@DRDMovieMusings said:

Do I understand correctly that Danny Torrance and Mr. Hallorann had "it", and not Jack Torrance?

And, if this is correct, well, then what was this movie really about? How did it become all about Jack going crazy?

"The Shining" is the ESP gift bestowed on a very limited amount of people. It gives you the ability to see the past and future and to interact with the spiritual realm. Jack Torrance was just a alcoholic fool on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The haunted hotel and cabin fever were just a perfect formula to induce his murderous rampage.

@movie_nazi said:

@DRDMovieMusings said:

Do I understand correctly that Danny Torrance and Mr. Hallorann had "it", and not Jack Torrance?

And, if this is correct, well, then what was this movie really about? How did it become all about Jack going crazy?

"The Shining" is the ESP gift bestowed on a very limited amount of people. It gives you the ability to see the past and future and to interact with the spiritual realm. Jack Torrance was just a alcoholic fool on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The haunted hotel and cabin fever were just a perfect formula to induce his murderous rampage.

Ok. Cool. But, then, why title the movie as they did, have characters who have "it", and then redirect focus away from them to make a main character out of a character who does not have it...nor benefited from it?

@DRDMovieMusings said:

@movie_nazi said:

@DRDMovieMusings said:

Do I understand correctly that Danny Torrance and Mr. Hallorann had "it", and not Jack Torrance?

And, if this is correct, well, then what was this movie really about? How did it become all about Jack going crazy?

"The Shining" is the ESP gift bestowed on a very limited amount of people. It gives you the ability to see the past and future and to interact with the spiritual realm. Jack Torrance was just a alcoholic fool on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The haunted hotel and cabin fever were just a perfect formula to induce his murderous rampage.

Ok. Cool. But, then, why title the movie as they did, have characters who have "it", and then redirect focus away from them to make a main character out of a character who does not have it...nor benefited from it?

Meh, I guess because the shining is the main protagonist of the story so to speak. If not for the shining Danny and his mother would have been doomed. I also think that because Danny had such a strong affiliation with the gift that it somehow emboldened the ghosts of the Overlook to come out in a stronger force than they normally would have. It's been a while since I read the book but I believe it does have something to do with that.