I am so happy.
I was never a fan of the film version of The Shining. I had given it a go, but it it always felt like something was lacking. I know it's supposed to be some classic cult horror masterpiece, but I was never able to see it that way.
About a year ago I watched Room 217, the documentary about the film version of The Shining that discusses not only the making of but also tons of theories about the story in the film. I really loved that documentary, even though I didn't like the original film. And it got me to thinking that clearly there was something that wasn't being told in the film that was important.
And here I am in 2015, and I've finally gone back to the start. And not only does everything make so much more sense now, but I have found I f**king love this story of the Torrance family and the Overlook Hotel. I love Danny Torrance and Dick Halloran and I love how all of these things are connected through family and through time and space.
It would be impossible to know if I would feel differently about the film had I read the book first. Maybe I'd like it even less because of the way things were omitted or changed (I think that's likely), or maybe I would have appreciated the way it focuses more on the mythology of the Overlook instead of the inherited alcoholism. I'll watch it again soon and see what happens now that I'm armed with the knowledge I have from the book.
Bottom line: This is considered one of King's best novels for a clear reason.
I was never a fan of the film version of The Shining. I had given it a go, but it it always felt like something was lacking. I know it's supposed to be some classic cult horror masterpiece, but I was never able to see it that way.
About a year ago I watched Room 217, the documentary about the film version of The Shining that discusses not only the making of but also tons of theories about the story in the film. I really loved that documentary, even though I didn't like the original film. And it got me to thinking that clearly there was something that wasn't being told in the film that was important.
And here I am in 2015, and I've finally gone back to the start. And not only does everything make so much more sense now, but I have found I f**king love this story of the Torrance family and the Overlook Hotel. I love Danny Torrance and Dick Halloran and I love how all of these things are connected through family and through time and space.
It would be impossible to know if I would feel differently about the film had I read the book first. Maybe I'd like it even less because of the way things were omitted or changed (I think that's likely), or maybe I would have appreciated the way it focuses more on the mythology of the Overlook instead of the inherited alcoholism. I'll watch it again soon and see what happens now that I'm armed with the knowledge I have from the book.
Bottom line: This is considered one of King's best novels for a clear reason.
