The Ending

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Mel217

Well-Known Member
Mar 10, 2017
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While I appreciate Kubrick's "Someone needs to die because this is a horror film" mindset, Halloran has always been one of my favorite SK characters and I hated that he got axed so shortly after making such a harrowing journey. Personally, if he had to get killed I would have loved to have seen his journey to CO not be ended so abruptly and for nothing; had he been able to help Wendy and/or Danny first, I think it would have added something perhaps.
Good call on not killing Danny, IMO.
As far as the actual ending goes, I kind of like both endings in their own way and the photograph in the movie was one of those "ermahgerd" moments. Then again, Dr. Sleep shows us that just because the hotel itself is gone doesn't mean everything that goes with it is gone, too, which was a really, really good move on SK's part when it came to the sequel!
While most people don't care for movie-Wendy's character vs. book-Wendy's character, growing up in an alcoholic home I can attest to the fact that the spouse of an alcoholic can (and often does) go from book-Wendy (self reliant while constantly plotting what to do if and when he/she leaves the alcoholic spouse...always have a plan, etc.) to movie-Wendy (hopeless and accepting their almost ruined marriage with a mixture of worry and compliance.) Not everyone does, but many spouses go from strong in their own "selves" to just pretty much giving up. The same can be said of a child who is literally afraid of their alcoholic parent. They're kind of quiet and reserved and secretive. Being secretive and quiet can, in some cases, piss the alcoholic parent off even more which adds fuel to the fire. It's a dangerous and extremely stressful situation, especially to a young child who can't possibly know how to articulate what's really going on.
I enjoy the movie because it IS open to so much interpretation, and I'll be the first to admit some have taken it a wee bit too far. But there's always the possibility in the back of your mind that something could have been missed. Then again, there are so many parts in the book that never made it into the film that would have been really excellent to include. I enjoy the movie as an artistic interpretation of one of my favorite SK novels, but nothing will ever beat the novel itself and all the creepy moments that make you stop reading because you're pretty sure you just heard a noise that now has you spooked. First time I read it, I was at the part towards the end where Danny was watching the clock and two of our cats got into a loud, quick spat and the sudden screech dang near made me pee my pants, LOL!


Cool article. Thank you so much for sharing!
 

mjs9153

Peripherally known member..
Nov 21, 2014
3,494
22,165
I really don't get the big hullabaloo over the film,okay he froze Jack to death instead of blowing him up with the boiler,big diff...I really liked the ending sequence with the song that zooms in to show him at a ball he could not possibly have been at..it's creepy and ghostlike and leaves the Overlook to haunt future residents and caretaker(s)..
 

grin willard

"Keep the change, you filthy animal!"
Feb 21, 2017
1,144
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I really don't get the big hullabaloo over the film,okay he froze Jack to death instead of blowing him up with the boiler,big diff...I really liked the ending sequence with the song that zooms in to show him at a ball he could not possibly have been at..it's creepy and ghostlike and leaves the Overlook to haunt future residents and caretaker(s)..

mjs9153, would you be my boyfriend? Wait, no! Offer withdrawn! You've capsulized my thoughts eloquently. My G-d, I love the Overlook. I love Danny, I love Wendy! Grady, not so much. :barf: I hate the idea of the Overlook being destroyed. ("She creeps ..." Here's an idea, replace the boiler! Call a heating & cooling professional! You're risking having a valuable historic landmark destroyed by a cantankerous leaky 70 year old boiler? Are you that cheap? Repair Guy: There she's fixed! She don't creep no more!) It seemed so 'cut to fit'. In my opinion it was a problem in the novel that the film solved. Now enjoy this beautiful 'Shining' overlay that someone created by hacking into the classic PC game, Duke Nukem!!

 

vinsanity0

New Member
Apr 18, 2007
1
6
South Florida
Great article. I just rewatched this film for the umpteenth time.
I agree it would have been cliche to burn down the Overlook. I like that the hotel lives to horrify another day. I always thought that photo showed that the hotel absorbed the energy that was Jack Torrence.
I like that the film leaves us wondering what exactly happened. Kubrick wasn't one to resort to cheesy tropes and cliches.
 
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FlakeNoir

Original Kiwi© SKMB®
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
44,082
175,641
New Zealand
Great article. I just rewatched this film for the umpteenth time.
I agree it would have been cliche to burn down the Overlook. I like that the hotel lives to horrify another day. I always thought that photo showed that the hotel absorbed the energy that was Jack Torrence.
I like that the film leaves us wondering what exactly happened. Kubrick wasn't one to resort to cheesy tropes and cliches.
Welcome to your first post, vinsanity0. :biggrin2:
 

SteveValek

Well-Known Member
Jan 10, 2018
57
218
56
Great article,and I've always thought that Jack in the photograph,was his soul trapped in the hotel,with the other guests..Like he was imprisoned there for all eternity,and had the hotel remained,he would have been a "ghost/vision"himself ..
The reincarnation theory is interesting though..
 

grin willard

"Keep the change, you filthy animal!"
Feb 21, 2017
1,144
6,024
50
Great article,and I've always thought that Jack in the photograph,was his soul trapped in the hotel,with the other guests..Like he was imprisoned there for all eternity,and had the hotel remained,he would have been a "ghost/vision"himself ..
The reincarnation theory is interesting though..

I guess there's some measure of comfort to be taken in the fact that Jack Torrance screwed up royally over & over and still got the eternity he wanted. If heaven exists, and is that easy to get into, I'm golden!
 

SteveValek

Well-Known Member
Jan 10, 2018
57
218
56
I guess there's some measure of comfort to be taken in the fact that Jack Torrance screwed up royally over & over and still got the eternity he wanted. If heaven exists, and is that easy to get into, I'm golden!

Just looked into it,and it's the NATIVE AMERICANS who believed that photographs stole a person's soul.
People can read into it further,and make up their minds,but Heaven/Hell ?
If freezing to death is the easy way,I'm still not keen!