Film Re-Review: The Shining Extended Cut

Director: Stanley Kubrick

I complained last time of having forgotten about The Shining when I did my top 10 favourite films of all-time and after re-watching it again I am still completely sold. I was invited to a double screening of The Shining extended cut, which featured around 25mins of footage that was omitted in Europe but was shown briefly in the early release in America, followed by Room 237 which is a documentary discussing possible themes and meanings. It mostly revolved around the backstory of the family and Danny talking more with his imaginary friend Tony, Kubrick also had a final scene at the hospital physically cut out of print by projectionists where the family learn that Jack's body was never found.

He's always been the caretaker, Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson)

Stephen King was unhappy with the extra 25mins that were cut as it provided critical points about the backstory, the book spends a lot more time detailing their regular home life in Bolder before they even move up to the Outlook Hotel. With regards to the film it doesn't add much to the overall plot but someone who hasn't read the book may certainly gain something from these extra scenes being included.

Two scenes that always stick in my mind are when Jack meets Delbert Grady and they go into the red bathroom, it is a superbly written scene and darkly macabre but in a very subtle way. The presence of red being a huge theme throughout the movie. The second being the most retaken scene ever as Wendy backs up the stairs away from Jack, Kubrick had this scene shot 127 times which is a record for a scene involving spoken dialogue. The film is still an absolute masterpiece which is being analysed today as seen in the documentary Room 237.