Damon Mcknight
Stanley Kubrick's 1980 psychological horror film The Shining is a cult classic. Adapted from Stephen King's novel of the same name, the film stars Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, and Scatman Crothers. The Shining has received several ratings and reviews for its violent and dark themes, including blood and gore, abuse, and brief full-frontal nudity. It has been described as a harrowing and nightmarish case study in the impact of isolation and familial resentment. In Australia, the film has had a cultural impact, with Dutch dance music duo Hocus Pocus sampling Nicholson's famous Here's Johnny line in their 1993 song of the same name, which topped the Australian charts in 1995.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1980 |
| Director | Stanley Kubrick |
| Co-writer | Diane Johnson |
| Producer | Stanley Kubrick |
| Based on | Stephen King's novel |
| Starring | Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers |
| Genre | Psychological horror |
| Runtime | 144 minutes (original cut) |
| Rating | R |
| Release date | May 23, 1980 (USA), October 2, 1980 (UK) |
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The Shining's rating
The Shining is a 1980 psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. It is based on Stephen King's novel of the same name and stars Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, and Scatman Crothers. The film follows Jack Torrance (Nicholson), who becomes the winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel in Colorado, along with his wife Wendy (Duvall) and their clairvoyant son Danny (Lloyd). As Torrance struggles with writer's block and Danny experiences disturbing visions, they discover the hotel's dark secrets, and Torrance descends into madness, becoming a homicidal maniac.
The film is known for its intense and chilling portrayal of horror and suspense, with frequent nightmarish imagery of violence and blood. It contains scenes of domestic violence, child abuse, and discussions of cannibalism and familial abuse. There is also profanity, brief full-frontal nudity, and sexual imagery, including paintings of naked women and implied oral sex. In addition, the film includes depictions of alcohol and cigarette consumption by the characters.
Due to its graphic content, The Shining has received various ratings and edits for different releases and markets. In the United States, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) initially rated the film "R" for "Restricted," meaning that children under 17 years of age must be accompanied by an adult to watch the film. This rating indicates that the film contains adult themes and may not be suitable for younger audiences.
In Australia, the film was initially released with an "M" rating, recommending parental guidance for viewers under 15 years of age. However, in 2003, the Australian Classification Board reviewed the film and changed its rating to "R18+" due to its high impact violent content. This rating restricts the film to adults aged 18 years and over, as the content is deemed unsuitable for younger viewers. The Australian Classification Board noted that the film contains "high-level violence," including "decapitation and dismemberment," as well as "frequent coarse language."
The Shining has been recognised as a cult film and is often cited as one of the greatest horror films of all time. Despite receiving mixed reactions upon its initial release, it has since been critically reappraised and is now considered a classic in the horror genre.
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Violence and gore
'The Shining' is a 1980 psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. The film is based on Stephen King's novel of the same name and stars Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, and Scatman Crothers. The film follows Jack Torrance, played by Nicholson, who becomes the winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel in Colorado, hoping to cure his writer's block. As Torrance's writing goes nowhere and his son Danny's psychic premonitions become more disturbing, Torrance discovers the hotel's dark secrets and begins to unravel, turning into a homicidal maniac.
The film has been described as a "suspenseful horror classic" with "terrific thrills" and "eerie moments of dislocation". It has also been called a "journey into madness" and a "case study in the impact of isolation and familial resentment". While it received mixed reactions upon its release, it has since been reappraised and is now considered one of the best horror films and one of the greatest films of all time.
In addition to the intense violence, the film features occasional profanity, with words such as "f--k", "a--hole", and "bitch" being used. Sexual imagery is also present, including paintings of naked women, brief full-frontal nudity, and implied oral sex. The use of tobacco and discussions of cannibalism and freezing to death also contribute to the mature themes of the film.
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Sexual content
The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrick, is rated R in Australia. This rating is due to several factors, including graphic violence, profanity, and brief nudity. The film contains disturbing violent content, bloody images, and strong language. It also includes sexual content that may be considered inappropriate for younger audiences.
The sexual content in The Shining includes paintings of naked women displayed in the apartment of the hotel chef. There are also brief scenes of full-frontal nudity, including a young woman turning into an older woman with rotting skin, exposing her breasts and vagina. In another scene, a man's nude posterior is shown.
The film also includes a scene implying a sexual act. In this scene, a man in a bear or animal costume is receiving oral sex. This scene has been described as disturbing and odd. Additionally, there are sexual references and innuendos throughout the film, such as a woman being referred to as a "sperm bank".
The Shining also contains themes of sexual transgression and abuse. Jack, the main character, mentally, verbally, and physically abuses his wife and child and attempts to kill them. Men in the film discuss the "merits" of abusing their families, which contributes to the dark and disturbing nature of the film.
The sexual content in The Shining is not explicit, but it is suggestive and may be inappropriate for younger or sensitive viewers. The film's rating of R 18+ in Australia restricts the film to adults 18 years and older.
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Substance use
Alcohol addiction is a notable concern in Australia, contributing to various illnesses, injuries, and deaths. In 2020, around 6,000 Australians died from excessive alcohol consumption, making it a leading risk factor for premature death. Sydney, Perth, and Melbourne have the highest rates of alcohol abuse, with 1 in 5 Australians aged 18 and older drinking at risky levels. Alcohol-related deaths have been on the rise, with a 9% increase between 2016 and 2017, the highest number on record at the time.
Illicit drug use is also prevalent in Australia, with 20.4% of Australians aged 14 and older reporting past-year drug use in a recent survey. This includes the use of cannabis, ecstasy, methamphetamine (ICE), cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin. The death of teenager Anna Wood from ecstasy in 1995 sparked widespread media attention and concerns about teenage drug use. Despite anti-drug campaigns, ecstasy use has increased, and drug use among young people remains an issue requiring intervention.
The MIXMAX study, a collaboration between Monash Rural Health and the Burnet Institute, focuses on illicit drug use in regional Victoria. It combines the SuperMIX study on injecting drug users and the VMAX study on methamphetamine smoking. This research aims to inform support services for people using methamphetamine and improve understanding of drug use in rural and metropolitan areas.
Cocaine use is another concern, with approximately 343,000 Australians aged 14 or older (1.2% of the population) having used cocaine in their lifetime. The National Drug Strategy Household Survey revealed that one in six Australians suffer from drug addiction, while one in ten struggle with alcohol addiction, translating to over 2 million people with addiction issues in the country.
The Australian government offers various public health programs to address substance use and addiction, including the National Drugs and Alcohol Treatment Services Directory, the Drug Policy website, and the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre. These initiatives provide information, treatment options, and support to help individuals manage and overcome their addictions.
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Language
The Shining has been rated R in the US for "disturbing violent content and behaviour, bloody images, graphic nudity, and strong language". The film contains several instances of violent and abusive language, including men talking about the "merits" of abusing their families. Jack Torrance, the film's protagonist, also speaks throughout the film about killing his family.
The film's language is not limited to its dialogue, however. Film critic Jonathan Romney writes that the film can be interpreted in many ways, including as a struggle "between Jack's culture of the written word and Danny's culture of images". Romney points to the scene in which Jack, having suffered from writer's block, has "renounced language entirely, pursuing Danny through the maze with an inarticulate animal roar".
The Shining's multilingualism is also notable. For each language, a suitable idiom was used: German ("Never put off till tomorrow what may be done today"), Italian ("The morning has gold in its mouth"), French ("One 'here you go' is worth more than two 'you'll have it'"), and Spanish ("No matter how early you get up, you can't make the sun rise any sooner").
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