The Shining film directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1980 is in my opinion one of the best films ever made, for its imagry, subtle horror, psychological thrill, and ability to constantly surprise. Kubrick leaves some characters in the film ambiguous, as to their motivations and “core” if you will. That said, Halloran (the black man) in the film seems to be a basically friendly presence, particularly to Danny, explaining the gift they both share and warning him about room 237. I think the film works so well because Kubrick doesnt bombard us with ghosts and goblins, and slashers around every corner in the hotel. The genius of the film is its subtlety. We feel the atmosphere of the hotel, we know it is a bad place, without having to see all that has happened there. We get a taste here and there, such as Danny’s vision of the Grady girls’ bodies, and of course room 237. But there is a creeping, building feeling of dread and apprehension that does not abate for the entire film, even after watching it multiple times. The film focuses on human descent into madness, inadequacy, hatred, resentment, all played out by the Torrances on the canvas of the Overlook Hotel during the winter. I think another reason the film works so well is that there is very little fuddy-duddy warm and fuzziness. If there were scenes like this, the film would not have worked. Kubrick makes us believe that the Torrances are a tortured family, from Jack’s major issues, to his and Wendy’s seemingly strained marriage, to the bizarre interactions between Danny and Jack.
There are scenes of love between Wendy and Danny of course, but even these are tempered. Now back to your question about Halloran, the cook, who befriends Danny and later returns to the hotel when he senses something very wrong. I think Halloran might be meant to be a positive counterweight to the overwhelming malevolent presence of the hotel, and the dark human tragedy playing out there as Jack goes insane and tries to kill his family. We arent told how long Halloran has worked at the Overlook, but he clearly has been there long enough to know about the hotel’s presence and potential for bad. I don’t think you can read too much into the nude women in Halloran’s hotel room in the scene before he “shines” as Jack is simultaneously entering room 237. I think this might just be Kubrick’s way of showing that Halloran has a naughty side, but that he isn’t squeaky clean, basically making him more relatable and “hip” to the audience. The scene at the airport when Halloran calls his friend Larry asking for a snowcat shows him saying why its so important he get to the hotel. He says the people taking care of the place are complete “assholes” and that “Ullman phoned him and wanted him to go up and see if they needed to be replaced”. I think this is simply Halloran making a quick, plausible excuse to as not to arise suspicion about what he suspects might be happening at the hotel. If in fact Halloran “shines” what we the viewers see as Jack goes into room 237, and basically embraces the evil of the hotel, then Halloran will indeed be very worried about what might transpire, especially if he is aware of what happened when Charles Grady went berserk in 1970 when HE was caretaker at the hotel and killed his family. Halloran just wants to get to the hotel as quick as he can, either to check on his suspicions, or maybe on the off-chance that he is mistaken and the family is actually okay..But I don’t for a moment believe Ullman actually phoned Halloran to go to the hotel. I think Halloran did this all on his own, based on his premonitions and “shining” of room 237. Remember in the bathroom scene, when Delbert Grady (the 1920s waiter) is talking to Jack, he tells Jack that Danny is “attempting to bring an outside party into this situation” he is referring to Halloran. I think that is the hotel worrying about any outsiders interfering with what they hope will be a repeat of the 1970 tragedy at the Overlook. These are some of my interpretations! Feel free to comment I will be adding several posts about this great film.
The Shining film directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1980 is in my opinion one of the best films ever made, for its imagry, subtle horror, psychological thrill, and ability to constantly surprise. Kubrick leaves some characters in the film ambiguous, as to their motivations and “core” if you will. That said, Halloran (the black man) in the film seems to be a basically friendly presence, particularly to Danny, explaining the gift they both share and warning him about room 237. I think the film works so well because Kubrick doesnt bombard us with ghosts and goblins, and slashers around every corner in the hotel. The genius of the film is its subtlety. We feel the atmosphere of the hotel, we know it is a bad place, without having to see all that has happened there. We get a taste here and there, such as Danny’s vision of the Grady girls’ bodies, and of course room 237. But there is a creeping, building feeling of dread and apprehension that does not abate for the entire film, even after watching it multiple times. The film focuses on human descent into madness, inadequacy, hatred, resentment, all played out by the Torrances on the canvas of the Overlook Hotel during the winter. I think another reason the film works so well is that there is very little fuddy-duddy warm and fuzziness. If there were scenes like this, the film would not have worked. Kubrick makes us believe that the Torrances are a tortured family, from Jack’s major issues, to his and Wendy’s seemingly strained marriage, to the bizarre interactions between Danny and Jack.