10 Things You Didnt Know About The Shining

Warner Bros

1. Stephen King Wasnt Happy

The film is based on a novel by Stephen King, but the author famously disliked Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation. King felt that the movie didn’t capture the essence of his story and characters, and he later wrote his own TV miniseries version of “The Shining” in 1997.

2. The Maze

The iconic hedge maze that features prominently in the film was not part of the original novel. Kubrick added it to the story to create a sense of claustrophobia and disorientation for the characters.

3. Heres Johnny!

The famous “Here’s Johnny!” line, delivered by Jack Nicholson’s character, was improvised on set. Nicholson was inspired by Ed McMahon’s introduction of Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show.”

4. Takes on Takes

Kubrick reportedly made actress Shelley Duvall do over 100 takes of some scenes, which caused her to suffer from extreme stress and hair loss during filming.

5. The Blood

The blood that floods out of the elevator in the film’s most famous scene was actually made of 900 gallons of water mixed with a substance called methyl cellulose.

6. The Hotel

The Overlook Hotel, where the film takes place, is not a real hotel. The exterior shots were filmed at the Timberline Lodge in Oregon, while the interior sets were built on a soundstage in England.

7. Music

The eerie music that plays throughout the film was composed by Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind, using a mix of electronic and orchestral instruments.

8. Protecting Youth

The young actor who played Danny, Danny Lloyd, was only 6 years old at the time of filming and was kept largely unaware of the horror elements of the story. He was told that they were making a drama about a family in a hotel.

9. Conspiracies

The film has inspired numerous conspiracy theories and interpretations, including the idea that it is a commentary on the genocide of Native Americans or a confession of Kubrick’s involvement in faking the moon landing.

10. The Carpet

The iconic carpet pattern in the Overlook Hotel, known as the “hexagonal maze” design, was created specifically for the film by production designer Roy Walker. The pattern has since become synonymous with the movie and has been referenced in other works of pop culture, such as “Toy Story” and “Ready Player One.” The design has even inspired real-life merchandise, including a limited-edition rug produced by the design company Mondo.