Unraveling the Mystery of 'The Shining' Ending: Is Jack Trapped for Eternity in the Overlook Hotel?

The Big Picture

The ending of Stanley Kubrick's film The Shining is heavily discussed and theorized, with the final shot of Jack in the Overlook Hotel in 1921 sparking ongoing theories.

Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's novel deviates from the source material, as he introduces changes that fundamentally transform the story's underlying themes. The ambiguous conclusion crafted by Kubrick implies that Jack is ensnared within the confines of the Overlook Hotel, potentially reborn as a previous visitor or employee.

Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film The Shining is widely regarded as one of the greatest horror films of all time, with its enigmatic ending sparking countless discussions and theories among audiences and critics. Based on Stephen King's book of the same name, the movie follows Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson), a writer who takes on the role of the winter caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel in snowy Colorado. Jack sees this as an opportunity to overcome his writer's block and complete his book without any distractions. Accompanied by his wife Wendy (portrayed by Shelley Duvall) and their 5-year-old son Danny (played by Danny Lloyd), they soon discover that the Overlook Hotel has a dark history that threatens Jack's sanity and endangers the lives of his family.

It is well-known that Stephen King did not approve of Kubrick's adaptation of his novel, as the film deviates significantly from the original story. When Kubrick agreed to direct the movie, he made several changes to King's narrative, altering the central themes of the book. The iconic final shot of Jack in the Overlook Hotel in 1921 is a vital element of Kubrick's vision for his adaptation, generating enduring theories and speculation.

The Shining

Release Date May 23, 1980Director Stanley KubrickCast Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers, Barry Nelson, Philip StoneRating R

What Is 'The Shining' About?

After the Torrance family's arrival at the Overlook Hotel, The Shining unfolds as a continuous descent into madness. However, the culmination of the movie's climax can be traced back to the moment when Jack once again enters the gold room, where a lavish party is in full swing. While seated at the bar, Jack strikes up a conversation with the bartender, Lloyd (played by Joe Turkel), who cryptically informs him that his money holds no value in this particular place. Lloyd's reasoning, which he attributes to "orders from the house," initiates the beginning of the film's ending.

As he holds his drink, Jack is suddenly bumped by a server, causing the liquid to spill onto his jacket. Apologetically, the server, known as "Jeevesy old boy," offers to clean up the mess. Introducing himself as Delbert Grady (played by Philip Stone), the name rings a bell for Jack, as it resembles the former caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, Charles Grady. Jack discloses to Grady that he brutally murdered his wife and daughters before taking his own life. However, Grady's response is puzzling as he denies any memory of such a gruesome act. In fact, Grady insists that it was Jack, not him, who was the caretaker all along. With an enigmatic tone, Grady declares, "I'm sorry to disagree, sir. But you are the caretaker. You've always been the caretaker. I should know, sir. I've always been here."

What Does "The Shine" Mean?

Image via Warner Bros.

Grady cautions Jack about his son Danny's extraordinary ability known as the "Shine." In Stephen King's universe, this psychic power enables individuals to telepathically connect with others and gain glimpses of past and future events. Danny has been utilizing his gift to communicate with Dick Hallorann, the Overlook Hotel's head chef, who also possesses the "Shine." Grady's message to Jack is explicit: Danny and Wendy need to be "corrected," just as he had done with his own wife and daughters.

The next day, Wendy leaves Danny behind in their room, believing that he has left based on information from "Tony." Nervously clutching a bat, Wendy cautiously approaches Jack's usual writing table, only to discover that he is not there. Instead, she stumbles upon Jack's manuscript, which he has been tirelessly working on. Much to her horror, the manuscript consists of hundreds of pages with a single sentence repeated over and over again: "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."

Suddenly, Jack sneaks up from behind and inquires about her opinion of his book. They engage in a conversation that proves to be unproductive, with Jack threatening Wendy by stating that he intends to harm her. Taking action, Wendy strikes Jack with the bat, rendering him unconscious. She then proceeds to lock him in the kitchen pantry. Later on, there is a knock at the pantry door, and Jack recognizes Grady's voice on the other side. Grady informs him that both he and "the others" have begun to doubt Jack's ability to handle the situation with Danny and Wendy effectively. With the sound of a lock clicking, it is implied that Grady has unlocked the door.

What Happens at the End of 'The Shining'?

