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Legendary director Stanley Kubrick made one of the most influential horror films of all timeThe Shining.The Jack Nicholson starrer was based on the novel by notable horror novelist Stephen King. The film is still considered to be one of the best horror films of all time and has attained a cult status among horror fans.
Though it is an influential film, author Stephen King famously called it out as a bad adaptation and criticized many aspects of the film. While there were many differences in the film, Kubrick’s adaptation was disregarded by King, who does not seem to like the cult status it enjoys.
Also read:“I would’ve broken Kubrick”: Keanu Reeves Claimed He Could Have Given Stanley Kubrick A Taste Of His Own Medicine That Made Tom Cruise Miserable
How Does Stanley Kubrick’s Adaptation Differ From The Novel?
Stanley Kubrick, in an interview withMichael Cimentthat he was always interested in the paranormal and found Stephen King’s novelThe Shiningto be one of the most ingenious pieces of horror writing. He said that he liked the way the psychological and the supernatural were combined in the story. That was one of the biggest changes that Kubrick made in the film.
Kubrick famously made the film ambiguous enough to make the viewers feel that all the happenings in the Overlook Hotel were happening in the protagonist Jack Torrance’s (played by Jack Nicholson) mind due to his history of alcohol abuse and cabin fever. However, Stephen King’s novel reportedly makes it quite clear that the hotel is haunted.
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While Stanley Kubrick did not mess with the overall storyline, it was these changes in the finer details or the narrative that made the film differ heavily from the novel. Another notable difference was how he treated the protagonists of the story. The novel’s Jack Torrance had more depth due to his history of alcohol abuse and the acts of violence he commits due to his struggle with it. The story was reportedly based on King’s own struggle with alcoholism.
However, Jack Nicholson’s portrayal makes it a bit more performance-heavy and takes the nuance out of it, making him an anti-hero in the film. Even Shelly Duvall’s portrayal of his wife Wendy is treated as a one-dimensional push-over as opposed to a more nuanced take in the novel.
Also read:“The Kubrick movie was overbearing”: A Clockwork Orange Star Malcolm McDowell Regretted Working With Controlling and “Too Brutal” Director
What Was Stephen King’s Opinion OnThe Shining?
Despite its vast differences,The Shininghas been regarded as a cult classic in the horror genre. The film features in many best-of lists and has been cited by many filmmakers as an influence. It even received a sequel by noted horror director Mike Flanagan calledDoctor Sleep, which was also based on the Stephen King novel.
King has mentioned on multiple occasions that he was not happy with the film as an adaptation and had reportedly said that it was the only adaptation of his that he remembered hating. He reportedly also disapproved of the casting of Jack Nicholson as he felt that the audiences expected him to go insane due to his reputation in the filmOne Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.
Also read:“I’m Still Scarred”: Man of Steel Star Diane Lane Was Traumatized For Life After Being Exposed To Stanley Kubrick’s Film at Age 9
King mentioned in an interview withDavid Lettermanwhat he felt about the adaptation,
“I feel both ways. I got to see it four times…there are an awful lot of things about that movie that I think are flawless and beautiful…then there are other times when I feel as though I’d given Stanley Kubrick a live grenade and he heroically threw his body on it.”
King mentioned in the interview that he had much less creative control over the projects once the rights were sold.
Also read:“You’re going to blame yourself”: Stanley Kubrick Saved the Life of Taxi Driver Actor Who Later Went On To Viciously Hate the Director
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2417
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
