Staircases To Nowhere: Making Of The Shining

Cujo (Documentary)

This is a wonderful documentary on CUJO.  I was particularly interested in the discussion of why Stephen King's screenplay was rejected.  Why would the authors screenplay be turned down?  Well, according tot eh documentary, because King's rendition strayed too far from the novel!

King later encouraged the film makers to let the boy live, even though he died in the novel.  It is King's willingness to allow his work to have a little give that has allowed Hollywood to be successful in translating his work his work to film.

Check it out at: youtu.be CUJO

The Girl Who Loves Horror Enters Room 237

I loved Michele's review of room 237.  She has no problem laughing her head off at this documentary, and enjoying every moment of it.  And I enjoyed laughing with her.

This is reposted from thegirlwholoveshorror.blogspot.com with permission and big thanks.  Check out her blog, it's cool.

Movie Review: Room 237 (2012)

You know, I love The Shining as much as every other horror movie fan or Stephen King fan or just plain old awesome movie fan. Stanley Kubrick was an oddball genius who created films that many people describe as "perfect." So taking into consideration Kubrick's careful filmmaking and attention to detail, is it possible that he had some much deeper meanings in mind when he created one of the most popular movies of all time?

Juli Kearns's Overlook map

The 2012 documentary Room 237 explores this issue, with interviews with several Shining fans giving their different interpretations and theories into what the movie represents. The interviewees are not seen on camera themselves nor are they given any kind of credentials other than the fact that they've obviously watched The Shining way, way, way, way too many times. Their theories are presented to the audience by way of clips from the film and other footage that sort of pertains to what they are talking about. 

This documentary was... hilarious. What, did you think I was going to say "fascinating" or something? No. If anything, I'll give the movie credit for being one of the best comedies I have seen in a while. Had me laughing the whole time. I've always known that there were some Shining fans out there who took the movie a tad bit too seriously and all, but this was my first time actually listening to them talk about this shit. Wait, I lied - I'd heard the stuff about the Native American genocide metaphor. It was funny to actually see them try to prove it to me. Anyway, though I admire the interviewees obvious dedication and perseverance, not a single one of their theories even slightly convinced me that The Shining is any more than it appears to be.

The conspiracy theorists actually do a good job of showing the "proof" of their ideas, even though they are all things that nobody else would have thought of... ever. They all say things like, "if you go frame by frame," or "you really have to look hard to find this one" when talking about their little Kubrick subliminal messages. I've seen the movie a pretty good number of times, okay? I never paid attention to what was in the background, granted. So here's a question for you - why would such a celebrated directed who obviously loved film put all the so-called "important" stuff in the background of his movie? Where did all this conspiracy shit even come from in the first place? Why can't the brilliance of The Shining just be that it is fucking awesome?

Seriously, the things they bring up about the movie are simply laughable. A baking soda can that is - gasp! - seen twice in the movie? A poster of a skier is really a depiction of a minotaur? The window in Ullman's office is improbable? Okay, yeah, I can kinda see where that one is coming from if I was anal retentive about architecture and spacial relations, but I'M NOT. Every time they mention some hidden message or whatever that looks to an outsider like a simple continuity error, the comment is always implied that Kubrick would never make such a mistake and that it has to mean something deeper. They saw what they wanted to see, and that's it. I'll give them that Kubrick was meticulous but not infallible. Continuity errors can happen to anyone. The world is an imperfect place.

My favorite theory was the one about how Kubrick used The Shining to subliminally tell the world that he staged the Apollo moon landing footage. Now that is just downright silly. It would be cool if it were true but you're really going off the deep end with that one, aren't you, sport? Okay, yes, I've always been a little curious about Danny's Apollo 11 sweater. Thought maybe it was just a 70s/80s thing that I wasn't around for and don't understand. There were lots of weird fashion trends going on then. Anyway, this is certainly the wildest theory to be represented in Room 237 and one that they thankfully did not spend that much time indulging.

In a weird way I liked the thing the one guy presented about watching the filming forwards and backwards at the same time, superimposed over one another. Yes, it does seem like you get some cool images from doing this, but seriously - stop and think about that for a second. Think about how much time and effort would have to be put into the filming and editing of that movie to make that happen like you think it's supposed to. It's damn near impossible. So that theory is definitely out for me.

Bah, if I go on thinking about this stuff anymore, I'll probably start to believe some of it myself. Room 237 is definitely something you all need to check out - whether you think you might agree with these fanatics or just laugh at them like I did. I really hate to be harsh, but it was sooooo difficult for me to even try to take any of this foolishness seriously. Maybe I'm just not as much of a deep thinker as these dudes are.

thegirlwholoveshorror.blogspot.com

Moore's Review Of ROOM 237

image credit: dreadcentral.com

Here is a wonderful review of the documentary "Room 237" that doesn't lower itself to drooling.  The review is refreshingly honest when it says,

The documentary "Room 237" is an ostensibly thoughtful deep reading, a deconstruction of Stanley Kubrick's film of Stephen King's 1980 novel "The Shining." What it really is, is a bunch of obsessives obsessing about an obsessive movie maker's obsessive movie.

