The book had a Jack driven insane by a haunted hotel. The film's Jack was clearly insane before he ever set foot in it.

That very first scene with Danny and Wendy having lunch with a cigarette burning on the table next to their sandwiches is such pure 70's and 80's parenting.

Analyzing Evil: Disney

From the very beginning in the film, Jack felt manipulative, creepy, and frustrated/annoyed with his family. It didn’t feel like it took much for him to fall into the arms of the Outlook.

I'd disagree that Jack seems amiable in the movie. From the beginning, his eyes seem dead, and you can see how hard he forces his smiles in the way his upper lip crinkles while he's talking to Ullman.

Jack Nicholson is an amazing, amazing actor. He should have gotten an Academy award for his role as Jack Torrence.

6:55 - my father was abusive. He would beat my mother then make her feel low and tell her she deserved it. We heard all of it and believed it. He constantly belittled her & involved us in the belittlement. I was too young to realise I was being manipulated but my father actually fostered an us vs her environment. Mostly to break her down and keep her around. When I grew up and realised I was assisting in this abuse, the guilt I felt was immense.

"I'm sorry to differ with you sir, but YOU are the caretaker. You've always been the caretaker. I should know sir, I've always been here."

The one thing no filmed version of The Shining has taken advantage of is the physical threat of Jack Torrance being *a big man* . He played football in school; it's implied in the book that he's built appropriately. When Danny sees the shadow in his visions coming down the hallway, it's described as a hulking monster. The physical threat of a large man to his wife and small child is present throughout the novel, and I think both adaptations have missed out on a seriously disturbing avenue of fear in not playing with that social and psychological dynamic of that.

Awesome analysis of two iconic horror movie characters.

Men who grew up from an abusive household almost always ends up in one of two ways. One, he becomes like his father because deep in his subconscious mind, that's what 'family' is to him. Two, he avoids becoming like his father so extremely that he somehow ends up being too nice, even to people who don't appreciate him.

Put broadly, this makes me think the overlook combined with Jack tells the story of abuse in families throughout generations - the cycle of abuse, mental illness, addiction. A couple examples would be even the overlook not having much power when there are tons of people around. Then, the overlook reveals its true evil, "behind closed doors." Also, when the video describes the shackeling and abuse of someone who is vulnerable in order to gain power, I think of this a symbolic of the abuser who does the same to their victims. What do ya'll think?

The Overlook's sort of like the town of Silent Hill in the Silent Hill games. They're both alive and bring out the darkness in people who go to them.

Poor Shelly :-( I loved her in this movie, it’s awful the psychological toll Kubrick put on her...

The ending of the film - the July 4th Ball photo with Jack having his hands posed like the Devil/Baphomet - gives me shudders every time. It's the most haunting photo in cinema. "Moonlight, the stars and you..."

6:40 Part of Jack probably hated his mother for not defending herself and him from his dad.

This channel is sick. My favourite part of english in school is analysing characters but the problem is they're boring ass characters. This channel makes such interesting videos absolutely love it

Analysing evil: Gustavo Fring (Breaking Bad)

Analyzing evil ideas: Mickey & Mallory Knox - Natural born killers, Hannibal Lecter - Silence of the lambs

Can't believe the movie 40 years old and this movie still holds up today.

Jack is still a dull boy.

I feel that even in the movie the hotel is trying to add to itself. For me it's the elevator full of blood that I feel shows the hotels desires and when Grady tells Jack to kill Danny and Wendy the way the bathroom is mostly red with just a thin line of white at the top gives me very "almost full" vibes.

Remember when great directors would get great screenplays adapted from great books and pick great actors to make absolutely amazing movies with nothing but a camera, a building, and 10,000 gallons of pigs blood?

