The woman in Room 237 can be read as a metaphor for Jack’s alcoholism. He is drawn in by her siren-like allure and only discovers her true form after giving in. Danny resists the hotel, but Jack’s anger, drinking and need for control make him easy prey.

The Grady twins in The Shining (1980) were inspired by one of the most famous photographs in history: Diane Arbus’s Identical Twins, Roselle, New Jersey (1966). But there’s an interesting detail: the Grady sisters weren’t actually twins in Stephen King’s original novel. Kubrick’s assistant Leon Vitali recalled showing him Arbus’s photograph, which depicts two seven-year-old girls in matching dresses, standing side by side and staring directly into the camera. Kubrick transformed that unsettling composition into one of horror cinema’s most recognizable images. The identical clothing, rigid posture, expressionless faces and disturbing symmetry make the resemblance unmistakable. What began as a portrait of two real sisters became one of the most terrifying encounters in The Shining.

What if Danny isn’t being possessed here? What if his Shining is protecting him and Wendy? It gives him visions of what is coming and makes him repeat “REDRUM,” waking Wendy just in time to understand the warning and barricade the room while Jack slowly limps upstairs with the axe. What looks like possession may actually be an attempt to save them.

Seeing Nicholson go from normal to unhinged is amazing, but just as impressive is how quickly he shuts it off after “cut.” None of this “always in character” garbage—just a great actor with complete control over his performance.

Wendy had been the safe space for the entire story. Jack, Danny and Hallorann had all experienced visions, but she was the innocent one who hadn’t seen any of them. When the Overlook finally reveals itself to her, everything changes. It can no longer be dismissed as her husband simply losing his mind. And “Great party, isn’t it?”—such a normal sentence—becomes nightmare fuel.

In A Clockwork Orange (1971) we are supposedly led to believe that a 17-year-old managed to have enough charisma to have a threesome with 2 girls he did not know. This is a subtle reminder that cinema isn't real life.