“The Shining” is perfect quarantine viewing(economist.com)
economist.com
“The Shining” is perfect quarantine viewing
https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2020/04/25/the-shining-is-perfect-quarantine-viewing
55 comments
If you do (re-)visit this film, I highly recommend the "International Cut" that was shows and released on video everywhere except the US. It's the director's preferred version. It's more than 20 minutes shorter(!) making for a much tighter movie, and removes some bits that didn't move the plot or looked weirdly dated (spooky Skeletons towards the end, for example)
Lately I have been seeing a number of films that have been altered against the wishes of the director, such as Lynch's "Dune", Michael Mann's "The Keep", and various other WW2 movies.
I understand the want for studios to make movies palatable to an audience, but there is only so many people who are interested in watching these movies to begin with, so really cutting is just going to piss off the fans and won't earn you any accolades.
And it's a damn shame because in a number of cases the original footage has been lost, so there is no hope for some miraculous "Uncut" or "Director's Cut" version in the future.
I understand the want for studios to make movies palatable to an audience, but there is only so many people who are interested in watching these movies to begin with, so really cutting is just going to piss off the fans and won't earn you any accolades.
And it's a damn shame because in a number of cases the original footage has been lost, so there is no hope for some miraculous "Uncut" or "Director's Cut" version in the future.
To be clear, The Shining wasn’t alternated against the wishes of the director, but in fact at the behest of the director, and to positive effect.
But on that note, if you’re interested in the studio messing with the director’s intended work, check out the “Love Conquers All” version of the movie “Brazil” (1985). It starts like 40 minutes in, makes no goddamn sense, and ends on a happy note where the original film... definitely doesn’t. A friend of mine described it as (SPOILER for the movie Se7en): “As if in the movie Se7en instead of his wife’s head in the box, it was a cake and she rolled out on a unicycle singing Happy Birthday.”
But on that note, if you’re interested in the studio messing with the director’s intended work, check out the “Love Conquers All” version of the movie “Brazil” (1985). It starts like 40 minutes in, makes no goddamn sense, and ends on a happy note where the original film... definitely doesn’t. A friend of mine described it as (SPOILER for the movie Se7en): “As if in the movie Se7en instead of his wife’s head in the box, it was a cake and she rolled out on a unicycle singing Happy Birthday.”
Wow in the several times I've watched the Shining from different sources, I've never seen a version with spooky skeletons. Here is the deleted scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usgsJ-hy0h0 I think I have to agree that this wasn't one of Kubrick's best moments.
FWIW: "When released theatrically in the United States, the film ran approx. 146 minutes. However, as explained above, three weeks into its release, Kubrick cut the 2 minute coda from the end of the film, reducing its length to 144 minutes. After meeting with poor reviews and erratic box office, Kubrick decided to further edit the film for its theatrical release outside the US. He cut approximately 31 minutes of footage, reducing the length to 113 minutes. The 144 minute 'US version' is often erroneously called the director's cut when in fact director Kubrick regards both the 119 minute version and the 144 minute version as director's cuts."
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081505/alternateversions
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081505/alternateversions
The (only) version available on Amazon UK runs for 119 minutes.
I don't know if it's some weird quirk of copyright, but I really wish they'd just release both versions on video everywhere. AFAICT, there isn't a 4K HDR re-release of the International Cut, which is a shame.
At least it's within the realm of possible fan recreation if the international cut is strictly shorter than the 4K release we have.
Agreed, then watch Room 237, probably my favourite conspiracy theory doc:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2085910/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room_237
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2085910/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room_237
We watched "The Shining" last week, oddly enough.
And yes it has something to say about "Cabin fever"
It seems likely to be an influence on a lot of David Lynch's work - in terms of a sense of oddness that's hard to define the cause of, and malign supernatural elements presented without much explanation, but which "make sense" in "logic of dreams" kind of way.
I did see The Shining years ago, but have seen a lot of David Lynch's work since then, so it's only now that I make the connection.
