Saturday, March 23, 2019

Part 6

Without the earlier scene of Wendy telling the doctor about Jack having injured Danny a few years back, it seems kind of odd hearing Jack tell his rendition of the events without us really knowing what he's talking about, if we hadn't seen the full version.


"That bitch!" Jack spits out with pure venom and hatred, and we now know how he feels about her. Likewise, Jack exclaims of Danny, "I love the little son of a bitch!", and then (almost in the same sentence) angrily spitting out, "The little fucker throwing my papers all over the floor...!". Not a happy or content family man, we see.


Everything else in the scene is left intact, as is the transition from Hallorann's room to the venture into Room 237. On a side note, this whole section was shortened and condensed for the edited-for-TV version of the movie. In Hallorann's room, it was probably done to skip the images of the nude paintings on his wall, and we're treated to a couple of alternate shots of the TV showing images of snowplows during the newscast.

Great shot of Hallorann's face as he goes from bored disinterest into the grip of pure terror as the camera slowly zooms in. When the ambient music comes on, starting with the rhythmic heartbeat, many people assume he's having a heart attack (at least by those who've seen it for the first time).

The one odd aspect of the Room 237 scene is how strangely dream-like it is, moving in almost slow motion throughout the duration of it. And it seems, at first, you don't know from whose point of view it's from until we see Jack standing there in the doorway of the bathroom, actually looking a bit scared. Also great how it's simply just the music and images that carry this scene along, with no real dialogue.


 Another part of it that has always mystified me is the interconnection between Hallorann in the grip of fear in his room, and Danny sitting up in his bed, shaking, and with spittle hanging from his lips. Is Danny sending Dick a telepathic "message", or is he looking into Jack's mind while he's in the room, unwillingly seeing what he's seeing, and re-experiencing the gruesome encounter again?


This part was also shortened for the TV edit. As soon as she rises up from the bathtub, it cuts to Danny in his room, and when it cuts back to the bathroom, the two of them are already embracing.



We definitely know what happens here. Man, what a truly disturbing scene, and one that will never leave your memory, no matter how hard you try.


Back at the Torrance apartment, Wendy is completely distraught at the day's events. When she asks Jack if he saw anything in Room 237, I'm surprised he didn't seem as if he were caught in a lie, or looked a bit shook up himself after what he just went through. 

This section ends when Wendy asks about the bruises on Danny's neck.

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