scheme, darker in nature can also be observed at a few instances during the movie. At a few instances, the effect of German gothic elements can be perceived, which implies that Kubrick was unable to completely wipe off the traditional horror touch from the mis-en-scene of the movie. For instance, Jack is seen as a dark shadow and wearing a dark silhouette along with chiaroscuro lighting in the maze. Thus, despite using bright well lit light and vastness as the sole concepts, Kubrick still didn’t manage to take the element of darkness completely out of context in the movie. In context to the mis-en-scene of the movie, The Shining, it is crucial to analyze the composition of the movie as well. In this regards, an analysis of the wall hanging throughout the movie is interesting. For instance, there is a scene in the movie at the Halloran`s apartment where a dimly lit blue light takes over the place at night. During this scene, right above the TV set, there is a painting of a dark man with a huge Afro woman. Also, during the reverse shot, the Afro woman is again visible in the wall hanging. These paintings were quite popular during the era when the movie was shot, and these tend to explain the character of Halloran who seem to appreciate such women. This gives a sympathetic touch to his character. Moreover, the photos hung on the walls of the hotel are also pictures of characters who had served as portals which also say a great deal about the flavor of the movie. Thus, conclusively the movie is a great exhibit of appropriate use of mise-en-scene in the movie which has been done brilliantly for the most part, yet not in the typical way. Kubrick has managed to signify setting and character in the movie, where the setting may be typical to the genre of horror movies yet characters are insignificant and lighting is also not dark for the most part. Thus, throughout the movie Kubrick has added the element of horror by implicating the vastness and brightness of the universe, in comparison to which the humans seems tiny and in-significant. Also, comparing the plot of the movie to the mise-en-scene the execution of lighting, setting and composition is quite intuitive on part of the director, which makes this movie one of the most remarkable makes of its time. References: Adams, K., & Vancouver Art Gallery. (1982). Mise en scene. Vancouver, B.C: The Gallery. Bacher, L. (1978). The mobile mise en scene: A critical analysis of the theory and practice of long-take camera movement in the narrative film. New York: Arno Press. Bordwell, D., & Thompson, K. (2004). Film art: An introduction. Boston: McGraw-Hill. Films Media Group. (2004). The Vocabulary of Film and TV. Henry, M., Collins, C., Video Education Australasia., & Cambridge Educational (Firm). (2005). Language of film & television. Victoria, Australia: Video Education Australasia. Powell, A. (2005). Deleuze and horror film. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Sipos, T. M. (2010). Horror film aesthetics: Creating the visual language of fear. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Company. Read More