The Shining

This 1980 thriller movie based on the novel authored by Stephen King, is directed by Stanley Kubrick. It features Jack Nicholson as the main character, portraying the dark sinister caretaker who becomes obsessed with his job at a secluded hotel, who turns onto the mission of killing his wife and small child.

This film being a thriller purposefully created suspensful moments to lure an audience to keep watching. Using the collaboration of sound, mise-en-scene, camera work, editing and of course beleivable acting, it has been possible to create such an impactful film.

A scene in which suspense is created using all these variations is in the front lobby, where Jack and his wife Wendy are gradually increasing into an escalated argument. The suspense here is created as Jack starts backing into Wendy while she starts walking backwards while talking to him. We know Jack will do something to Wendy because of his speech and facial expressions, which are one of a maniac: his contorted eyebrows, sneering mouth and verbal sarcasm conclude in such an excellent performance for this character. As Jack starts backing into her, the camera pans quickly from her to him giving an effect of dialogue and communication between them. This motion is effective in creating the tensious distance but physical closeness between the two. At a point the camera is showing a close shot of Jack from above, although this normally indicates a sense of weakness of that character in this case its the other way round, mentally Jack is the more powerful character in this shot and Wendy is ultimatly scared of him. This close shot creates effect by showing deep facial expression and emotion in their faces The editing of the long shots give the audience a longer time to wait, thus creating suspense in the possibility of what may come to happen. The music and sound is very important in this scene to create atmosphere and having watched the film i know its a very tense one between the characters, as obvious. The eerie sounds which gradually crescend into a larger motion when Wendy hits Jack with the bat cause the audience to come to an end in their suspicions on what may have come to happen.

All these factors and edits come together to create such a suspenseful scene amongst the other scenes in the movie. Ultimatly the story line and producing was excellent, as to uphold such an innotive idea and maintain it entertaining for the audience.