Room 237 (Rodney Ascher, 2012): USA

Reviewed by Jaclyn Marie Murdock. Reviewed at AFI Fest, Nov. 4th, 2012.

Room 237, is a documentary that explores the numerous (some a little too far off the deep end and others more easily believable) theories about the hidden meanings within Stanley Kubrick’s film The Shinning (1980). The film though it is over 30 years old continues to inspire debate, speculation, and mystery. Five very different analysts are interviewed on their opinions and theories about the deeper meanings to the film. These are illuminated through voice over, film clips, animation and dramatic reenactments. All the analysts together “draw the viewers into a new maze, one with endless detours and dead ends, many ways in, but no way out”.

The thing that makes Room 237 (based on The Shinning, which was adapted from a Stephen King novel), an amazingly entertaining film because of the fact that it is made entirely out film clips. There are no visual interviews of the analysts shown, only audio from them are used. Instead, everything the interviewees present in their analysis is illustrated through the use of movie clips, mostly from Kubrick films. For instance, when someone says they got a phone call, Ascher (the director of Room 237), utilizes a clip from Paths of Glory, of a telephone being picked up. And again, for example, Ascher uses a clip of Tom Cruise in the back seat of a car in  Eyes Wide Shut, when somebody says they were in the backseat. This sort of format was seen throughout the film, which at least for a film nerd me, made it a rewarding, outstanding and unique documentary.

Some of these theories are compelling and intriguing; film buffs will constantly be conjuring up exciting new thoughts about The Shining while watching this film. Other theories however, are entertainingly nuts and blur the lines of believability. Best of all, sometimes an interesting, smart theory suddenly gives way to a completely random and crazy idea that you could see potential in being something that Kubrick intentionally trying to get across. For example the theories that were discussed ranged from the idea that The Shining is actually about the Native American genocide to the belief that the film holds the key to unlocking the truth about Kubrick faking the Moon landing.

For those who like to get inside movies and throw around theories or ideas, this documentary with each intellectual turn a mystery, will not let you down. There is little in any classic Kubrick film that is accidental; every detail that is included in each frame has a distinctive meaning and a reason. Room 237 exposes this and so much more, that will leave you begging for more.