Now who can disagree with that?

The review comes from Roger Moore at McClatchy-Tribune News Service and is titled, "Yes, you can watch a favorite film too many times for your own good."

About the documentaries commentators  Moore writes, "They have examined the film, frame by frame, parsing its images like a cinematic "Da Vinci Code." And the reason they can do this is that Kubrick was just as obsessed as they are."

So what are some of the crazy interpretations of The Shining?  Moore lists some of them being that the film is about the destruction of American Indians, the Holocaust, the Apollo Moon landings, or "Kubrick's favorite bugaboo, sexuality?"  Not having seen the film, I'll vote for the Apollo Moon landing, just because I think it's the most nuts!

And here's the thing -- he liked it!  Moore gives the film 3 out of four stars, rating it a grade of "B." Not bad.

Check out the full review, "Yes, you can watch a favorite film too many times for your own good.

Room 237 Coming In March

The trailer for the documentary Room 237 is now online and we can expect it will hit theaters in a limited release on March 29.

Room 237 is officially described as follows:

After the box office failure of Barry Lyndon, Stanley Kubrick decided to embark on a project that might have more commercial appeal. The Shining, Stephen King's biggest critical and commercial success yet, seemed like a perfect vehicle. After an arduous production, Kubrick's film received a wide release in the summer of 1980; the reviews were mixed, but the box office, after a slow start, eventually picked up. End of story? Hardly. In the 30 years since the film's release, a considerable cult of Shining devotees has emerged, fans who claim to have decoded the film's secret messages addressing everything from the genocide of Native Americans to a range of government conspiracies. Rodney Ascher's wry and provocative Room 237 fuses fact and fiction through interviews with cultists and scholars, creating a kaleidoscopic deconstruction of Kubrick's still-controversial classic.

SOURCE: comingsoon.net 



check out:

Digging Deeper Into "Unearthed & Untold"

I like the new facebook page for the upcoming Pet Sematary documentary, "Unearthed & Untold." The page says they are aiming for completion sometime in 2013. (The facbook page is HERE)

Scars Magazine described the documentary, "Unearthed & Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary, is a meticulous lovesong not just to the movie, but to the filmmaking process."

I like this exchange from the interview:

Are there any questions you’ve always wondered about, as fans, that making this documentary has revealed for you? 

JUSTIN WHITE: One of the first things that was answered for me was a question I didn’t even really know I had. When we first visited the Creed house, one of the things we did was follow the land where the path into the woods was, and thought there might have been a slight chance that we stumbled upon the area that was used for the Pet Sematary. It was quickly realized that the actual shooting location was not on or anywhere near the property. That was one of the first of many surprising revelations that working on this documentary has presented us.

JOHN CAMPOPIANO: In terms of general curiosities, I’ve always been eager to know where the locations from the film are. Horror fans have a lot of things in common, one of them being a genuine fascination with filming locations and seeing what places look like today. (Have they changed? Do they look the same?) For years, devoted fans have flocked to the Exorcist steps in Georgetown, the JAWS bridge on Martha’s Vineyard, the Amityville Horror house in Amityville, NY, the iconic sidewalks from Halloween in southern California, and so on. That red and yellow “Creed” house is among those locations that fans want to see and visit. Over the last two years we’ve gone above and beyond to find as many of the filming locations in Maine as we can. While there will always be a stone left unturned, we’re confident that, for the first time, fans of Pet Sematary will see more of the original locations than they ever dreamed they would. After all, our primary objective with this documentary is to provide an all-encompassing look at the film – the filming locations being a major part of the journey. 

In terms of specific questions that I, as a fan, always wanted to know, I had always been interested in learning about how the filmmakers accomplished the two different shots showing Gage getting killed in the road. (A morbid curiosity, no?) The answers and stories associated with this question have been revealed in the documentary and will undoubtedly peak the interest of anyone who appreciates the film.

The full interview is great, check  it out scarsmagazine.com

Youtube: Stephen King SHINING IN THE DARK

This is a 1999 BBC documentary about Stephen King co-produced by The Learning Channel.   (IMBd link HERE)

Pet Sematary Documentary: Unearthed & Untold The Path To Pet Sematary

photo credit  HERE

Are you a fan of the Mary Lambert Pet Sematary adaptation?  I am!  And I'm not alone.  The above picture comes from Michael Shapcott, who explains that this is a picture of Gage and Church. . . as zombies.   Nice!

It seems Pet Sematary has made a lasting impression on American culture.

If you're a fan of the Lambert film, GOOD NEWS! Chris Alexander at Fangoria has posted news that John Campopiano is making a documentary about the movie titled "UNEARTHED & UNTOLD: THE PATH TO PET SEMATARY."

Calling it the "most in-depth and comprehensive documentary on the making of Pet Sematary," Campopiano has already conducted over 24 interviews with cast, crew and Maine locals.  Alexander notes in the Fangoria article that the majority of these people have not been previously interviewed on camera about their role.

