‘Shine On — The Forgotten Shining Location’: A Documentary Meditation on Stanley Kubrick’s Rooms of Fear

As a lifelong admirer and student of Stanley Kubrick’s work, I find “Shine On” to be a fascinating and enlightening documentary that provides valuable insights into the mind-boggling process behind one of his most iconic films: “The Shining.” Having spent countless hours poring over the intricate details of Kubrick’s meticulously crafted sets, I can attest to the sheer scale and precision that went into every frame of this film.

Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” stands out as a unique and captivating horror film, albeit one that doesn’t truly scare me. The title of the most frightening film ever made goes to “Psycho,” which holds the distinction of being an exhilarating experience for the viewer while they watch. I acknowledge that many regard “The Shining” as a terrifying movie, but my perspective hasn’t changed since its release on May 23, 1980. I’ve watched it numerous times and have grown more intrigued by its enigma, but my issue with it remains the same from the very beginning.

In “The Shining,” we delve into an immense supernatural enigma from the shadows, a haunting tale where spectral entities emerge from the Overlook Hotel to intertwine with Jack Torrance’s descent into madness. Portrayed by Jack Nicholson, Jack is a struggling writer who is gradually unhinged by a series of events that coalesce into a chilling psychomystical plot: his creative block, his anger, the liquor fueling his rage, and the spirits haunting the Overlook Hotel, particularly the caretaker’s ghost. The caretaker seems to exert an influence on Jack, causing him to transform into the caretaker himself. This is why Jack appears in the final scene as a figure from the 1920s in an old photograph. The film explores the enduring nature of violence, which is eerily mysterious and elusive in a chilling, omnipotent manner.

When Jack Torrance’s dark side is unleashed, there’s no denying the gruesome outcome. Jack Nicholson, in his maniacal state, wielding an ax as he tries to harm his wife and child is a chilling yet clear representation of homicidal rage. The release of “The Shining” came during the height of slasher films. While I may not be a fan of the horror genre’s classics like “Halloween” or “Friday the 13th,” I believe some of these films are more terrifying than “The Shining.” However, the image of Nicholson brandishing an ax as if he were a lunatic lumberjack leaves little to the imagination. Despite its impressive production value, for me, “The Shining” falls short at its climax with an unsettling dose of commonplace wickedness.

As a cinephile, I find “Shine On” to be my kind of companion piece to Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, “The Shining.” Unlike other documentaries that delve deep into the film’s mysterious universe, such as Rodney Ascher’s mind-bending “Room 237,” “Shine On” offers a more focused perspective. Written and directed by Paul King, it is narrated with reverence by Michael Sheen. This short featurette, available on YouTube, spends its 25 minutes exploring the making of “The Shining,” specifically the film’s sets that still stand today as industrial locations. So, in essence, “Shine On” provides a glimpse into the external world of “The Shining.”

1. What truly unsettled me about “The Shining” was the shell of the hotel, which seemed incredibly real. It wasn’t until I learned that the movie was primarily filmed at Elstree Studios in England that my instinctive response was, “Wait, it wasn’t filmed at the Stanley Hotel in Colorado?” (That’s the hotel that inspired the Overlook.) Even though I knew Kubrick hadn’t left England for decades and that he excelled at creating intricate sets, my sensory recollections made me believe that the Overlook – with its psychedelic carpets, cream-colored walls and ceilings, vast lobby adorned with chandeliers and a grand staircase – was too tangible and imposing to be just a set. I had to remind myself, twice, that Kubrick had constructed it all.

“In ‘The Shining,’ Kubrick masterfully employs ceilings with more dramatic effect than any film since ‘Citizen Kane.’ Ceilings are crucial in making a set appear authentic and not a set. The immense size of the Overlook Hotel is Kubrick’s brilliant illusion. Considering there are merely three characters inhabiting this space for the core of the story, the enormousness of the location leaves you pondering: It’s hard to fathom constructing such a massive set just for these characters and this haunting tale. The extreme scale of Kubrick’s meticulous planning adds another layer to the film’s madness.”

In “Shine On,” it is mentioned that all of Elstree Studios were used for the sets during the filming of “The Shining.” This equates to an extensive area, similar to multiple airplane hangars. Kubrick needed this substantial space to shoot “The Shining” for nearly a year. However, it wasn’t enough. Many of the original sets have been removed, but some areas at Elstree were transformed into sets, such as the enormous Overlook kitchen and its dimly lit storage room. The core of “Shine On” involves three individuals who worked on “The Shining” set: executive producer Jan Harlan, art director Leslie Tomkins, and Kubrick’s eldest daughter Katharina Kubrick, whom he invited at the age of 25. They walk through the former kitchen and match its elements with the movie, resulting in an uncanny sensation where everything in “The Shining” seems ghostly.

One captivating clip exists, showcasing an astonishing moment from the past: Kubrick lying on his back by the larder door, holding a lens, and meticulously composing Nicholson’s face from a ground-level perspective, remarking, “That’s not bad.” This instant became one of the most iconic film images of the last fifty years, born spontaneously on set as Kubrick felt compelled to act. Additionally, there is a unique recording of Shelley Duvall’s emotional breakdown in the kitchen during filming, an extremely rare sight since it was the authentic take included in “The Shining.” In “Shine On,” there’s substantial proof and witness statements that the general atmosphere on the set of “The Shining” was harmonious. Nevertheless, it is feasible to assume that at times, Duvall teetered on the brink of a nervous breakdown.

1. “Shine On” complements other Kubrick-related documentaries like “Kubrick by Kubrick,” “Stanley Kubrick’s Boxes,” and “Filmworker,” shedding light on the enigma that was Stanley Kubrick and his filmmaking process. Unlike most filmmakers, Kubrick constructed his movies meticulously, much like creating massive ships in a bottle. “The Shining” is the epitome of this craftsmanship. While it’s a tale of a haunted house, Kubrick’s direction turns the film into its own haunting entity. The intricate and tangible sets suggest that the hidden secret within is as vast and profound as the universe itself. Although it may not be as terrifying as it is fascinating, if “The Shining” were as frightening as it was captivating, it would undoubtedly be a cinematic masterpiece rather than a highly revered horror cult classic.

2024-07-30 09:17

‘Shine On — The Forgotten Shining Location’: A Documentary Meditation on Stanley Kubrick’s Rooms of Fear

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