How Horror In Stephen Kings Novel Essay Example

not. Conversely, in the book, Danny sees Tony, but in the movie, he does not because Tony is not inside Danny's body. There are other differences, such as the room number for the forbidden room being 217 in the novel and 237 in the movie. Additionally, in the movie, Danny is drawn to the door of the room by a ball, whereas in the novel, it's his curiosity. In terms of characters, Wendy is portrayed differently as an unpolished brunette in the movie and a smart blonde woman in the novel.

In the novel, the elevator is a significant symbol used by the Torrance Family several times. However, in the movie adaptation, it is completely omitted. It is likely that this decision by Kubrick is based on his belief that stairs are more effective in creating a certain effect. The novel also features the crucial symbol of "Redrum," which is presented differently in the story compared to its portrayal in the movie.

Both the film and novel of "Redrum" feature the titular word which is seen by different characters through different objects. In the film, it is written on a door, terrifying Wendy who also sees the word "murder" in a mirror. In the novel, Danny glimpses "Redrum" in a glass clock dome, adding to the suspense of seeing "murder" spelled out. Director Kubrick's choice to alter the placement of the word may have been to increase terror, as seeing it on a door is more impactful.

The axe is a significant prop in the movie, replacing the Roque mallet from the novel that Jack uses in his attack. This change was made to

intensify the scare factor since an axe is a more threatening object than a mallet. However, it is noticed that Jack inexplicably has the axe in his hand without explanation. In contrast, the Roque mallet is given to him by Grady. Jack's use of the axe to break into the apartment adds another layer of tension - in the novel he simply uses a key.

In the movie adaptation of Stephen King's novel, "The Shining," Wendy uses a baseball bat to attack Jack during a fight, whereas in the book, she uses a wind bottle. Despite this difference, the overall outcome would have been similar. However, the film shows Jack hitting Danny, which does not occur in the novel. This change was likely intentional to highlight the importance of father-son love and its strength. Stanley Kubrick made these alterations to ensure the film was both entertaining and terrifying since it is a horror movie. Although I am not an avid reader and found the book predictable, I strangely preferred the movie. The differences between the two mediums made the movie unpredictable and tense in certain parts. Kubrick ultimately had to adapt King's material so that it would look good on screen while still being true to the story's essence.

According to an article, Stephen King was dissatisfied with Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of his novel as many details were altered, such as the reversal of character actions, objects, and scenery. The article also notes that Kubrick employed the mirror and reflection motif from the book in his film, utilizing a reverse technique he often uses with colors. Despite King's feelings, the author of the article praises Kubrick's imaginative

decision to deviate from the source material, considering it an enhancement to the film version.
( The Shining, 2008. Why did Stanley Kubrick change so much from the novel?.[online] Available at: <http://faqtheshining.blogspot.com/2008/08/why-did-stanley-kubrick-change-so-much.html> [Accessed 10 May 2011])