Analyzing evil: Swiper The Fox

I think that Wendy is the main character in the movie. She has the most agency, and she goes through a character arc. At the start of the movie she naively believes that her abusive husband has changed for the better. She is a good person and believes in Jack's innate goodness, even though he doesn't show her or Danny the warmth and kindness they deserve. He quit drinking which is great, but the fundamental change in his attitude hasn't occurred, so the changes are surface level. Wendy eventually learns to fight for herself and outsmart Jack, leaving him for good in the end. Book Jack has innate goodness in him but he doesn't deal with the mental health issues (I strongly suspect PTSD) leading to his toxic behaviour. Eventually, despite making a real, genuine effort to change, he isn't able to do so. He is as much a victim of himself as his family is.

Please consider doing Michael Corleone. I think it’d be a great episode because the character is complex and it’s hard to tell if he’s evil or not at many points.

The book version of Jack is a much more layered and deep character. A basically decent guy who couldn't overcome his demons in the end. In many ways, Jack Torrance was exactly what he thought he was: a nice guy with a bad temper. He was so ordinary. He was more sympathetic and tragic.

I don't feel Jack was evil he was just vulnerable. He was another perfect tool for the Overlook evil to manipulate.

I'd like to see your analysis of Elijah Price, aka Mr Glass, of _Unbreakable._

Been waiting for this! Now do HANNIBAL or else I'll bring out my 🍷

Jack Nicholson was a firefighter; his skill on display with the fire axe breaching the interior door was intimate experience on display. If I remember correctly, Kubrick had Jack axe through about a dozen doors to capture the scene.

When ever Jack Nicholson is on screen, I just think of the deepfake where someone put Jim Carreys face over jacks.

You should have millions of views!

Glad you had the same thought I did. No one has excuses for becoming evil but in the book it seemed almost bound to happen at some point in jacks life plus the overwhelming hotels influence. But in the film it truly feels like your watching the nice guy facade shift into what monster he truly is.

The most interesting thing about Jack and the Hotel is it is a two way street. They feed off each other. It wasn't as simple as Jack being a man with a flawed personality being easy prey for the hotel to influence him. Jack and the Hotel almost become one, each feeding back into each other in an escalating loop. Jack isn't merely a victim. He was an active participant in his fate.

This channel deserves way more views. Putting out such quality so fast requires serious hard work and dedication. Keep it up.

An epic horror masterpiece from start to finish. It has the perfect soundtrack to go along, its eerie and creepy. Even though the story is clear, it still leaves you with so many unanswered questions. Shelly doesn't get enough credit for this movie, she nailed it as someone who is damaged and confused. Off course she had to go through a tough challenge with Kubrick but it gave us so many unforgettable moments. Its kinda funny that her character is a fan of horror films, oh boy, towards the end she gets the horror film of her life. People have come up with so many theories or analyses which are interesting although the moonlanding theory is ridiculous. Rob Ager debunked it thankfully. Plus I like the scene with Grady, he never blinks....creepy. Yeah Jack here is nothing like the book, we are given a clue from the very beginning that he is dangerous. In fact, the whole family is damaged before they even get to the hotel. How can we forget the scene where he stares at them (the thumbnail) its such a bizarre scene, its like he was planning to murder them from the beginning and it happens very early. Oh yeah, are there 2 old ladies in room 237? Why does it cut to her in the bathtub slowly rising up? Maybe its a twin, even the hair is shorter....no idea, this film messes with you. The hotel itself is a maze as well. For me, its just history repeating itself or maybe this is Jack's new book. He did say that "its quite a story" after hearing about Grady's story....so who knows.

Analyzing Evil: Electronic Arts It will be the greatest episode ever, I assure you.

I'm glad you included the hotel itself in this. I've always felt I had a good grasp on Jack's character but the hotel has always been quite strange and nebulous to me (which, I imagine, is deliberate). Thank you for the video, it was very informative and relaxing.

Analyzing Evil: Jack from The House That Jack Built

Analyzing Evil: Johan Liebert from _Monster_ ?

