ARCHITECTURE IN MOVIES

THE SHINING

Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is widely considered to be among the best big-screen adaptations of the Stephen King story by the same name

“The Shining is about Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic, who accepts a position as the off-season caretaker of the isolated historic Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. Wintering over with Jack are his wife Wendy Torrance (Shelley Duvall) and young son Danny Torrance (Danny Lloyd). Danny possesses "the shining", psychic abilities that enable him to see into the hotel's horrific past. The hotel's cook, Dick Hallorann (Scatman Crothers), also has this and is able to telepathically communicate with Danny. The hotel had a previous winter caretaker who went crazy and killed his family and himself. After a winter storm leaves the Torrances snowbound, Jack's sanity deteriorates due to the influence of the supernatural forces that inhabit the hotel, placing his wife and son in danger.” Wikipedia

Although production took place exclusively at EMI Elstree Studios, the sets were all based on real locations such as the Ahwahee Hotel in Yosemite National Park

Kuberik is trying to create tension in this horror movie using many different techniques. Remember that architecture can make you feel all sorts of emotions; Calm, comfortable, awkward and tense, happy or sad. How does the image above make you feel? 

Cold and isolated perhaps. 

The perfect emotional response for a horror movie...

Following are some more example of how the architecture of the movie helps to create growing tension throughout the movie.

Lets start with the bar scene. Jack approaches- on axis. Everything is still calm. Jack has not yet lost his mind. Note the colours and level of contrast, muted and soft. 

The rule of thirds comes into play as the discussion between Jack Nicholson and the bar tender begins. Then back to centred images as they are shown individually.

As the tension in the scene grows the architecture changes. The contrast increases with the bar tender lit from behind and Jack below (as if Jack needs to be lit from below to look freaky). Then as things get odd the waiter and jack head into the bathrooms.

 Below is a link to the bar scene and a second for the full bathrooms scene and a couple of still in case the links don't work for you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRviKZEWcug

 

Two great bathrooms

This fabulous red and white bathroom; a visual and psychological mash between red and white. The discussion begun earlier in the calm softly coloured bar escalates. The room already feels more tense than the last. Note the subtle red tiles on the floor alluding to drops of blood as a discussion is made about a previous murder in the hotel. 

The framing of this scene with the camera sitting on axis in both directions creating a disappearing point in the centre of the frame where the two men speak. The disappearing point distorts objects into points likes knives along the left edge.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN6TPtaBKwk

The second amazing bathroom contrasts with the first. Soft curves and a cool green to juxtapose with the harsh lines and reds of the first bathroom. 'Room 237'

The focus is on the bath, which appears a few times in the movie alluding the final bathroom scene. As the penultimate bathroom scene contains nudity I’ll just post a still image sans bodies for the delicate folk.

Kubericks attention to detail is astounding with this movie taking over a year to film. Take a look at a few other scenes. Notice anything in common in these? 

Dark and light/ centered framing/ Red and Green; Colours used over and over to visually tie the movie scenes resulting in constant visual contrast.

The juxtaposition between dark and light; a combined visual assault between light and colour. 

The tensions grows....

Kuberic really does like the centered image in this movie, the rule of thirds happens on occasion- generally when there's some action, but the centered, on axis imagery is a real strong point. There's an awkwardness about it that adds to the tension. I love how in the opening of this following scene the architecture is king; the room and all its glory. While he is isolated, small, almost unnoticeable in the center, except for the jarring sound of the typewriter. 

See how architecture can create an intimacy or isolation.

Something else to notice in this writing room scene at a distance he is centered, but once she enters the room she disturbs the symmetry. Then  interestingly as they talk she is framed centered; even and calm, almost black and white (the sane one), while his imagery is off center and messy- red and green again (the not so sane one). 

Caution- bad language!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRRsE0LvUqU

The creepy corridor in this movie appears many times over. The hotel is deserted yet ever door is ominous as a lovely child plays. The plain white walls contrast against the wild carpet design creating feelings of fear (whats behind those doors) and a hint of the mahem about to ensue (the geometric carpet pattern).I wont give away the ending!

I'll leave it there. If you're up for one of the most iconic horror movies that is scary but not that scary, this movie and its amazing spaces are well worth the watch. The blog doesn't contain too many spoliers so there's more in store for those who dare....