The Shining- Clip Analysis

How does this scene make suspense?

The Shining is a 1980 American horror film based on the book of the same name by Stephen King. This scene is able to cause suspense in a number of different ways throughout the use of technical codes. There is a very useful amount of editing in this scene to create suspense. There is use of cross cutting, Jump cuts, parallel editing and Juxtaposition among many other types of editing. This editing is very effective in creating suspense as it adds to the eerie and somewhat demonic setting of this film, and adds suspense by cutting between each character being chased around the hotel by Jack, also cutting to his progression of chasing them which makes the audience wonder if he will catch them or not.  This film uses many camera techniques, with angles and movement in order to create a suspenseful atmosphere. Camera angles are also used to show emotions of the characters and also their reactions which add to the frightening surroundings of the movie.

 

During the short introduction of the film, the score is briefly introduced, and is very slow, with gaps of silence in-between, and already proves to be quite suspenseful. It is also paired with a slow and steady heartbeat, non-diegetic sound, implying the calm manner and lack of emotion Jack has. The ambient sounds outside, such as the wind and snow, are loud and howling. Wendy breathing heavily and crying is also pleonastic as it heightens, also when characters are walking, their footsteps are loud, and often the only sounds you can hear, apart from the occasional sound of the raging storm outside which conveys their isolation. Synchronous sound is used quite often with the footsteps and score, the music adds tension. When Dick starts to walk through the house, the selective footsteps are heard, and then a clock clanging and score comes in, which is all slow, but pleonastic once again, and adds heightened suspense, until Jack attacks him, and  the score climaxes, quite loud and fast, which amplifies the horror.

 

Editing is used to show the different actions from the perspective from each characters and create suspense by having the implication on the audience of making them ask questions about the scene. This starts of with Jack staring out into the empty hotel indicating his paranoia which has happened from him going insane due to isolation this adds suspense as we can see visually that Jack has gone insane . The high key lighting inside the hotel is juxtaposed with the low key lighting outside.. For example there is use of cross cutting between Jack walking around the hotel searching for his wife and son and his wife hiding in the bathroom, This creates a huge amount of tension and suspense as it makes the audience wonder if he is going to come back for her, or will he hunt her down as she is trying to find a way out of the hotel. this is an implication on the audience as the editing is making them ask themselves these questions, which adds a greater shock factor as the events in the film unfold.There is also the use of a jump cut from the caretaker arriving on the snow cat outside the hotel to Danny running into the hotel kitchen and hiding in a cabinet. The use of this jump cut is vital in creating suspense as it is the first we see of Danny and his mothers one hope at surviving Jack, it makes the audience wonder if Danny will be save in the cabinet and will the caretaker be able to save them both before Jack finds them. Furthermore Juxtaposition and Parallel editing are used when Jack is killing the caretaker it swaps between this scene and a close up shot of Danny screaming, he is doing this because he has psychic power and can tell the caretaker is being killed this creates a lot of suspense as we see the reaction of Danny to this death and it makes the audience wonder if him and his mother will have any chance at survival .

The use of the camera angles, movements and shots creates great suspenses. It starts with A close up of Jack showing his emotion of paranoia, and how he is uneasy, mainly due to the fact he is insane. A wide shot is then used of the exterior of the hotel, where it is eerie and dark, with Dick’s truck driving outside the hotel. The shot pans with his movement slowly and this is effective as the whole environment is slow, with the sound of snow being the only thing one hears. It creates a suspenseful feel as we are unsure what is happening. It goes back to Jack as a close up which could be debated as a reaction shot as you can see Jack looking distressed as he has heard the truck, suspense is add as we are curious what will happen when both Jack and Dick meet. A mid shot is used on Wendy in the bathroom looking extremely frightened which adds tension because we are frightened for her life as she is in a horrible situation. We see Danny running down the hallway in a wide shot, while he is running towards the camera it tracks backwards to follow him, this is also suspenseful because it shows us he is running but not what towards, making the audience curious of where his path leads. As Danny starts to climb into the cupboard suspense has been created through the close up on his face as he cowers. Jack is walking slowly around the hotel with a limp, the camera tracks his movements on a steadicam, which immerses the audience. This scene is very slow but with the effect of sound and the way the camera is directed, it creates a very effective style of suspension. Lastly, the high angle of Wendy on the stairs portrays her weakness and vulnerability in the situation.

Overall, the sound plays a big role in the tension-making, such as a dramatic score, and selective sound, also the editing makes the film very spooky and captivating, including the use of cross cutting and jump cutting. Other important aspects to contribute to the suspense, is created by the camera angles, movements and shots. Examples of these include tracking shots to follow the action, and close ups to convey emotion.