Stephen King famously dislikes Stanley Kubrick’s cinematic adaptation of his novel The Shining, primarily because he felt the film deviated so drastically from the book’s essential themes of addiction, family redemption, and the slow burn of psychological disintegration. King believed Kubrick replaced these core elements with a cold, detached, and ultimately cynical spectacle that betrayed the spirit of his source material.
The Overlook: A Divergence of Visions
King’s The Shining is a deeply personal story about a recovering alcoholic, Jack Torrance, battling his inner demons and struggling to protect his family. The Overlook Hotel, in the novel, acts as a catalyst, amplifying Jack’s pre-existing flaws and insecurities. In contrast, Kubrick’s Overlook is a malevolent entity from the outset, more responsible for Jack’s descent into madness than Jack himself.
King’s issue wasn’t simply adaptation faithfulness in the literal sense. He understood changes were inevitable in transferring a story from one medium to another. His critique lay in the fundamental shift in character motivations and thematic resonance. He felt Kubrick misinterpreted the heart of the story, prioritizing visual style and atmosphere over the internal struggles that defined the book.
The Character Conundrum: Jack Torrance
One of King’s most significant complaints centers on the portrayal of Jack Torrance. In the novel, Jack is a complex and sympathetic character, a fundamentally good man struggling with addiction and repressed anger. His eventual descent is tragic, fueled by external forces and his own internal weaknesses.
Kubrick’s Jack, played by Jack Nicholson, is arguably insane from the start. Nicholson’s performance, while iconic, presents a character that feels less like a victim and more like a pre-programmed monster. King argued that Nicholson’s portrayal lacks the slow, agonizing decline crucial to the novel’s impact. He felt the audience never truly empathized with Jack because they never saw him as a good man fighting a losing battle. The pre-existing madness diminished the horror because there was no real transformation, just an escalation.
Wendy Torrance: A Victim, Not a Fighter
Another point of contention for King was the depiction of Wendy Torrance. In the novel, Wendy is a resilient and resourceful woman who fights fiercely to protect her son. She’s intelligent and capable, and while scared, she ultimately rises to the occasion.
Shelley Duvall’s portrayal of Wendy, under Kubrick’s direction, is far more vulnerable and passive. King felt she was reduced to a screaming, helpless victim, lacking the strength and agency of her literary counterpart. He believed this mischaracterization undermined the story’s emotional core and diminished the overall impact of the family’s struggle. He often stated he felt sympathy for Duvall during the filming process, knowing the difficult conditions under which she worked.
The Visual Style: A Matter of Taste
While acknowledging Kubrick’s undeniable filmmaking talent, King found the film’s visual style to be cold and sterile, lacking the emotional depth and atmospheric dread of the novel. He felt Kubrick prioritized visual spectacle over character development and thematic exploration. The iconic imagery, while striking, felt detached from the story’s deeper meaning.
For King, the horror in The Shining stemmed from the psychological disintegration of Jack and the gradual encroachment of the supernatural. Kubrick’s film, he argued, relied more on jump scares and shocking visuals, neglecting the slow-burn tension and character-driven horror that defined the novel.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into the Controversy
H3 Did Stephen King ever publicly praise The Shining film?
No. Stephen King has been consistently critical of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining over the years. While he acknowledges Kubrick’s genius as a filmmaker, he has always maintained that the film is a poor adaptation of his novel. He has, on occasion, softened his stance slightly, admitting that the film is a visually striking piece of cinema, but his core criticisms remain.
H3 What did Stephen King think of Jack Nicholson’s performance?
Stephen King has been very vocal about his disapproval of Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of Jack Torrance. He felt Nicholson’s performance was too overtly crazy from the outset, lacking the slow, gradual descent into madness that characterized the character in the novel. He often stated that Nicholson was wrong for the role.
H3 Was Stephen King involved in the making of Kubrick’s The Shining?
No. Stephen King had no creative input into the making of Kubrick’s The Shining. He was offered a chance to write the screenplay but declined, believing that Kubrick already had a clear vision for the film. He later expressed regret over this decision, feeling that his involvement could have helped to ensure a more faithful adaptation.
H3 What version of The Shining does Stephen King prefer?
Stephen King prefers the 1997 miniseries adaptation of The Shining, which he wrote himself. He felt this version was a more faithful representation of his novel, capturing the essential themes and character motivations that he believed were missing from Kubrick’s film.
H3 How did Stanley Kubrick respond to Stephen King’s criticism?
Stanley Kubrick rarely responded directly to Stephen King’s criticisms of The Shining. He was known for being a private and enigmatic figure who didn’t often engage with his critics. However, those close to Kubrick have suggested that he was aware of King’s dissatisfaction but remained steadfast in his artistic vision for the film.
H3 Did the box office success of the film influence Stephen King’s opinion?
No. The box office success of Kubrick’s The Shining did not change Stephen King’s opinion of the film. His criticisms were based on his belief that the film failed to capture the essence of his novel, regardless of its commercial success.
H3 What were some specific scenes King disliked in the film?
King has mentioned disliking several specific scenes in the film, including the scene where Wendy finds Jack’s manuscript filled with the phrase “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” He felt this scene was too literal and lacked the psychological depth of the corresponding scene in the novel. He also disliked the iconic “Here’s Johnny!” scene, feeling it was too theatrical and lacked the genuine terror of Jack’s descent.
H3 How did Shelley Duvall feel about playing Wendy Torrance?
Shelley Duvall has spoken openly about the difficult and stressful conditions she endured while filming The Shining. Kubrick was known for his demanding and perfectionist style, and Duvall reportedly suffered from anxiety and exhaustion during the shoot. She has stated that while she is proud of her performance, the experience was incredibly challenging.
H3 What role did the Overlook Hotel play in King’s vision versus Kubrick’s?
In King’s novel, the Overlook Hotel is a character in itself, a repository of past traumas and a malevolent force that preys on Jack’s weaknesses. It acts as an amplifier, exacerbating his inner demons and driving him to madness. In Kubrick’s film, the hotel feels more like a stage for Jack’s pre-existing madness, a visually striking backdrop for the unfolding horror. The Overlook feels less active and more of a passive observer.
H3 Did Kubrick change the ending of The Shining from the novel?
Yes, Kubrick significantly altered the ending of The Shining. In the novel, the Overlook Hotel is ultimately destroyed in a fiery explosion. In the film, Jack freezes to death in the hotel’s hedge maze, and the hotel remains intact. This change further emphasized Kubrick’s focus on the cyclical nature of violence and the enduring power of the past.
H3 Has Stephen King changed his mind about The Shining film over time?
While Stephen King has occasionally softened his criticism slightly, acknowledging the film’s visual artistry and cultural impact, he has never fundamentally changed his opinion. He still believes that Kubrick’s The Shining is a poor adaptation of his novel, missing the essential themes and character motivations that he considers crucial to the story.
H3 What is the legacy of the disagreement between King and Kubrick?
The disagreement between Stephen King and Stanley Kubrick regarding The Shining is a classic example of the tensions that can arise when adapting a beloved book for the screen. It highlights the challenges of translating a story from one medium to another and the inevitable compromises that must be made. It also underscores the importance of respecting the author’s original vision while allowing for creative interpretation. The enduring debate surrounding The Shining continues to fuel discussions about adaptation fidelity, directorial vision, and the nature of horror itself. King’s perspective offers valuable insights into the importance of character development, thematic resonance, and emotional authenticity in storytelling, regardless of the medium. The fact that the debate continues decades later speaks to the power and enduring quality of both the book and the film, albeit for very different reasons. He felt Kubrick made “a car, not a Rembrandt.”