Movie Review: Room 237 (2013, Blu-ray)

The Shining  is without a doubt one of the most influential films of our time. It's not only all over pop-culture, to many, including myself it’s a fantastic film. That doesn't mean it’s without its detractors - including the creator of the best-selling novel Stephen King. Director Stanley Kubrick is a fascinating cat and what he was going for with his vision of King's baby seems to have brought questions to some that think there is some deeper meaning into certain scenes and shots.

Rodney Ascher's Room 237 basically gathers up several folks who have some interesting and some completely ludicrous hypothesis of The Shining cut together over many of the most well known scenes, such as when Danny is lost in the labyrinth or when Jack locked in the cooler. One of the participants examines a scene when the characters are in the walk-in pantry and our large container of Calumet Baking Powder showing in Indian had some big significance to Kubrick's "hidden message". This did nothing for me and felt like The Shining expert was really reaching for stuff.

A later segment that I did find interesting and possibly spot on was when Dick Halloran (Scatman Crothers) is driving by an accident and how this particular expert perceives this creative change from the novel as Kubrick putting his thumb in Kings eye. This was not only kind of funny but definitely one of the more believable parts of the documentary.

If you’re the kind of person that has seen Jesus or Elvis in your toast, Room 247 may be a wonderfully fascinating evening's entertainment. Everybody else who would just prefer to devour said toast,  suck down a cup of Joe and head off to work may want to steer clear from this dull, ultimately frustrating documentary. Watch a re-run of 227 instead.