And yes it has something to say about "Cabin fever"
It seems likely to be an influence on a lot of David Lynch's work - in terms of a sense of oddness that's hard to define the cause of, and malign supernatural elements presented without much explanation, but which "make sense" in "logic of dreams" kind of way.
I did see The Shining years ago, but have seen a lot of David Lynch's work since then, so it's only now that I make the connection.
You got it backwards. Kubrick actually screened Lynch's Eraserhead to the cast and crew of the Shining to help them prepare for what he wanted to accomplish
Yes! In fact, one at least one occasion, Kubrick proclaimed that Eraserhead was his favorite movie of all time. It blows my mind that Lynch made Eraserhead while he was still in school - imagine having your student film receive that sort of acclaim from the arguably the most respected director in the world.
Apt user name. TIL, thank you:
> Making The Shining, Stanley Kubrick announced Eraserhead was his favourite film and showed it to his cast and crew, “to put them in the mood”.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/mar/22/david-lynch-era...
So I was actually thinking of Lynch's later works (Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive, Twin Peaks) that definitely came after "The Shining" But yeah, they share things big and small, from tone to camera angles.
There's a scene in The Shining, about 3 /4 of the way through, where Jack is walking down a corridor in a rage, and it's _just weird_ (1), so reminiscent of The Man from Another Place in Twin peaks, and it's hard to say what's wrong, to unpick what's going on technically.
I only noticed this on the rewatch last week. I'd guess it's a combination of the acting and sound, camera angle and framing, lens choice, and the camera moving with him over the patterned carpet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzZP-OXA-zY
> Making The Shining, Stanley Kubrick announced Eraserhead was his favourite film and showed it to his cast and crew, “to put them in the mood”.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/mar/22/david-lynch-era...
So I was actually thinking of Lynch's later works (Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive, Twin Peaks) that definitely came after "The Shining" But yeah, they share things big and small, from tone to camera angles.
There's a scene in The Shining, about 3 /4 of the way through, where Jack is walking down a corridor in a rage, and it's _just weird_ (1), so reminiscent of The Man from Another Place in Twin peaks, and it's hard to say what's wrong, to unpick what's going on technically.
I only noticed this on the rewatch last week. I'd guess it's a combination of the acting and sound, camera angle and framing, lens choice, and the camera moving with him over the patterned carpet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzZP-OXA-zY
> which "make sense" in "logic of dreams" kind of way.
Exactly. I once heard a film critic say, "Most great movies are either puzzles or dreams."
The Shining is definitely the latter, a movie that runs on pure nightmare logic. Nothing makes literal sense and everything makes perfect sense.
Exactly. I once heard a film critic say, "Most great movies are either puzzles or dreams."
The Shining is definitely the latter, a movie that runs on pure nightmare logic. Nothing makes literal sense and everything makes perfect sense.
> nightmare logic. Nothing makes literal sense and everything makes perfect sense.
You can describe _a lot_ of David Lynch's work with that phrase. Lost Highway. Mulholland Drive. Much of Twin Peaks.
Any director could splice up some random images and say it's surreal. What's _disturbing_ about Lynch's work is that while your rational mind knows that what you see doesn't make sense, something inside you is meanwhile saying "oh yes it does".
You can describe _a lot_ of David Lynch's work with that phrase. Lost Highway. Mulholland Drive. Much of Twin Peaks.
Any director could splice up some random images and say it's surreal. What's _disturbing_ about Lynch's work is that while your rational mind knows that what you see doesn't make sense, something inside you is meanwhile saying "oh yes it does".
Zizek explained the meaning of Lost Highway in a very interesting way to me:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pervert%27s_Guide_to_Cinem...
> Zizek explained
Who? (1)
https://www.thehairpin.com/2016/07/the-best-time-i-pretended...
Who? (1)
https://www.thehairpin.com/2016/07/the-best-time-i-pretended...
If you want to feel more optimistic, The Martian seems apt.
