The main character (Jack) is starred by Jack Nicholson, he basically gets a job as a caretaker in a hotel at the top of a mountain, the hotel gets snowed in, in the winter, which makes the hotel have to shut. Danny (Jacks Son) has psychic powers, which is found out by the hotel chef, this means he can see ghosts and detect when they are present, when Jack and his family get snowed in, Jack turns into a madman, because of the ghosts being around, this then causes him to attempt to murder his wife and son.
The structure of the film is a linear structure, this means that there is a beginning middle and end, although its made more complicated than just this, it means that there is an exposition, complication, climax and finally a resolution. This is the layout the film is planned around.
The first scene, where the chef introduces Jack and his family to the house is basically to set the scene and give the audience an understanding of who the characters are and where the film is set, also in this part we are told about the previous caretaker who was also isolated during the winter months and killed himself and his family. We also learn that Danny has Psychic powers within this part, this is the exposition.
Next we have the complication, this is where Jack starts getting angry with his wife because shes distracting him when hes trying to work, but its not really work because he just sits there writing: “all work and no play, makes jack a dull boy” this isn’t normal behaviour and as a sign of this we can see hes starting to go mad.
The climax can be seen as the most powerful scene in a film, in the Shining, this is the axe scene, where Jack goes looking for his wife and son, and then the “heres Johnny” quote is used.
And finally we have the resolution; this is where jack ends up freezing in the maze, although it isn’t 100% clear that he has died, this is a good way for producers to make a sequel if they wanted to, although they didn’t, they felt they didn’t have to.
At the time of this film being made, something called a steadicam, this is basically what it says in the name, a camera that is used to make shots steady when the camera is in motion, this helps shots in the shining and helps create suspense, because when the shot is constantly moving it creates alot of discomfort, for example, the scene where Jack is smashing the door down with the Axe, the camera jolts from side to side, this creates alot of atmosphere for the audience, and makes the want to watch on eagerly.
Usually in many films they use dolly tracks, this is perfect for long distances, for example a car chase or something, but it wouldn’t have been a clever idea to use it for the shining, simply because the audience would see the track on the floor.
The Deus ex Machina is basically when a suprising event happens, usually something that wasn’t recognisable to the audience, the deus ex machina of the film would be when Jacks wife discovers his “all work and no play” writing. As an audience we instantly see a different side to Jacks character and we feel that he could be capable to murdering his family.
Macguffins are used throughout this film, a macguffin is a plot element that catches the audiences eye, and also advances the story, for example a macguffin in this film would be when the audience see a photograph of what seems like jack from 1921, this creates alot of mystery, because they instantly relate back to the knowledge of the old caretaker, and this makes them think if jack is a reincarnation of the previous caretaker, and this makes them wonder if theres going to be murders again.
This is the scene out of the shining that I felt would be strong to write about and look at more closely. the famous scene where Jack chops through the door and says "heres johnny."
Before he starts axeing the door down, Jack recites a nursery rhyme, three little pigs to be precise, this not only shows that Jack has lost it and has gone completely mad, but it also feels out of place, hearing something so innocent when something so brutal is about to take place, this is called juxtaposition, it means when theres calmness against fear, the way Jack speaks calm even though he is about to kill someone.
Also the contrast between the cold outside and the colour inside, helps create a warm feeling within the hotel, this again is strange considering a murder is trying to take place.
It isn't just about the camera in this scene, but also the sound plays a large part in setting the scene and making the film have alot of suspense. it isn't music that is used as such, but discordant strings in the background, making a low but jumpy sound, also the diegetic sound within the frames make this scene too, such as the screaming and the sound of the axe going through the wood, I believe that with music ontop of this, the effect wouldnt be so great.
The way in which the camera has been placed in this scene is extraordinary! not only did the creators place the camera where the audience can see the axe bashing through the door, but they placed it so you could see Jacks wifes face, that was full of terror. being able to see all of this creates such alot of suspense, and some would say, fear.
Stanley Kubrick didn’t want Jack Nicholson in the film because he had just starred in "the cuckoos nest", and the audience would relate back to the other film, whereas Stanley Kubricks style was to create films that people haven’t seen before, something new, but putting Jack Nicholson in the film, turned out to be very successful.
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