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Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining ends with a chilling scene: Jack Torrance in a 1921 photograph of guests at The Overlook Hotel. This enigmatic shot from the 1980s movie gives way to various debates and theories.
Kubrick clarified that the photo suggests Jack is a reincarnation of a previous employee of the hotel. The idea aligns with the butler Grady’s assertion that Jack has “always been the caretaker,” indicating a cyclical pattern of reincarnation and haunting within the hotel.
The film adaptation of The Shining deviates substantially from Stephen King's novel, particularly in its conclusion. Kubrick exercised artistic freedom, intentionally leaving numerous details open to interpretation. The disparities between the book and the film, specifically the conclusion, led to diverse interpretations and discussions among fans and critics.
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The horror classic's ending is often debated. Jack Torrance, played by Jack Nicholson), is a recovering alcoholic and budding writer. He takes up a new job at Overlook Hotel caretaker with his family to over his writer's block.
Fearful events result from the hotel's dark secrets, Jack's deteriorating sanity and Danny's psychic abilities.
The Shining film ending: Jack's Presence in the photo
The most puzzling thing about The Shining's ending might be how Jack looks in the 1921 picture. Many people think that the hotel has taken Jack's soul and made him a part of its history. However, Kubrick said that this scene makes him think that Jack is a reincarnation of a caretaker from the past.
It has a lot to do with what Jack said to Grady, the ghostly butler, who told him:
"You've always been the caretaker."
This view of reincarnation and haunting as a cycle fits well with the main idea of the movie.
Wendy and Danny's escape
After being freed from the pantry by Grady’s ghost, Jack’s madness escalates. He attacks Wendy and Danny with an axe, leading to the iconic “Here’s Johnny!” scene. Wendy fights back, wounding Jack and allowing her and Danny to escape. The hotel's cook, Dick Hallorann, arrives to help but is killed by Jack.
Danny leads Jack into the hedge maze, where he escapes while Jack becomes lost and eventually freezes to death. Wendy and Danny flee in a Snowcat, but their fate after leaving the hotel is left ambiguous, with a deleted scene suggesting they recovered in a hospital.
Stark differences between the book and the movie
The Shining movie's ending differs greatly from Stephen King’s novel. In the book, Jack regains control of himself long enough to warn Danny to run. Hallorann survives and helps Wendy and Danny escape.
The hotel's boiler explodes, destroying the Overlook and killing Jack. This destruction allows for a sense of closure the film doesn't provide. King’s dislike for Kubrick’s adaptation stems from these changes, which he felt undermined the original story’s essence.
The elevator blood and REDRUM explained
In The Shining, Danny’s psychic abilities or “shining” peak at the Overlook Hotel, mixing with the hotel's malevolent forces. He experiences terrifying visions, including the word “REDRUM”. Wendy later realizes that it spells “MURDER” backward.
One of the most memorable scenes is the blood pouring from the elevator, symbolizing the hotel's violent past. Interpretations vary, with some suggesting it represents the blood of Native Americans buried beneath the hotel, while others see it as the blood of the hotel's many victims.
The Shining’s real meaning
Kubrick’s The Shining is a film rich in metaphors and symbolism while exploring themes of cyclical violence and abuse. Jack’s history of anger and violence, particularly against his family, is mirrored by the hotel's own violent past.
The film suggests that both physical and psychological abuse perpetuates a cycle of violence. This cyclical nature is further emphasized by the idea of Jack being a reincarnation of a past caretaker.
What do the producer and screenwriter say about the ending?
The ending, with the photograph of Jack in 1921, was always a part of Kubrick’s vision.
Screenwriter Diane Johnson mentioned that Kubrick found the idea of blowing up the hotel cliche and sought a more metaphorically and visually interesting conclusion.
The maze chase scene, inspired by the topiary animals in the novel, replaced the book’s ending, keeping the hotel intact and preserving its sinister presence.
The details of what happened after the story ended
The 2019 film Doctor Sleep continues the story of The Shining. Danny, now an adult and going by Dan, is haunted by the spirits of the Overlook Hotel. He attempts to capture and end these hauntings.
The Overlook is revealed to have been abandoned but not destroyed, unlike in King’s novel. Wendy, Danny’s mother, died from cancer in 1999. Dan’s struggle with his past and psychic abilities form the core of Doctor Sleep.
Doctor Sleep's interpretation about Jack’s fate
In Doctor Sleep, Jack Torrance appears as a ghostly bartender, suggesting his soul was absorbed by the hotel.
That aligns with the theory that the Overlook possesses and absorbs the souls of those who die there. Dan’s encounter with his father’s ghost highlights the ongoing influence of the hotel and the cyclical nature of its hauntings.
An unseen alternate ending to The Shining
Kubrick originally included a scene where the hotel’s manager visits Wendy and Danny in the hospital, implying a deeper connection to the hotel. This scene was cut after poor reception from test audiences, as it was seen as diminishing the ambiguity Kubrick had crafted.
The ending with Jack in the 1921 photo encapsulates its themes of cyclical violence and haunting. Despite departing from King's novel, Kubrick's film remains eerie and ambiguous.
The ending with many interpretations, from reincarnation to soul absorption, keep audiences interested and divided. The Shining's exploration of madness, violence and the supernatural mortars its place in cinematic history.
The Shining is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
