Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining has become a hallmark in the horror genre, compelling audiences with its haunting atmosphere, memorable characters, and ambiguous ending. In the film’s finale, viewers are confronted with a perplexing image: a photograph from 1921, showing Jack Torrance amongst a crowd of guests at the Overlook Hotel’s party. This iconic scene has sparked various interpretations, one of which is that it suggests Jack’s soul has been “absorbed” by the hotel. Kubrick, however, offered a different explanation: Jack’s appearance in the photograph hints that he is a reincarnation of a former hotel employee.
The Shining Ending Explained
One of the film’s most confusing elements is the 1921 photograph that appears in the final scene. Many fans interpret this as a symbol of the hotel absorbing Jack’s soul, indicating that he becomes a permanent part of its haunted history. However, Kubrick’s own interpretation ties this to the idea of reincarnation. He suggested that Jack Torrance is the modern-day version of a previous employee, possibly one of the caretakers of the Overlook, which ties back to Jack’s earlier conversation with Delbert Grady. Grady, the ghostly butler, refers to Jack as “the caretaker” who has “always been the caretaker.”
This idea extends further when Jack recognizes the name “Grady” in a newspaper, suggesting that he may be the reincarnation of Charles Grady, a past hotel caretaker. This theory, although plausible, is not fully explained in the film, leaving it up to viewers to interpret the connections. While this explanation could fit with the film’s eerie atmosphere, it remains one of the less fleshed-out aspects of Kubrick’s adaptation. A more detailed approach to explaining this reincarnation concept would have perhaps made the film even clearer for audiences.
Wendy and Danny’s Escape
As the horror escalates within the Overlook Hotel, Wendy and Danny find themselves desperately trying to escape the madness that Jack succumbs to. Jack, now completely unhinged by the hotel’s sinister forces, chases his wife and son with an ax. In a tense sequence, Wendy defends herself by slashing Jack’s arm, forcing him to retreat temporarily. Meanwhile, Dick Hallorann, the cook who shares Danny’s psychic “shining” ability, arrives to help them but is tragically killed by Jack.
In a dramatic turn, Danny evades Jack by running into the hotel’s hedge maze, where he creates a false trail to mislead his father. Eventually, Wendy and Danny manage to escape in a Snowcat during a snowstorm, while Jack meets his demise, freezing to death in the snow. This escape is depicted with more closure in the 2019 sequel Doctor Sleep, which explores what happens to Danny and Wendy after they leave the hotel.
The Movie’s Ending vs. the Book’s Conclusion
Kubrick’s The Shining differs significantly from Stephen King’s original novel, especially regarding the fate of the characters and the Overlook Hotel itself. In the movie, Wendy and Danny flee in the Snowcat, while Jack perishes in the snow, marking the end of his tragic journey. This ending suggests that the Overlook Hotel’s curse continues, as it draws in new souls, like Jack’s, to continue its dark cycle.
In King’s novel, the conclusion takes a different turn. Jack struggles against the hotel’s influence long enough to urge Danny to flee for his life. Rather than freezing to death in the snow, Jack dies when a malfunctioning boiler explodes, destroying the Overlook. Hallorann also survives in the book, helping Wendy and Danny escape, and the story ends with the family spending time together in a new, safe environment.
The Sequel, Doctor Sleep
The film Doctor Sleep, released in 2019, continues the story of Danny Torrance. It picks up with him as an adult who is still haunted by the trauma of his experiences at the Overlook. Unlike the novel, where the hotel is destroyed by Jack’s death, Doctor Sleep reveals that the Overlook was abandoned, and its power continues to influence Danny, leading him to confront the spirits of the hotel once more.
The sequel delves into Danny’s adult life, showing how he is haunted by the ghosts of the Overlook, including his own father, Jack Torrance. It also provides further details about Wendy’s life after the events of the original film, revealing that she passed away from cancer years later, but her legacy and Danny’s struggles with his trauma remain central themes.
Key Symbols in The Shining
Kubrick’s film is filled with symbolism, some of which remains open to interpretation. One of the most notable is the appearance of the word “REDRUM,” which Danny repeatedly writes and chants. This word is later revealed by Wendy to be the reversed word “MURDER,” a chilling reminder of the danger surrounding them.
The blood pouring from the elevator is another iconic scene. It’s suggested that the blood represents the lives lost at the Overlook Hotel, which was built on an old Native American burial ground. This scene contributes to the idea that the hotel is not just haunted but is the site of a history of violence, both supernatural and human in origin.
Violence and Abuse as Central Themes
At its core, The Shining is not merely about ghosts and horror but is deeply rooted in the themes of violence and abuse. Jack’s history of anger issues and alcoholism is central to the film’s narrative, and the Overlook Hotel’s malevolent influence only exacerbates these tendencies. Wendy and Danny are both physically and emotionally abused by Jack, even before the hotel’s supernatural forces take hold of him. This cycle of violence is mirrored by the hotel’s own history of death and destruction.
One of the more controversial interpretations of the film is that it also addresses sexual abuse, particularly through the symbolic scenes involving the man in the dog costume. While this theory remains unconfirmed, it highlights how the film tackles deeper, more unsettling themes beyond just supernatural terror.
Kubrick’s Artistic Vision
Director Stanley Kubrick’s interpretation of The Shining is markedly different from Stephen King’s original vision. While King’s novel focused on the hotel itself as the antagonist, Kubrick emphasized Jack’s personal demons, which made him susceptible to the hotel’s influence. Kubrick’s cinematic approach ultimately altered the story’s tone, leading to a divisive response among fans, particularly those loyal to King’s version.
Kubrick’s decision to conclude the film with the 1921 photograph was part of his broader vision to create a film that was not bound by conventional horror tropes. In interviews, screenwriter Diane Johnson revealed that Kubrick always intended the photo to be part of the ending, as well as the maze chase, which replaced the book’s moving topiary animals. These creative decisions contributed to the film’s lasting impact.
The Overlook Hotel’s Real-Life Inspiration
The Overlook Hotel, as depicted in the film, is based on the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. Stephen King was inspired to write The Shining after staying at the Stanley Hotel, where he experienced an eerie feeling in the empty corridors. This real-life hotel adds an additional layer of creepiness to the movie, making it all the more unsettling to think that the fictional hotel is based on a real, possibly haunted location.
Reception of The Shining Ending
The ending of The Shining has been a point of contention for many fans. Stephen King himself was critical of Kubrick’s version, feeling that it deviated too far from his original story, particularly regarding Jack’s character. In the book, Jack’s redemption arc and ultimate sacrifice for his family create a different emotional conclusion, but in Kubrick’s film, Jack’s complete descent into madness leaves little room for redemption.
Despite the differences, The Shining remains an enduring classic, praised for its psychological depth, visual storytelling, and haunting atmosphere. It holds a special place in the horror genre and continues to be a subject of analysis and debate, especially regarding its ambiguous ending.
Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is a masterpiece of ambiguity, filled with haunting imagery and psychological depth. The film’s ending, particularly the 1921 photograph, suggests that Jack’s soul has been absorbed by the hotel, and Kubrick’s reincarnation theory offers one possible explanation. Despite the film’s divergence from Stephen King’s novel, it remains an iconic and deeply influential piece of horror cinema, forever etched in the minds of viewers.
