The Shining (1980)

The Shining (1980)

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

In The Shining, there are three central character arcs. All of the arcs play an important part of developing the narrative. This film is still a single strand piece, even though it has all of the elements to make it a multi-strand. The main stories involve main character Jack, his wife, Wendy & their son Danny.

Danny's character arc

Before the 'Room 237' sequence, Danny kept having these reoccurring dreams about what Room 237 contained. This is even before the family came to the hotel. The way this particular scene is shot is gripping as we are going into the room as Danny. The Point of View shot is filmed at the same level as Danny, meaning height so the audience only knows what Danny knows. In the framing of the shot, we have the door which leads to the room halfway open; the use of mirrors creates tension because there is nothing that seems out of the ordinary as we can see that the room is well lit but it is the music & camerawork causes the disruption. In the central of the frame, there is a red key ring which the door name on it; this is the only component that represents danger or death in the shot.

 

What happens in the room causes our main character Jack to investigate the room and this is what helps his narrative develop, as well as Danny's story.

 

 

Wendy's character arc

 

There are some deeper meanings why Wendy is in the boiler room but it is not necessary to the plot. Wendy hears Jack screaming and goes to his aid. I believe that Danny was screaming also but Wendy hears Jack scream as this helps the plot later on to develop.

 

 

Jack's character arc

 

 







The scene where Wendy wakes up Jack from a bad dream is the final but crucial part of the sequence. Jack wakes up and explains to Wendy what his dream is about. Then Danny appears holding his neck in the distance. Director Stanley Kubrick decided to use the steadi-cam to illustrate that Danny is wary of what has happened. Wendy soon reacts, blaming Jack for hurting Danny (again, though this is happened before the film began) and takes Danny away. This plot device gives Jack the reason to investigate Room 237.