Stephen King's Insight on the Close Encounter Between The Shining Movie and 2001: A Space Odyssey

Stephen King has expressed varying opinions about Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation of his novel, The Shining. In a pre-release interview, he disclosed that the ending could have taken a different direction, drawing similarities to 2001: A Space Odyssey. Over time, King's sentiments towards the movie have fluctuated. While he admires certain aspects of Kubrick's work, he particularly dislikes how Jack Nicholson's character appears unstable even before reaching the Overlook Hotel.

The movie concludes in a distinct manner compared to the book. In the book, the character Jack Torrance perishes when the basement boiler explodes, whereas in the film adaptation, he freezes to death in the Overlook maze. Nevertheless, both versions ensure the survival of his wife Wendy and son Danny.

During the production of the movie, Stanley Kubrick considered a significantly alternative ending, in which the entire family meets their demise.

Stephen King explains how The Shining movie nearly ended like 2001: A Space Odyssey

Stephen King, in an interview with Peter S. Perakos of Cinefantastique, discusses the ongoing collaboration with Stanley Kubrick during the production of The Shining. King shares his experiences and negotiations regarding the alterations made to the climactic scene.

"Right from the beginning of our discussion several months ago, Kubrick expressed his desire to alter the conclusion. He sought my input on the idea of Halloran becoming possessed and carrying out the task that Torrance had initiated, ultimately taking the lives of Danny, Wendy, and himself. Following this, the scene would transition to the springtime, featuring a new caretaker and his family arriving.

However, in this revamped ending, the audience would witness Jack, Wendy, and Danny together in a blissful family setting, albeit as apparitions, sharing laughter and conversation. Personally, I perceived a connection between this serene closing scene and the conclusion of '2001', where the astronaut is transported to the Louis XIV bedroom. For me, these two endings appeared to intertwine beautifully."

King further adds that while it may seem like an unconventional analogy, it carries a certain poetic beauty. He goes on to assert that despite not personally believing in an afterlife, Kubrick maintained that any narrative involving the supernatural, regardless of its horror or bliss, inherently offers an optimistic outlook as it alludes to the potential endurance of the human spirit.

I informed him that while his philosophy is commendable, when the audience witnesses the brutal demise of beloved characters, they will undoubtedly demand retribution upon leaving the theater. However, Kubrick has significantly altered his initial concepts, so it is unlikely that this ending will be featured in the final film.

And indeed, King's predictions were accurate, as Kubrick ultimately opted for either a more uplifting or a more melancholic conclusion, depending on one's perspective.

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Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I find it fascinating to learn about the alternate ending that Stanley Kubrick considered for his film adaptation of Stephen King's novel, The Shining. The idea of the entire family meeting their demise and then appearing as apparitions in a blissful family setting is a striking concept that would have given the movie a very different feel. I can see why King saw a connection between this ending and the conclusion of 2001: A Space Odyssey, as both endings involve a transcendence of the physical world and a suggestion of something beyond death.

I think it's a shame that Kubrick ultimately decided not to go with this ending, as it would have been interesting to see how he would have executed it. However, I can understand why he may have felt that it was too unconventional or too optimistic for the tone of the film. Ultimately, I think the ending that Kubrick chose is the right one for the movie, as it leaves the audience with a sense of ambiguity and unease that is in keeping with the spirit of King's novel.