Is The Shining based on a True Story? Ending Explained, Plot, and More
by Abinaya | Updated Apr 25, 2023
The Shining
Stanley Kubrick produced and directed The Shining, a 1980 psychological horror film co-written with novelist Diane Johnson. The film stars Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers, and Danny Lloyd and is based on Stephen King's 1977 novel of the same name. The principal character of the film is Jack Torrance, an aspiring writer & recovering alcoholic who accepts a job as the off-season caretaker of the remote historic Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies with his wife, Wendy Torrance, and small son, Danny Torrance (Lloyd).
Danny is endowed with "shining" psychic powers. After a winter blizzard traps the Torrances in their home, Jack's sanity deteriorates owing to the otherworldly forces that inhabit the hotel.EMI Elstree Studios was the primary location for production, and the sets were designed to resemble real places. Kubrick preferred a limited crew, allowing him to take multiple shots, even to the point of exhaustion for the actors and staff.
The film utilized the Steadicam mount to film numerous scenes, providing a unique and immersive experience. The movie's inconsistencies, ambiguities, symbols, and variations from the book have generated much discussion and interpretation.
Is The Shining Based on a True Story?
No, The Shining is not based on a new story. Even though The Shining is a work of fiction, the location it is set in was influenced by real-life paranormal incidents that occurred at the Stanley Hotel in Colorado. Stanley Kubrick's 1980 masterpiece film was based on Stephen King's novel The Shining. Doctor Sleep, a sequel to The Shining (in addition to being based on the book of the same name), was released in 2019 with mixed financial and critical success.
What is The Shining Based on?
Stephen King's horror novel "The Shining" was published in 1977. Stanley Kubrick directed the film adaptation of the same name, which was released in 1980. While the narrative is fictional, the setting was inspired by King's vacation at the Stanley Hotel in Colorado, where he supposedly saw ghostly activity.
The Shining Ending Explained
The movie concludes with Wendy and Danny fleeing in a snowcat provided by Hallorann during a snowstorm. Jack is left outside in the cold and perishes, while the hotel seems to continue its murderous cycle by attracting new reincarnations of past staff. The conclusion of The Shining novel, however, is markedly different and sets the stage for the sequel, Doctor Sleep. In the novel, Jack resists the hotel's possession long enough to instruct Danny to flee for his life.
In contrast to the film, Hallorann survives and aids Wendy and Danny's escape. The hotel makes a final attempt to possess Hallorann, but he manages to evade it successfully. Jack still meets his demise, but not in the snow; instead, a faulty boiler explodes, destroying the hotel and killing Jack.In the novel's conclusion, Danny and Wendy spend the summer at a resort in Maine, where Hallorann is the head chef. The trio remains close, and Hallorann helps Danny cope with the loss of his father while teaching him to fish.
It's worth noting that in the 1997 Shining miniseries, which King himself wrote, there's a short epilogue where the grown-up Danny is visited by the ghost of Jack, filled with pride. This suggests that Jack's spirit was entirely liberated when the Overlook was destroyed. The Shining movie, which Stephen King despises, deviates significantly from the novel, with Kubrick making many changes to the story to match his vision.
The Shining novel and film are most effective as distinct works, with each ending carrying its own meaning. The sequel, Doctor Sleep, was adapted for the big screen, serving as a unique continuation of both The Shining novel and Kubrick's film
The Shining Plot
Jack Torrance accepts a job as the winter caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel in the Rocky Mountains, which shuts down during the winter. The hotel's manager, Stuart Ullman, informs him that a former caretaker, Charles Grady, went insane and killed his family and himself. Meanwhile, in Boulder, Jack's son Danny experiences a premonition and a seizure.
Wendy, Jack's wife, tells the doctor about a past incident in which Jack dislocated Danny's shoulder during a drunken outburst. Although Jack has been sober since then, Wendy is still worried. Before leaving, the hotel's head chef, Dick Hallorann, informs Danny that they both possess telepathic abilities that he calls "shining." Hallorann warns Danny about the hotel's "shine," which stems from past unpleasant events, and cautions him to stay away from Room 237.
Danny has terrifying visions, Jack becomes increasingly unstable and violent, and Danny is lured to Room 237, where he is physically harmed. Jack blames Danny for the injuries and begins drinking again, while ghostly figures, including Delbert Grady, appear and urge Jack to "correct" his family.
Wendy discovers Jack's manuscript with the phrase "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Jack becomes increasingly violent, and Danny is lured to room 237 where he is physically attacked. Wendy knocks Jack unconscious and locks him in a pantry, but they cannot escape because Jack sabotaged their means of communication. Danny repeatedly says "redrum" and writes the word "murder" in lipstick on the bathroom door. Jack breaks out and chases Wendy and Danny with an axe. They escape and leave Jack to freeze to death in the hedge maze. In a hotel photo, Jack appears to have been at a party in 1921.
Is The Shining based on a True Story - FAQ
The Shining, on the other hand, is not based on a factual story. However, the setting, the Stanley Hotel in Colorado, was inspired by true-life paranormal experiences.
The film The Shining is based on Stephen King's 1977 horror novel of the same name.
The plot of The Shining revolves around Jack Torrance, who takes a job as the winter caretaker at the remote Overlook Hotel in the Rocky Mountains. His son Danny possesses psychic powers known as "shining," and he warns him of the hotel's deadly background. Jack grows more erratic and violent, resulting in horrific incidents that affect the entire family.
The Shining was released in 1980.
Some of them are : Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance, Shelley Duvall as Wendy Torrance, Danny Lloyd as Danny Torrance, Scatman Crothers as Dick Hallorann, Barry Nelson as Stuart Ullman.