7 Best WTF Scenes in The Shining

Since most people are already familiar with Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining 1980 version, it seemed appropriate to skip the traditional movie review and discuss some of the infamous scenes in the movie that aren’t necessarily creepy or scary but rather moments that make you think, man that shit’s f*&ked up.

*** Warning – Major spoilers ahead ***

7. Don’t Worry, I Know All About Canibals…

In the beginning of the movie, as the Torrance family is driving through the mountains on their way to the ominous Overlook Hotel, they decide to have a nice little family discussion regarding the Donner Party. And when young Danny asks who the Donner Party is, father Jack begins to tell the story about how the group of settlers got trapped in the Rockies and ended up eating each other, to which Danny replies, “Don’t worry, I know all about cannibals…”

Now I don’t know about you, but this isn’t exactly a reassuring statement, especially coming from a five year old kid who claims he has a little boy (Tony) that lives inside of his mouth. This one little nonchalant phrase about cannibals is enough to make you think, “yep, this is gonna be one F’ed up movie.”

6. Jack Dreams that He Kills Wendy and Danny

While passed out sleeping at his typewriter, Jack Torrance is heard moaning and wailing in terror. When his wife Wendy comes running and wakes him from his slumber, Jack then tells of his horrible horrible dream, in which he killed both Wendy and Danny!

I’m not a psychologist or anything but if I were Wendy, dream or not, I’d be on my damn toes at this point, especially with a nut bar like Jack as a husband. Regardless, one thing is clear, Kubrick doesn’t beat around the bush when it comes to foreshadowing.

5. Jack’s Discussion with Lloyd the Bartender

As our man Jack begins to flip his lid, he soon finds himself at the hotel bar talking to resident ghost bartender, Lloyd. Interestingly, much of the conversation is carried by Jack, most of which is him justifying his alcoholism.

Though what makes this a WTF moment isn’t so much the whole talking to ghosts thing, but how close to reality this type of self talk or justification for one’s behavior is to that of actual hard core alcoholics. It’s creepy, because I’ve seen many alcoholics in real life that talk to themselves in a similar fashion, casting their misfortunes onto others. It makes me shudder at the possibility of these real life characters turning completely bat shit insane and grabbing the nearest axe.

4. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

While Wendy is snooping around Jack’s office/lobby area she decides to take a gander at the manuscript which Jack has been working tirelessly on the whole time at the Overlook Hotel. What does she find? Hundereds of pages filled with a single repeating phrase, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” It’s at this moment when we realize how mentally deranged Jack has become. It’s also the scene where he says the following infamous quote:

“Wendy? Darling? Light, of my life. I’m not gonna hurt ya. You didn’t let me finish my sentence. I said, I’m not gonna hurt ya. I’m just going to bash your brains in.”

So, there’s that…

3. Overlook Hotel Owner is a Furry

Quite possibly the most unexpected out of place moment is towards the end when all the ghosts of the Overlook Hotel begin to reveal themselves. When Wendy is running from Jack and glances in to one of the rooms, she is startled to see a man in a tuxedo getting a BJ from someone dressed in a bear suit. I know they are weird creepy ghosts and all, but this scene is just totally strange.

To be fair, I haven’t read Stephen King’s novel The Shining, which the movie was based and more is explained. But apparently, the dude in the tux is the Overlook Hotel owner and the guy in the bear suit is his lover of some sort. My best guess is that they both died in some furry related sexual trauma. I suppose I’ll have to read the novel one of these days to find out.

2. The twins in the hallway

I’ll never forget the first time I say this movie, and as young Danny is riding around the hallways of the hotel on his tricycle, the camera follows just behind him, finally turning into one hallway with two creepy little twin girls just standing there. Man, I don’t know what it is about little girls in horror movies, but they creep me the hell out. That’s all I have to say about that.

1. The lady in room 237

As Jack goes to investigate Danny’s claim of a woman occupying room 237, he is pleasantly greeted by a naked bathing beauty. It’s one of those great cruel twists of story telling when we are presented with a hot naked chick, one with which the main character begins to make-out with, only to have her turn into a cold rotting corpse right in his arms. Oh man, story of my life.

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Stanley Kubrick’s version of The Shining is one of my personal all time favorite horror movies, as is most peoples, along with many more great memorable scenes. What’s your favorite scene from The Shining? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.

Tagged as: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Stanley Kubrick