Camera Shots The Shining (bathroom scene)

The plot of the film is about a family moving into a hotel in an isolated area, the hotel is supposedly haunting. The hotel drives the father mad and causes him to attack his wife and son. The sequence I have chosen is of the wife in the bathroom with the man hitting down the door to try and get in.

The first camera shot at 0.07 and 0.08 is a close up panning down to show her picking up the knife. This is the start of the violent scene showing the first weapon. It gives the sense of safety for her so she could fight back. It also shows suspense for the viewer to see how she reacts.

The next camera shot a 0.24 and 0.25 shows a medium close up showing his whole body and the axe. This then pans from side to side whilst he is swinging the axe into the door. This gives a sense of suspense and fear for the women.

The next shot is at 0.37 shows a golden mean camera shot with the axe breaking through the door in the foreground and the women in the background. It is a medium close up and again shows her fear of him getting through the ‘barrier’ between him and her.

At 1.09 is the famous shot of ‘here’s Johnny’ which is an extreme close up his face. This shows the fear and horror of the attack. The expression on his face is very frightening and shows his madness as he is smiling. It emphasis the authority and power he has over her.

The last shot is at 1.17 which is a medium close up showing his hand through the hole and the knife cutting him. This gives the viewer a sense of relief that she can fight back and her innocence of having no control over the situation.