Found your channel 4 days ago & have binge watched it all. I love villains, especially nuanced villains, so this channel is a dream come true.

since my birth, my dad slowly spiralled deeper and deeper into alcohol abuse and violence. most of my traumatic memories start when i was 9 but i know that wasn’t when it “started”. he sat me down on the couch and explained to me- a nine year old- that he regretted starting a family, my mum isn’t the same woman he fell in love with anymore, and that he’s leaving forever. he came back drunk with a pizza the next day and i was to relieved to “have my dad back” i didn’t process how fucked that conversation was until much much later. despite this i was always very close to my dad- throughout childhood he was my best friend and i was his- but this didn’t make him any less evil. i would listen to him shout at and berate my mum and (much like jack) i began to resent my mum for pissing him off in the first place. Unlike jacks mum, my mum is an incredibly strong woman. she never backed down or agreed with my dad just because she was scared… but of course as my dad got worse this became a very dangerous cycle. what started as arguments became abuse, and when i was a child i didn’t understand how manipulative my dad was- you see he wouldn’t shout until he became desperate, so most of his abuse towards my mum was spoken softly, unheard by me and my siblings. to us, it seemed my mum would start crying and shouting randomly, and my dad manipulated me into thinking she was a crazy woman. inheriting both my parents stubbornness and hotheadedness, the older i got the more i began to fight with my mum too. around the age of 11, i watched my dad smash my mums head into the front door, listened to her scream for me to call somebody, but i just stood frozen watching. this was the moment i learned my dad was a greater, more powerful evil than i ever realised, but his manipulation had such a strong grip that i took this as a lesson to never antagonise the man: always be his friend and this won’t happen to you. i still viewed my mum as the one who “starts it”, so in my child mind this was just her “punishment”. to this day i break down crying, sometimes throwing up with the immense physical pain of the guilt. to know that if i called somebody- the police, my gran, a friend, anybody- this could have stopped so much sooner. as i’m sure you can imagine it only continued to get worse from here, the mental abuse now matched by physical. when i was 13 my dad quit his job to go to university out of a desperate realisation he’s wasting his life away, so my stay at home mum had to frantically find a job (he didn’t let her know before hand so she had about a fortnight before we’d start to run out of money) and my dad spent most of his days at home or at school. it started off fine, but soon i began to dread coming home from school as he was always drunk, stressed and frighteningly unpredictable. as i entered teenhood our “friendship” became strained because i started to dread talking to him. by the time i was 14 i realised he was an abusive partner and definitely mentally unstable, but i was so far in that i had nobody to talk to about it. we lived in a nice neighbourhood- the judgy type. i knew if i told my teachers they would treat me differently (this did eventually happen) and if i told a friend the whole town would know and there’d be endless rumours about us. while i knew i could handle it, my younger sister was struggling to make friends, and my mum cares very deeply about not being pitied on by her peers and feared being labelled a “weak helpless woman, likely unable to look after her kids”, so i knew getting help from outside the family was never an option. i was extremely depressed during this point in my life- and i’m yet to fully recover. i started self harming in many different ways, i would only go to school because if i stayed home i’d be stuck with dad. i can remember the physical feeling of misery and hopelessness. when i was 15, i was putting my little siblings to bed when i heard an argument start, so i did what i always did and turned their tv up full volume, set up their stuffed animals in a way that muffled the sounds down stairs and shut their door. i waited at the top of the stairs, listening…my mum started choking, screaming, and i ran down and watched my dad helplessly beat the shit out of her. slamming, punching, choking- everything. i tried to pull him away but i wasn’t nearly strong enough- you know that feeling in nightmares where you go to punch someone and your arms are floaty and useless, or when you run but the walls move with you and you end up not going anyway- that’s exactly what trying to stop my dad felt like. eventually he dropped her and started ranting to me about why he hates us all and his life has been wasted and “he used to be somebody”. my mum and me crawled up the stairs while he stood in the hall screaming at us. i dont know how i found the strength to do it, but i called the police. i passed out on the stairs, my vision black and the muffled sounds of my mum talking to me fading out before i could give the address. i obviously don’t know what happened but when I woke up my mum had my phone and was talking and walking just fine, and my dad was gone. the stress and fear of the decision i just made held so much more weight on me than the actual abuse. i remember thinking “you finally did it, and now everything will never be the same”. this wasn’t a happy or sad thought, just a realisation my life is going to chaos for a while. the police took 30 minutes. i brought my siblings downstairs and put on a movie while we waited. i felt completely numb. at some point my dad came in and started screaming at me, right in my face “you’ve fucking ruined everything. you tore this family apart” but i remember not even having the strength to make an expression, let alone process what he’s saying. i could feel tears running down my cheeks but that’s the only sensation i remember- no emotions, no physical pain, no fear or flinching at this man close enough that his breath made my eyes sting and tear up. when the police arrived i gave a perfect account for what happened emotionlessly. i don’t remember anything after this point except the nothingness. this was the event that made me hate my dad. this is what it took for all that gaslighting and mental gymnastics to wear off so i could see him for what he truly is. a monster.

