'The Shining' Opening Analysis

Shot list of opening

Shot 1: Establishing shot tracking mountainous area, cuts to:
Shot 2: Very wide tracking shot of car on road of mountainous area, cuts to:
Shot 3: Very wide tracking shot of car moving further along mountainous area, cuts to:
Shot 4: Very wide tracking shot moving closer to car before moving passed it off road, cuts to:
Shot 5: Wide shot tracking car through a tunnel, cuts to:
Shot 6: Wide shot tracking car on road but focusing on mountainous area, cuts to:
Shot 7: Wide shot tracking car along road, cuts to:
Shot 8: Establishing pan shot of secluded building.

How are character types established?
In the opening of 'The Shining', the characters are not yet introduced and the first scene relies solely on the creepy atmosphere of the car in the secluded mountains. It's indicated that the people in the car are the protagonists, as the camera is following the car along the road to the building at the end of the scene.

How is location established?
This is what the opening of 'The Shining' excels in. The tracking shots of the car in the secluded mountainous area shows isolation. Emphasis is put on the mountains to show just how isolated the characters in the car are. The building at the end of the opening scene is indicated to be the destination of the characters within the car. The entire first scene shows how far the car must go to reach the secluded building, and thus indicates the lack of escape for the characters if needed.

How is the narrative constructed?

The isolated mountains accompanied by the ominous music indicate that 'The Shining' is a horror. The building at the end, shown to be a place of residence from the parked cars nearby, further shows that the film is a horror, where the protagonists are isolated within the mountains. Other than these, we have no indication of what the narrative is, bar the fact that the genre is a horror and the characters are isolated.

How does the opening reflect the genre of the film?

As said above, the clear sign of isolation and the ominous music accompanying it indicate that the film is of the horror genre. The music is a clear convention of the horror genre, as is the general creepy nature of the opening and the shot of the building at the end, where the characters are seemingly heading. In this case, no clear narrative is needed to show that 'The Shining' is a horror film, as the conventions through directing are already quite obvious.

Is the opening appropriate for a film of this genre?

Yes, very much so. The genre is clearly horror with no clear narrative used in the opening. It's not necessarily a terrifying opening, as most horror films have, but more a creepy opening with a foreboding atmosphere. The music is very helpful in indicating that this is a horror film, as are the odd Stanley Kubrick-esque shots used. The establishing shot of the building at the end also fits into the horror genre and sets the scene.

How have titles been used?

The titles aren't as great and memorable as the music and shots used, but they are still quite well done. They're in the style of credits at the end of a film, floating from the bottom of the screen to the top. The way they are done somehow works with the creepy atmosphere of the opening. There's nothing to special about them, but the simpleness of them works very well with the atmosphere of the shots and music.

In your view, is this an effective opening?

Yes, I believe that it is a very effective opening. It draws the viewer in with the many ominous shots that lead to that one building at the end. 'Where are they going?' and 'What is that building?' are the sort of questions the viewer should be asking. The creepy shots and music should draw the viewer in due to how unique and odd it is. There is no clear narrative throughout the opening, yet it still manages to make you want to watch more. You can tell that it is a film of the horror genre and should want to see where it goes by the end of the scene.

I believe that the opening is very effective and deserves the amount of adoration it gets from fans and critics alike.