How is 'The Shining' a generic horror film?

'The Shining' is one of the most iconic horror films ever made and there are many aspects which make make it generic, from plot elements to film techniques. The film follows a family who move to a remote and deserted hotel for the winter where paranormal activities begin to unfold.

Sound plays a big part in creating an eerie atmosphere. As Jack's son rides through the hotel on his tricycle, the repetitive sound of the wheels moving over carpets and then wooden floors creates a continuous and unsettling rhythm. Another clever use of sound is when a seemingly non-diegetic drumming sound accompanies the camera as it pans out to show that the sound is actually Jack throwing a ball against a wall. This use of sound denotes that everything may not be as it seems.

The film also has a lot of plot elements typical of the horror genre. It uses teasers that build up into larger goings on, for example the mention of possible paranormal activity by the hotel chef to the boy leads to visions and sightings. Another typical feature is fighting and conflict within a vulnerable group, due to pressure e.g. tension between Jack and his wife as his behaviour becomes more intense. The family are also isolated, the phone lines are down and they are snowed in which shows that they are cut off from the outside world and their only chance of help, this is a popular feature used in horror films.

Jack's son enters a room that he has been specifically asked not to go in, this gives us an idea that there will be some upcoming danger and leaves the viewer wanting to learn more. The boy also has nightmares which is a type of irony often used inn horror films as the characters themselves are usually trapped in a real life nightmare.

The film also uses iconography and imagery such as the colour red to imply impending doom; Jack's son writes 'redrum' in red lipstick and there are scenes of blood overflowing through a corridor.

The narrative plays a huge part in making 'The Shining' a successful generic horror film. What seems to be Jack's first hallucination involves him looking at a small model version of a maze which his wife and son are actually in. The camera cuts from Jack's face to a birds-eye view of his family walking through the maze. From this view it is unclear whether Jack is seeing his wife and son within the model or whether it is a view of the actual maze. The narrative is very successful at leaving the viewer uncertain of what is and isn't real. An example of this is when Jack sits at the hotel bar and is served by an unusual looking man. We have been led to believe that the hotel is empty so the viewer has has their own assumption of who the man is; we decide whether the man is a ghost or a figment of Jack's imagination. This uncertainty captivates the audience and is what makes the film so psychologically thrilling.

In conclusion 'The Shining ' is such an iconic film that it's pot could almost be seen as a template for generic horror. It's mix of imagery and film techniques, from the use of the colour red to the use of characters creating their own diegetic sound has been used numerous times since its success, and helps in making 'The Shining' a generic horror film.