I cannot thank you enough for including the descriptions & information found in THE BOOK as well as the film version of *The Shining.* People always forget it.

I always felt the Overlook just went for the deeply flawed or those really suffering in their own minds, because it was the easier way to get to feed off suffering, pain and vice. I kind of feel the Overlook itself is an allegory for an abuser's abusive thoughts. It feeds off suffering with the false promise of incredible violence leading to a much better life for the abuser. I also think the good use of alcohol as enabling imagery mirrors real life. Alcohol doesn't make people abusive. The abusive thoughts are already there. Alcohol just lets the lid off the iron tight control on the thoughts an abuser may have. In Jack's case, certainly. Nicholson's performance is masterful though. That opening interview, I always got the feeling Jack was thinking those thoughts like in the book. But we just didn't have the view into his mind like in the book. He remained pleasant and friendly-ish, but the tone always had me on edge. Like, it was a saccharine polite veneer that masked for the abuser lurking underneath.

My perspective is only from the movie and I see him as a deeply troubled, toxic but also tragic character

I loved the book Jack Torrence so much more. He was corrupted by the hotel, whereas the movie jack was always just about to snap.

The Shining is one of the most analyzed movies in cinema history. The fact there’s a movie about analyzing the film’s supposed deeper meanings is a testament to this. It’s come a long way from it’s tepid beginnings as a critically panned commercial failure.

Oooh this is going to be fun! I haven’t seen anybody suggest Gregory Anton from the 1944 classic Gaslight, but I would love to see an Analyzing Evil video on his character.

I congratulate you, sir. You are officially a KZfaqr who has found something new to say about The Shining which is not silly or downright nuts. Very insightful!

Analyzing Evil suggestion: Satan *[Passion of the Christ]* I like how he was portrayed as stoic, emotionless, and taking on a not so normal looking human form instead of directly mocking he is subtle and uses puppets while not displaying any emotion himself.

The restroom scene with Jack and Delbert Grady creeps me the hell out every time I see it.

Best channel on youtube in terms of analyzing fictional characters and exploring their psyche

First saw this on telly in the 80’s when I was 11 . Since then maybe 6-7 times through the years. Every time I would watch it i understood it more and more. Now as an adult I totally get the story.. A true masterpiece.. And the best bit in the the movie? “You’ve always been the caretaker sir.

I would say Jacks anger towards his mother for her "weakness" comes from him suffering because of her. I believe in Jack's mind, his mother was supposed to protect him, but she didn't. She, for whatever reasons, stayed with the abusive husband/father and because of that, Jack suffered. This would explain the anger and possible resentment towards his mother.

Dr Sleep brings up the problem that Jack's mistake was trying to beat his addiction by himself. Danny by comparison is able to succeed in handling his addiction by joining AA. Btw could you do the True Knot from Dr Sleep?

People aren't always cruel when they've experienced cruelty. The bullies I knew came from either loving, caring families or from parents that believed their children were infallible and perfect beyond belief. Often times people are cruel simply because they find it funny until someone corrects the behavior with compassion.

I LITERALLY YELLED “YES!” WHEN I SAW THIS TITLE, favourite movie and book.

I like that you use both the book and the movie to analyze this story. It’s a good idea.

