The Monster Within

The Film Adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining

Authors

  • Adél Eszter Dechert Pázmány Péter Catholic University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69705/FHS.2023.1.2.4

Abstract

Several debates emerged from Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining, mostly because of the notable changes that the director made in the film. This essay aims to explore the possible reasons behind these changes by introducing the main differences, such as the tone, themes, and the endings. The analysis particularly focuses on the main character’s representations, not only because it is the most significant difference, but also because the character of Jack Torrance is the most memorable element of the story, especially in the case of Kubrick’s film. My essay aims to demonstrate that Kubrick’s divergent approach is what led to the story’s new elements, layers and interpretation.

References

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The Shining. Directed by Stanley K., Warner Bros., 1980.

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Published

31-12-2023 — Updated on 11-06-2024

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Articles