The final shot of the film The Shining depicts people dressed in 1920s fashion, as the black and white image represents the technology of the time period. This establishes the earlier setting and allows audiences to relate to the characters. The sinister mood created by the dark tones implies that all individuals pictured were killed in the hotel and are ghosts. As the protagonist John also appears dead in the image, it suggests that anyone who stays at the hotel in winter is doomed to the same fate, showing the location is cursed.

1. The Shining
The final shotof the 1980 horrorfilm ‘The
Shining’ clearly serves as an almost
accurate representation of culture i.e. way
of life within the 1920s decade,specifically
in regard to the mannerin which
individuals used to dress at certain events.
The people within this photo are shown to
be wearing smart clothing i.e. the men are
wearing suits and ties and the women are
wearing dresses.The fact that the image
has been shotin black and white also represents the level of technologyat the time as
colourin television and images was not possible yet, therefore the only colours visible
within the image are black and white. The possible reason for the use of this image
within the film could be to establish the setting even further and/ormake it easierfor the
audience to relate to the characters who reside in an earlier time period.This could
potentially enhance the overall experience forthe viewer(s).
The image has an almostsinister feel to it as almost every individual is depicted enjoying
themselves despite the circumstances oftheir deaths. It is strongly implied that every
person shown within the picture was killed in the hotel and that the people John was
seeing within the film were ghosts. Credence to this is strengthened by the fact that John
froze to death at the end ofthe film and that he was presentin this picture (which is the
ending shotof the film) afterwards alongside everyone else.The presence ofblack and
white, as well as dark tones, creates a grim and brooding atmosphere in regard to the
image.The ending shotof the film could imply that every person who moves into the
hotel at winter is forced to endure the same things that John and his family went through
during their stay, thus showing that the location is ‘cursed’.Another possible
interpretation of this image is that every dead individualis trapped within the picture and
that they are in anguish;although they seem happyin the photo, they could be in
torment whilst being unable to call for help.