The Shining

The second golden room scene forebodes many conventions which add to the horror genre. However there is an argument to whether this is a psychological horror genre instead. The first shot is a mid-long shot which reveals the mise en scene of the 1920's party. This shot conveys how crowded the room is making the audience feel claustrophobic. This party also portrays the hierarchy of society and all the wealthy people being waited on, symbolising the divide in society at that time.

The low key lighting allows the women’s dresses to look more ‘glam’ and shiny foreshadowing their wealth. Within this shot, a woman attending this party walks past Jack, I noticed there was a handprint on her dress in the area of her bum. I believe this resembles the old fashioned, sexist statement of objectifying women, where they were only seen as 'baby makers'. This isn't the only time in the film where sexist judgments are being made. For example Jack, on various occasions, refers to his wife (Wendy) as a "bitch", this may make the audience feel astounded at how harsh society were on women’s positions. This is in contrast to the calming diegetic sound of classical music in the background which makes the audience feel peaceful.

Furthermore, Jack is wearing a red jacket which could symbolise blood and danger implying something bad is going to happen. Although this is contrasting with the circular chandelier above his head as if it were a halo implying Jack is pure and kind, when actually he is the complete opposite. He is also wearing blue jeans which used to be manual occupation workwear which weren’t seen as smart, especially for this party. When the red and blue are next to each other it symbolises good and evil. Shortly after, Grady knocks a tray of drinks over Jack, the yellow colour of the drinks contrast with Jacks red and blue clothing’s. These three colours are similar to the colours of the American flag which depicts American history.                     

The camera tracks forward following Jack and Grady into the bathroom almost like they are being watch by people at the party. The longshot of the two men in the bathroom, who are placed directly in the middle of the rule of thirds, allow the mise en scene of the high key lighting of the red bathroom to stand out. This convention adds to the expectation of something sinister about to happen and enhances the genre horror.

The shot then changes to a mid-two shot of Jack and Grady talking to one another while Grady is cleaning Jacks jacket. Despite them talking to each other, Grady is making eye contact with Jack, although Jack isn’t. It seems he is actually looking over Grady’s shoulder at his reflection in the mirror, as if Grady isn’t even there, almost like jack is talking to himself. This image below allows us to see that jack comes across as looking at himself in the mirror.

This emphasises the psychological features of this film as this whole party is in jacks head, it’s not actually happening. Jack then converses “Mr Grady, haven’t I seen you somewhere before” as he takes a long look at his face implying he has definitely seen him previous to this meeting. Jack then suggests that Grady was the old caretaker who killed his wife and daughter. Grady then replied with “no you are the caretaker, you’ve always been the caretaker” which is said in present tense almost as if the caretaker has never left implying Jack has never left. Although it could mean the caretaker lives in Jack being the reason why his personality has changed whilst he’s been at the hotel as if he were skits phrenic which. Almost like the old caretaker from 1921 was resurrected into jack allowing the old caretaker to live on, this is referring to religious beliefs which is in contrast to the genre horror due to resurrection not being an evil thing. This religious reference convention is common in this film, like any other horror film. For example, the framing of windows reminds me of the crucifix cross. However occasionally the cross can be upside down which could symbolise Satan (death, evil). This adds to the psychological horror of this movie and makes the audience feel uncomfortable as they wouldn’t want to be in Jacks wife and sons position.

However I believe the mirror jack is essentially looking through isn’t actually behind Grady, it is down the centre of the room, going straight between Grady and Jack, even the lights on the ceiling are perfectly symmetrical. This is because I feel Grady is Jack but from the past, it is as if Jack is talking to himself in a mirror to his old self. Grady is his reflection and he is trying to recognise himself from the past as Grady looks similar to the old caretaker but he has changed so much representing the change of time.

This makes the audience feel uncomfortable as they assume something isn’t right. There is then an eye line match between the two characters to convey their emotions of confusion and madness as they are trying to work out why Jack recognises Grady. This creates mystery allowing the genre horror to be easily portrayed.

The diegetic sound of the calming classical music is still playing in the background during the scene in the bathroom to foreshadow the party is still going on and that all this is in Jacks head, it is his imagination.