If not, try Moon, from 2009
I somehow missed Moon all these years. I literally just discovered and watched it last night. I don't know how it stayed so off my radar, since it's right up my alley. I'm glad that I was 100% unspoiled. tldr: +1.
Also a great movie, if rather dark.
Or Solaris (1972)
Watching The Shining at midwinter is a tradition among South Pole Winterovers - for roughly 9 months there are no flights in or out.
I thought watching the "The Thing" was mandatory initiation for polar expeditions.
"South pole winterover" is a much more specific thing than "polar expeditions", but yes as the sibling suggests, the tradition at S Pole is to watch The Thing after the last flight of summer leaves.
My year also tried to institute a "Con Air" viewing before the first flight, mainly as a poke at the previous crew, but I'm not sure that stuck.
My year also tried to institute a "Con Air" viewing before the first flight, mainly as a poke at the previous crew, but I'm not sure that stuck.
Why not both? They've got all winter...
I recently learned it's Stephen King's least favorite adaptation of any of his stories:
http://screenprism.com/insights/article/why-does-stephen-kin...
http://screenprism.com/insights/article/why-does-stephen-kin...
That's interesting. Years ago, I recall King stating that The Shining was the best movie adaptation of any of his stories. I wonder what changed, or maybe I'm misremembering?
Regardless, it's my favorite King movie (though I haven't yet seen "It").
Regardless, it's my favorite King movie (though I haven't yet seen "It").
I don't think I've ever seen anything stating that. He much preferred the later tv adaptation.
A big part of this is that he felt Jack Nicholson was just playing a crazy character. But the character in the book was a father first. And you could feel that. Not to mention this book had a lot to do with King himself and how he was lost in drugs and alcohol. There was a lot of internal and external struggle for him in the book that King felt was mostly ignored. This meant that by the end, the viewer had very little sympathy for him.
Personally, I love the movie and I love the book. But I completely understand King's criticism.
A big part of this is that he felt Jack Nicholson was just playing a crazy character. But the character in the book was a father first. And you could feel that. Not to mention this book had a lot to do with King himself and how he was lost in drugs and alcohol. There was a lot of internal and external struggle for him in the book that King felt was mostly ignored. This meant that by the end, the viewer had very little sympathy for him.
Personally, I love the movie and I love the book. But I completely understand King's criticism.
Misery is clearly the best.
Some more movies in no particular order if you want to explore more of psychological horror:
Pandorum
The Lighthouse
eXistenZ
Videodrome
Hellraiser (I’m a fan of the series, some are better than others)
Blue Velvet
Mulholland Drive
The Thing
American Psycho
The Fly
Invasion of the Bodysnatchers (1978 version with Leonard Nimoy)
Pandorum
The Lighthouse
eXistenZ
Videodrome
Hellraiser (I’m a fan of the series, some are better than others)
Blue Velvet
Mulholland Drive
The Thing
American Psycho
The Fly
Invasion of the Bodysnatchers (1978 version with Leonard Nimoy)
Ex Machina and Solaris would probably be at home on this list too.
The Lighthouse is fantastic.
The Lighthouse is fantastic.
Not strictly a quarantine movie but Take Shelter (2011) is a good watch. Deals with certain themes going on now.
"The Masque of the Red Death" for a weird 1960's horror take on quarantine. Vincent Price. Adapted (substantially) from the Edgar Alan Poe story which is itself perfect reading for the occasion.
I don't want to say too much, but after you've watched "The Shining" you might also appreciate one part of "Ready, Player One"
I've seen "Ready Player One" but never "The Shining", so I'm sure there's a lot that went over my head.
Talking about "The Shining": Doctor Sleep is one of the best "scary" movies I've seen in the last years.
The submersion was amazing.
The submersion was amazing.
Both me and my significant other found absolutely nothing about it scary, and were very underwhelmed by it all (it had a lot of cool shots and such though).
Different strokes for different folks.
It's been a while but I do remember enjoying Oculus[1] and The Blackcoat's Daughter[2]. My gf got so scared watching Session 9[3] that we had to sit there with the lights on for a while afterwards, though I haven't seen it in over a decade so maybe my memories of it are a bit rose-tinted.