Image Via Warner Bros

Wendy is peacefully slumbering upstairs, unaware that Jack has managed to break free from his confinement. The eerie chant of "REDRUM" repeatedly emanates from Danny/Tony, unsettling Wendy and jolting her awake. To her horror, she discovers through the reflection in the mirror that "REDRUM" has been sinisterly scrawled on the door, revealing the reverse spelling of "MURDER." In perfect synchronization, Jack takes an axe to their door, determined to get to them, while Wendy and Danny attempt to flee through the window. Unfortunately, only Danny is small enough to make it, prompting Wendy to urge him to run for his safety. Just as Jack menacingly advances towards them, hacking away at the bathroom door and channeling the infamous line "Hereeeeee's Johnny!", Wendy seizes a moment of bravery and manages to slash Jack's hand with a knife.

Meanwhile, Hallorann, who has been communicating with Danny through their psychic connection, arrives at the Overlook Hotel. As Jack limps through the premises, tightly clutching the axe, Hallorann calls out to check if someone is present. Tragically, it is too late for Hallorann, as Jack sneaks up from behind and mercilessly strikes him down. Wendy frantically searches the hotel for Danny, and as she gazes into an open doorway, she witnesses a grotesque scene where a person dressed as a bear engages in lewd acts with a guest. Utterly horrified, she swiftly turns and makes her way downstairs, only to be confronted with the ghastly sight of Hallorann's lifeless body, drenched in blood, in the lobby. Suddenly, the once-normal hotel guests transform into decayed skeletons all around her, and a torrent of crimson blood violently erupts and cascades through the blood-red doors.

Danny is sprinting through the snowy garden maze outside the hotel, desperately trying to save himself. In pursuit, Jack chases after him, his heavy footsteps echoing in the cold air. However, Danny manages to outsmart Jack and finds refuge with Wendy. Together, they flee the hotel on a Snowcat, leaving Jack behind. Alone and tormented, Jack continues stumbling through the winding maze, his cries of desperation filling the air, pleading with Wendy not to abandon him. Suddenly, the scene shifts. It is now morning, and the freezing cold has claimed Jack's life. Trapped forever in the maze, his body lies lifeless. But the most chilling twist comes with the final shot of The Shining. The camera zooms in on a photo hanging in the Overlook Hotel, revealing a 1921 4th of July ball. And standing right at the center of the photograph, unmistakably, is Jack Torrance.

Why Is Jack in That Photo at the End of ‘The Shining’?

The Shining is rife with enigmatic elements throughout. Was Lloyd a mere figment of Jack's imagination? Who was the enigmatic woman lurking in room 237? What did she do to Danny? Why does Grady disclose to Jack that he has always been the caretaker? However, the most perplexing conundrum lies in the final shot of Jack at the Overlook Hotel in the year 1921. One prevailing theory suggests that the Overlook assimilated Jack's essence after his demise, just as it had done with the spirits of its trapped guests. Ironically, despite the multitude of open-ended interpretations within the film, Kubrick himself actually shed light on the meaning behind this equivocal conclusion.

During an interview with French film critic Michel Ciment, Kubrick revealed that the ballroom photograph implies Jack's reincarnation. This suggests that Jack was possibly a guest or staff member at the Overlook Hotel originally, providing reason for Lloyd the bartender to greet him familiarly and Delbert Grady's assertion that Jack was "always the caretaker." Additionally, this could explain the connection between Charles Grady, the notorious caretaker who infamously killed his wife and daughters, and Delbert Grady, also known as "Jeevesy." Ultimately, it seems that Jack is perpetually trapped within the confines of the Overlook Hotel. The Shining can be streamed on Max in the U.S.

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Editor's P/S

In Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's "The Shining," the ending leaves viewers pondering the fate of Jack Torrance, played by Jack Nicholson. The final shot reveals Jack frozen in a photograph taken in 1921, suggesting that he is trapped in the Overlook Hotel for eternity. This haunting image has sparked numerous theories and interpretations among fans and critics alike.

One compelling theory suggests that Jack becomes part of the hotel's sinister history, doomed to repeat the cycle of violence and madness that has plagued the Overlook for decades. The photograph, which depicts a masked ball held in the hotel's heyday, seems to show Jack among the revelers, implying that he has become one of the hotel's permanent residents, forever lost in its labyrinthine corridors. This interpretation aligns with the hotel's malevolent influence, which appears to consume and corrupt anyone who stays there for too long.