Campopiano says, 

“What we’re attempting to do is take a deeper look at the making of PET SEMATARY. What stories and memories do local Maine residents have of the production? How was the production documented in the local media (television, magazine, and newspaper stories)? What did the production do for Hancock County and the greater Maine communities? Our goal is to show the unique bridging of a relatively small Hollywood production with a small Maine community who continue to think highly of its involvement in the film. In addition to cast and crew memories, the local experiences of those in Maine, and the film’s portrayal in the local media, we’re also seeking to explore the legacy the film has established and how its core themes are being taught and explored in the film and academic worlds.”

The full Fangoria article is HERE

The Shining Code

Here is a Press Release from SBWire about their one hour documentary The Shining Code.
 

Londrina, Brazil -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/01/2012 -- The Shining Code is releasing a one-hour documentary which deciphers and explains the meaning behind Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Due to its mysterious nature, the movie left most viewers confused and unable to understand what the events that took place were all about. The Shining Code documentary unlocks more than 50 codes within the film, codes that finally shed some light on the mysteries that left so many scratching their head and wondering what possessed Kubrick to put forth such a film.

The Shining made its debut in 1980. And while it ended up doing well at the Box Office, after a slow start, it received its share of criticism for being too ambiguous and impossible to fully comprehend. Based on a novel by Stephen King, the film's failure with the majority of viewers stemmed from two fronts; it was nothing like what Stephen King wrote in his horror novel, nor was it terrifying enough to live up to the horror genre to which most horror movie goers are accustomed.

The reason most viewers were left dumbfounded was because the movie was littered with obscure codes that were not easily deciphered. The Shining Code unveils the meaning of every single one of these codes, and thereby gives the film a whole new perspective. Armed with the insight from The Shining Code, viewers will have a much better understanding of what Stanley Kubrickintended to portray with his motion picture.

Once people have been made privy to the documentary and its code translations, they will come to a better understanding of the reasons for Jack, Wendy and Danny's frightening journey into insanity. The Shining Codedocumentary makers insist that it is imperative to watch The Shining again prior to watching the documentary in order to fully grasp the codes and their meaning. They've also hinted that what one will discover is likely to come as a major shock to their belief system – sounds pretty interesting to say the least.

The Shining Code can be downloaded in its entirety free of charge by visiting: http://tscv1.s3.amazonaws.com/tscv1.zip

Following the free download, you will be able to view the documentary in its entirety twice before the file is locked. To get unlimited viewings, one will need to purchase the unlock key.

About The Shining Code: The Shining Code is a website through which The Shining Code documentary by JMC & MW can be obtained.

So what is the movie about?  Not to tell you too much. . . but how about Apollo 11.

Documentary: Room 237

Room 237 is the room number that Danny Torrance is told not to enter in Kubrick's movie version of "The Shining."  It is also the title Rodney Ascher's not documentary about obsessive fans of The Shining. 

Wait!  Are there obsessive fans of The Shining?  Well, I didn't know it until last week.  I was doing some research for another article, and ran into a series of websites that blew my mind.  People had counted frames and done all sorts of cray stuff.  I mean, it's a level of crazy I'm familiar with -- but in my line of work it's usually people who have gone a little nuts with the last book of the Bible.

Entertainment Weekly cites one fan who believes Kubrick directed the Apollo moon landings while shooting 2001 and hid clues in The Shining.  Jason Bailey notes that this makes The Shining "a giant coded message to tell the world about the ruse."  So The Shining is not about Jack losing his mind in a haunted Hotel. . . it's an allegory of the moon landing.  Of course!

Bailey cites Sundance programmer Trevor Groth saying, "“These obsessive people dissect The Shining, and they’ve watched it thousands of times, all finding their own coded meaning and language in it.” Like how the architecture of the Overlook Hotel doesn’t make any sense, with hallways leading to places that should technically be outside, and windows that show sunlight streaming in even though they are enclosed in the middle of the building… ?"

One blogger has found the hedge animals from the novel in the movie.  Yep -- they're there!  Check it out HERE.  This blogger also discusses color changes in the movie, time codes and durations, and VW's.  I kid you not.  So if you want to count frames and find meaning in that, go for it.

And I thought Trekkies (Trekkers?) were obsessed.

• Bailey's article (the Atlantic) is HERE. 
• The EW article is HERE.
• An obsessive fan blog (Stanley Kubrick's Masterpiece) is HERE.
• The Secret Sun blog which has an interesting article, HERE.

TCM: The Horrors Of Stephen King

AWESOME news! TCM plans to air a documentary featuring Stephen King discussing films that influenced his writing.  This is part of TCM's "Night at the Movies" -- all of which so far have been excellent! 

Stephen King's newsletter reports the following:

Titled "The Horrors of Stephen King," the DreamWorks Television production will premier on October 3rd at 8pm. Topics will include everything from the staple vampire and zombie films of yesteryear to progressive stories of horror, demons and ghosts.

Films to be discussed will include Freaks, Cat People, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Night of the Living Dead, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Jaws, Halloween and The Changeling to name a few.

I LOVE TCM!  They run great films, without commercials.  Also, most movies are usually introduced -- giving background and some neat aspects of the films.  My favorite TCM Documentary is "Watch The Skies" which interviews people like James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas o what influenced them.  Now consider a whole session dedicated to Stephen King.