Room 237
Written and Directed by Rodney Ascher
2012/US
IMDb page
First viewing/Amazon Prime rentaI
I would not think of quarreling with your interpretation nor offering any other, as I have found it always the best policy to allow the film to speak for itself. – Stanley Kubrick
I was disappointed in this documentary about various theories about themes or hidden meanings in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980).
The bathroom in Room 237
Several different people explain their theories about different mysteries in the film or themes Kubrick had hidden there. These include: References to the genocide of Native Americans; permutations of the number 42 indicate that there is a Holocaust theme; a heavy sexual subtest; a confessional that Kubrick directed the Apollo Eleven Moon Landing. Tom Cruise is shown strolling around a movie house in London several times for no known reason. Clips illustrate the “evidence”. The movie also contains many clips from other Kubrick films.
The Indian genocide theme theory kind of rings true but the other ones are truly out there. Problem is it is clear that all of these people find evidence that leads to their pet conspiracy theory or expertise. So the interpretation was meaningful to them but not to me. On the other hand, the movie really does make you think and appreciate the meticulous detail contained in the fabulous creation of the Overlook Hotel.
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