Sabrina Simpkins
Professor Keltz
Introduction to Film
18 November 2014
Film Analysis of The Shining: Redrum Scene
In Stanley Kubrick’s horror film, The Shining, editing is done in a way to convey intensity and suspension to the viewers. In this film, there are many cuts to reaction shots to show how the actor feels about what is perceived. The audience views the reaction shots and can feel the same way as the actor does. In reacting to a particular event, the audience can understand how the director wants them to feel. In one particular scene, Wendy is sleeping while her troubled son, Danny, is awake and acting disturbed. He then wakes her up to a horrifying reality. The editing of this scene is important in showing the intensity of Wendy’s fear that her husband is going to murder her and her son. Cutting to continuity in this scene helps the audience follow along in what is occurring and reveals further foreshadowing.
The establishing shot is set up as a medium shot of Wendy sleeping and Danny standing next to her bed. There is a door to the right of Danny and his mother is to the left. Danny picks up the knife next to his sleeping mother and caresses it repeating the word “red rum.” The daunting background music sets up the intention of a perturbing outcome. The camera follows Danny to the other side of the room as he retrieves his mother’s red lipstick still murmuring the unrecognizable word, “red rum.” The shot reveals that there is a mirror on the opposite side of