Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
While it seemed that there was nothing more left to be unearthed about the brilliance of Stanley Kubrick’sThe Shining, another fascinating detail has emerged after 4-decades since its release. Debuting back in 1980, the Jack Nicholson-led film remains a hot topic of discussion among cinephiles, and the newfound detail in the film only elevates the horror classic’s greatness.
Back in June, Italian film scholar Filippo Ulivieri pointed out a conspicuous detail about Jack Nicholson breaking the fourth wall inThe Shining, which further adds to the film’s uneasiness.
Also read:Jack Nicholson Began Throwing Away His Revised Scripts For Stanley Kubrick’s ‘The Shining’ For a Strange Reason
The Newfound Detail inThe ShiningFurther Elevates Its Creepiness
Filippo Ulivieri, who has spent the past two decades analyzingStanley Kubrick‘s works, pointed out the detail in his 11-minute-long video essayOverlooked! A Detail In The Shining That You’ve Never Seen.In the essay, Ulivieri reveals that throughout the film, Nicholson’s Jack Torrence makes direct eye contact with the camera for a brief moment on numerous occasions. And keeping in mind that Stanley Kubrick was infamous for his adamancy to paint the perfect frame, it’s obvious these tidbits throughout the film were intentional.
Although the meaning behind these remains open for interpretation, depending on the viewers’ perspective, it does add a sense of uneasiness throughout the film, which further elevates the experience.
Also read:Robert De Niro Was Deemed Not Psychotic Enough For ‘The Shining’ By Stanley Kubrick After Watching His Most Deranged Role
Stanley Kubrick Wasn’t the Perfect Fit for the Adaptation Said Stephen King
WhileThe Shiningwas a major hit among fans and critics,Stephen King, who wrote the novel, wasn’t too enticed by the discrepancy between the film and the book. Unlike the book, which paints Jack as a level-headed and lovable character at the beginning, Kubrick takes a completely different route, painting Jack as the primary antagonist instead of the Overlook Hotel. Although Stephen King expressed that he admired theEyes Wide Shutdirector as a filmmaker, he felt Kubrick wasn’t the right man for the job. He toldThe New York Times:
“Let’s put it this way, I dislike the film. I always have. I admire the film, and I admire Kubrick as a director, which sometimes gets lost in the mix when people who absolutely love that film take me to task. I love Kubrick as a filmmaker, but I just felt that he didn’t have the chops for this particular thing.”
Also read:“I would’ve broken Kubrick”: Keanu Reeves Claimed He Could Have Given Stanley Kubrick A Taste Of His Own Medicine That Made Tom Cruise Miserable
Even though King eventually got an opportunity to make a more faithful adaptation of his work with 1997’sThe Shining, a 3-episode miniseries, it didn’t hold a candle to the 1980 classic.
The Shiningis available to stream on Max.
Santanu Roy
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2539
Santanu Roy is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on movies, with over 2,000 articles under his belt. He has been pursuing a degree in Animation and possesses a deep love for the medium of animation. Having spent the better part of the last two years pumping out articles for FW, Santanu excels at covering movie analysis and news surrounding Pixar, DCU, DreamWorks, and Batman’s cinematic legacy.With psychological thrillers and intimate slice-of-life dramas ranking among his favorite genres, Santanu is a big admirer of Luca Guadagnino, Shane Black, Park Chan-wook, and Brad Bird.
