Research and Planning: The Shining

The Shinning Deconstruction

The Film Begins with a long shot of a lake situated in a mountainous area. The shot establishes that the film is set in a remote place, making the characters isolated from the rest of the world. This creates tension and insecurity portraying the idea that if anything happens to the characters they will have no one to help them and nowhere to go.

The camera begins to use a high angle tracking shot to follow the lake to the road. The non-diegetic music adds the tension, by creating suspense ad makes the landscape appear untrustworthy as though its beauty is luring the audience in to a horrific trap. A fade in is used to move from the lake to a road. From the previous shot it appears that this is the only way in or out of this area, bringing more isolation to the characters. A bird’s eye angle is used to follow the car as it moves through the terrain and forests, illustrating that they are the only form of life in this area, or so it would seem.

A wide shot follows this and the car is still travelling through the area bringing to light the vast terrain, portraying the distance they are travelling making it even more relevant that they are not only alone but extremely far away from any other form of help, whilst the non-diegetic music continues to play.

As the camera moves towards the car the opening titles being to scroll up the screen, they are light blue which connotes sky and water, which generally are positive connotations. Yet the music contradicts the colour as it has already established that this will not be a happy positive story.  The camera track speeds up to make it look as though it is with the Beatle, which is a shade of yellow another colour which has positive connotations (sunshine, light, flowers). Yet the camera overtakes the car, and with a longshot reveals how deep the characters are travelling in to this uninhabited terrain. At which point the music takes a more sinister turn with the use of violins, which are somewhat screeching.

The camera continues to follow the car on its journey, and by the use of the high angle shots it reveal that the area is dangerous and the road is clearly the safest way to pass, the camera does show that another car is parked on the side of the road. However the car is shown to be stationery and is passed by, by the main car. This illustrates that the characters are willing to go to their destination, it even has connotations that they themselves are running from something.

Another car passes them and yet it heading in the opposite direction, representing the idea that where they are heading no-one wants to stay in. A long shot is used again and the scene is becoming darker, bringing a time frame to the opening, and that they have been driving for a long time. As it gets darker it creates this image that they are in more danger and darkness connotes evil and negativity.