There are two people in this world: Those whose blood goes cold when someone says "redrum," and those who just look at you like you are nuts or possibly sharing the name of the latest shot served at Mulligan's. (I won't be a spoiler, so see the movie, please.)
When Stanley Kubrick's film version of Steven King's The Shining opened in 1980, this family-gone-wild film set in the isolated winter crypt of a popular summer resort hotel (abandoned during off-season) became the subject of many nightmares.
Over the course of the movie, Kubrick unspools his cinematic vision with an often copied, other-world style and with a pace on screen that not only brought to life King's psychological thriller, but also catapulted everything associated with it into the lofty realms of instant horror classic -- a title it would retain for years and even more so with the advent of the Internet where fan pages have sprung up to discuss its meaning.
One of the reasons it has held up so well is the topic of a new documentary, Room 237, which will be screened alongside The Shining at UICA this weekend.
Room 237 follows five Kubrickians who present a sort of primer for unlocking the hidden (and often gnawing) symbols never truly revealed in The Shining. Kubrick was known for his reclusive behavior prior to his death in 1999. These five voices present their views of these long-standing mysteries enshrined in the set design, language, and other elements of the production as they all seek to unlock what not even an Ouija board could produce: real answers to this mysterious film.
"Whether the audience chooses to believe any of these theories, it does allow viewers to reinterpret a film they have probably seen many times before. Screening The Shining after the documentary will allow viewers to see an old film in a new light," says UICA's Film Program Manager Ryan Dittmer. "The Shining has had a profound effect on popular culture, as Room 237's fanatical theorists will demonstrate. Ultimately, this documentary is a testament to the power of film."
So whether you are a fan of The Shining or have never seen it on the big screen, this is one double feature you will not want to miss. It is rare that we get these kinds of opportunities to examine cinema in this bloody fashion.
Admission: The Shining, (special pricing) $5 per person; Room 237, $4 Members, $8 Non-members
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