Although I love the Kubrick film version, I must say that after listening to this video, I can surely understand why King would be ferocious that the film veered way off course from his book. Wow! 😵‍💫👀 Thank you 💯

Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver would be an excellent choice for analyzing evil

If you ever decide to do podcasts, you'll have plenty of listeners! One of my favourite smaller channels and the growth I've seen is epic! Grats

Your coverage of Hannibal got me to read most of that series, and now your coverage of Jack and the hotel got me looking for an audiobook for the shining, much appreciated my dude

this video motivated me to read both the shining and doctor sleep novels so thank you

You have no clue how happy I am that you used the book. Most people that talk about the shinning always jump to the movie do to not wanting to bother reading, or even listen to the audio book. I think it's safe to assume that the Overlook is a form of Domus Mactibilis ( thank you monster house lol ) do to it being refrenced multiple times in the book as being an entity all on its own. It takes people when it can, and Danny having such a strong shine is like a buffet for it. I think that if Jack's shine wasn't so buried deep, or a little bit stronger than they may of escaped the place a lot sooner. In a small sense I feel a little sympathy for Jack's broken mind.

Imo the Hotel/The Manager/the Caretaker, the sentient demonic entity of the Overlook Hotel was Horace Derwent's poltergeist created by Derwent's evil spirit energy and personality traits and all of the mafia executions that occured during his ownership of the Overlook Hotel in addition to the hotel being cursed from being built on an Indian burial ground. And Derwent's poltergeist only grew more powerful with Danny's psychic abilities, replayed events and memories such as the masquerade ball, combined all eras of the Hotel's history into one etc.

man, just want to say how much I appreciate this channel. top quality work, one of my fave channels on KZfaq for sure.

This is such an awesome channel. Your takes on these characters are pragmatic and refreshing, free of any personal platitudes or pretentious filler.

I saw the movie before I read the book, I still enjoy the movie even though the book's ending is SO much better. Would love to see a Hannibal!

Analyzing evil: Micah Bell from Red Dead Redemption 2?

When Dick Halloraan is talking to Danny in the film, he says to Danny the common phrase that "places are a lot like people", which perfectly describes what the Overlook Hotel is, especially what it is in the novel.

The Shining was always very disturbing for me as I didn't want to, but couldn't help but compare myself to him. I, luckily never had a family to take it out on, but my life has been a path of self-loathing, self destruction out of anger at myself for failure. I identified with him not seeing himself as a bad guy but one with a bad temper. I viewed myself that way until I finally realized I was alone and no one liked me. I am not an alcoholic either, so my vice is self pity and depression. I've had women in my life, but they start out fascinated with the troubled artist and that gets old quick.

I love these! Im a movie fan and an aspiring writer. I love watching these after I make my own analysis on characters. Thanks for taking your time to make these!

In the sequel Doctor Sleep the adult Danny like his dad Jack develops a drinking problem but Danny manages to get sober. And when he meets Jack in the Overlook which is either Jack's ghost trapped in the hotel or the hotel itself taking Jack's form to taunt Danny he says "The man takes a drink then the drink takes a drink then the drink takes the man."

These analysis are one of a kind. Truly special, listing so many new insights through extreme detail on such well known characters is absolutely an achievement to be proud of! Your analytical skills are extremely cunning, I'm definitely taking inspiration from you!

25:47 That's such a Kubrikian facial expression. The confused baby face Malcolm Mc Dowell also does in "A clockwork orange"

Do you have plans to do a Euron Greyjoy video in the future? I'm of course talking about the book version. I think he's one of the most fascinating villians in all of fantasy

Analyzing Evil: Jenny (Forrest Gump)

I can't recall how many times I have watched this movie, and documentaries about it too, but it keeps on giving. There is always more to learn, you're analysis is amazing.

