Room 237
Room 237

Movie spotlight

Room 237

2012
Movie
103 min
English

A subjective documentary that explores various theories about hidden meanings in Stanley Kubrick's classic film The Shining. Five very different points of view are illuminated through voice over, film clips, animation and dramatic reenactments.

Insights

IMDb7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes90%
Metacritic72/100
Google Users85%
Director: Rodney AscherGenres: Documentary, Mystery, Horror

Plot Summary

This documentary explores the various theories and interpretations surrounding Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film "The Shining." It delves into the obsessive analyses and esoteric readings that have emerged over the decades, examining how audiences have projected their own meanings onto the film's ambiguous narrative and visual cues. Through interviews with devoted fans and critics, the film dissects the enduring power of "The Shining" to spark debate and inspire unconventional interpretations.

Critical Reception

Room 237 was widely acclaimed by critics for its unique approach to documentary filmmaking and its fascinating exploration of film obsession. Reviewers praised its ability to engage viewers in the same kind of analytical deep-dive it portrays, making a potentially niche subject matter broadly appealing. The film was lauded for its witty presentation and its success in highlighting the passionate, and sometimes eccentric, nature of film fandom.

What Reviewers Say

  • A captivating and intelligent examination of film fanaticism and interpretation.

  • Successfully turns the act of over-analysis into compelling entertainment.

  • Offers a witty and insightful look into the enduring mysteries of 'The Shining'.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the documentary's unique perspective on "The Shining," with many finding it to be a thought-provoking and entertaining exploration of film theory and obsession. Viewers enjoyed the various interpretations presented, even if they didn't agree with all of them, and praised the film's engaging narrative style.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Fun Fact

The film features narration from various individuals, but director Stanley Kubrick himself never appears or is directly quoted, maintaining the focus on the interpreters of his work.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
j0ng

j0ng

This is a pretentious film with assertions that are way out in left field. The reason I gave it this score is my love for the original movie itself.

LastCaress1972

LastCaress1972

"At the end of The Shining, he's reduced to a screaming ape, just like in the beginning of 2001 there are screaming apes." - John Fell Ryan Astonishingly, the above statement, as bizarre, irrelevant and as bereft of any further analysis ...

Gareth Senior

Gareth Senior

An intruiging documentary. If you've loved & watched "The Shining" many, many times, this doc will still show you things you never noticed before. The premise is that different theories about The Shining are examined. All of them start w...

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