[1]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2388715/
[2]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3286052/
[3]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0261983/
Different strokes for different folks.
It's been a while but I do remember enjoying Oculus[1] and The Blackcoat's Daughter[2]. My gf got so scared watching Session 9[3] that we had to sit there with the lights on for a while afterwards, though I haven't seen it in over a decade so maybe my memories of it are a bit rose-tinted.
[1]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2388715/
[2]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3286052/
[3]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0261983/
The Blackcoat's Daughter deserves wider recognition. Very good.
I turned it off after 40 minutes. I appreciate movies that use slower-pacing to build tension (No Country for Old Men comes to mind) but every scene in The Blackcoat's Daughter is glacial to the point of being parody while still not accomplishing much in the way of characterization or plot development.
Maybe one day I'll revisit it, because I see it recommended all the time.
Maybe one day I'll revisit it, because I see it recommended all the time.
I fully acknowledge that it's not a film for everyone. I loved the movie but my gf couldn't watch it for similar reasons you specify.
But if you do find yourself alone one dark night, and in the mood for something slow and brooding, I would suggest you give it another try.
But if you do find yourself alone one dark night, and in the mood for something slow and brooding, I would suggest you give it another try.
Or some of the short indy films that are freely available these days. The Omeleto channel on Youtube has dozens of shorts that are quite well done, a few in the horror/sci-fi category but many more in the psycho-drama topic.
There's also Dust and CGIBros. for mainly sci-fi/fantasy/horror. Alter specializes in horror, and there are several others that I haven't checked out yet (Mr. Nightmare is a large one).
For people working from home, as I've done for years, it's nice to take a short break at lunchtime or after work and catch a 15 minute movie. My eyes are bleary after eight hours, so a short film is ideal.
Later in the evening, we'll jump on Amazon Prime or Netflix and watch something family friendly (though I recently discovered that my 15-year-old kid was watching an anime that had about the most graphic violence I've ever seen).
There's also Dust and CGIBros. for mainly sci-fi/fantasy/horror. Alter specializes in horror, and there are several others that I haven't checked out yet (Mr. Nightmare is a large one).
For people working from home, as I've done for years, it's nice to take a short break at lunchtime or after work and catch a 15 minute movie. My eyes are bleary after eight hours, so a short film is ideal.
Later in the evening, we'll jump on Amazon Prime or Netflix and watch something family friendly (though I recently discovered that my 15-year-old kid was watching an anime that had about the most graphic violence I've ever seen).
Is the Economist trying to get us to kill our wives and children?
Exactly the opposite warning us against the danger of quarantine.
No, just trying to get us to click and give them ad money.
We are feeding parasites, and they've been evolving.
Is there real value to the article? I mean, really, more than the "oh well value is relative" thing... Wonder how it would be if Newton would have preferred to watch a movie (or an equivalent at the time) instead of taking a stroll thinking of his theories and finding inspiration in a falling apple (the equivalent at the time).
Is there real value to the article? I mean, really, more than the "oh well value is relative" thing... Wonder how it would be if Newton would have preferred to watch a movie (or an equivalent at the time) instead of taking a stroll thinking of his theories and finding inspiration in a falling apple (the equivalent at the time).
What mental illness he had? Schizophrenia, did voices told him to kill people? Wouldn't he died of other diseases? What else Bipolar mania and depression sounds reasonable combined with psychopathy I could see this happening.
I happened to start reading it a few weeks ago. The book is even better than the movie, and the movie is one of my favorite horror films of all time.
Speaking of perfect quarantine movies, might I recommend John Carpenter's "The Thing"?
Ingmar Bergman's Seventh Seal.
Parallels to the time of the black plague.
Parallels to the time of the black plague.
Also The Lighthouse.
No it's not, Mrs. Torrence.
I tried watching this classic because I ski Timberline sometimes but it's just a godawful movie all the way through.