Not even 30 seconds in the video: Thank you for taking the book into account too! Kubricks Shining might be a good Horror movie but saying that Kubrick did not catch the point of the book would be a great understatement. The book is about the slow decline into madness of Jack Torrance, yet you see Jack Nicholson as an all out psyhopath first time you see him in the movie. I totally get why Steven King was insulted by the movie. Not to mention the role alcohol played in the book. In the book alcohol was how the hotel finally got him, Kings Shining was a huge criticism about alcoholism and domestic violence. A common theme in his book. Kubricks Shining was waiting until the raging psychopath finally loses controll. No sign of the loving being that Kings Jack Torrance could have been, if it wasn't for his traumatic experiences with domestic violence and alcohol abuse he experienced as a child.

Jack Torrence is one of my favorite Antagonist of Cinema History! (Probably in my Top 5). But, I can't help to feel sorry for him and to relate him at times. Cuz in the end, he's just trying to be a better man, father, and provider of a family. Thank you for making this Mr. Vile Eye.

If this were a college lecture you'd have gotten a standing ovation . Thanks for your brilliant video essay .

I was so excited when you posted this I screamed! Thank you, love your work so much ♥️

This is my first time watching any of your videos, and hearing that I can listen to your video just fine made me instantly subscribe. The fact that you talk about horror (one of my favorites to boot) and I can listen as well as watch is kickass.

Shelly Duvall has been horribly,and undeservedly under rated as a great actress. I can fully understand and empathize with her portrayal of Wendy Torrance as a mom and wife. And Not because of anything in my immediate family. Shelly should have received many more valid film offers... It seems some directors and producers like to WRING the very existence out of their actresses!!

Comparing the Jack form the book and the Jack from the movie really does illustrate why Stephen King hated the movie: His book was about a man of 30 who’s been struggling with all his inner demons and childhood traumas, and trying to adapt to the newfound responsibilities of a family. As in, King was really writing about himself at the time, and picturing a tragic figure who ends up collapsing under all the temptations and going over totally to the dark side. Kubrick looked at this story and just saw an insufferable prick with no redeeming values in the first place. Furthermore, he cast an actor who was already in his 40’s, an age by which you’re really supposed to have sorted out any such personal issues. I’ll also add: A much better casting choice at the time for the Jack from the book would’ve been Robin Williams.

Sitting at home with covid and glad I found a channel to binge watch.

Enjoyed the breakdown. Loved the "Drag Net" narration!

Loved this video! Especially the fact you recognised jack and the hotel as dual villains! Most people don’t acknowledge The Overlook as a conscious living being and it annoys me, but you did! Keep up the good work

No one could have played this part like Jack Nicholson. Great summations on both in this video.

TY for this analysis. Listened to the book Several times and saw the movie twice. You helped me enjoy and find empathy for these characters again.

Damn one of your best and most analytical videos!!! I really LOVED that I could read the quotes.

I feel for Shelly Duval, she was literally tortured in this film, it mentally broke her

This video is great! For those who love The Shining, I would STRONGLY recommend watching Rob Ager/Collative Learning's videos on The Shining. They're amazing.

This is my favorite one yet considering how in depth you go and the fact that the book and movie are two of my favorites! Keep it up good sir!

I’ve never been so eager for every episode of a show except yours. Great work bud. Cheers from Toronto

Jack Torrance and Delbert grady in the restroom is definitely the best scene in this movie

I always felt sure that The Shining was influenced by Clark Ashton Smiths Genius Loci, a short story about a specific place having a malevolent spiritual force, and of course Shirley Jacksons The House on the Hill. This idea of a place or a building having a spiritual personality of its own is I'm sure something others have encountered. I know I have been to places that felt utterly welcoming as well as places that felt hostile.

You're summary of the Overlook at the end of the video where you describe it as a collection of negative energy large enough to actively seek more power for itself reminded me of "Johnny The Homicidal Maniac". THAT would be a great episode for this channel. You could even include the spin-off "I Feel Sick".

Jesus, man... This movie still gets analyzing videos, or reviews, or theory videos. That's how you can tell that Kubrick and his crew did an amazing job at making a film that still reaches out to people after being out for a few decades... May the Shining, shine on.