Cabin Fever

 

I watch my share of horror podcasts and, of course, The Shining (1980) is brought up or mentioned from time to time. Topics emerge because the film, despite how you might feel about it, seems to generate discussion about any number of things. But I have noticed discussion on Jack Torrance before his family ever reached Overlook, with a particular scene involving Jack and son Danny in his and Wendy's "assigned bedroom", positing the opinion that sexual abuse is clearly a part of this family. While I can't really prescribe to sexual abuse myself -- I don't see that specifically when I watch it, while also acknowledging that the scene where Jack has Danny sit on his lap while discussing the stay at the hotel, how he feels about the hotel, whether or not he's sick, and how he would never hurt Danny is anything but a positive moment of affection -- I think it was very clear that Jack's disappointing career has driven him into a dark place he hides from those who hired him to maintain the Overlook during the winter until early summer. Now, what might be considered a problem with the film on Kubrick's part -- a month going by without us seeing the family -- is Jack's quick descent into this unbearable asshole raising his voice at his wife who just visits him for a friendly talk. When Wendy calls up the Forestry service of the area to check on weather conditions, she would love to talk to one of the officers for hours because it is clear her husband wants nothing to do with her. In fact, it doesn't look like he is even committed to the obligations of the maintenance and such of the hotel. We see Wendy checking on the boiler room and such. And throwing a ball around, looking at a model mock up of the hedge maze, staring outside a window as his mind appears to be overtaken by this type of possession, and found on the floor underneath his typewriter table having awakened from a very bad dream (perhaps the hotel showing Jack what he must do as "correction for bad behavior") would seem to provide us enough of an idea that for quite some time Jack has been unable to accomplish much of anything successfully. So all that is right there on the surface to draw from so Jack taking out all his frustrations on Wendy -- I also feel now that she is a reminder of yet another disappointment, a marriage he probably wishes never happened -- is no big surprise. It is hard to watch Jack just animated as he tears into his wife, just talking about something innocuous and trivial, telling her to get the fuck out of his sight, never to come around while he is typing, with Wendy clearly struck by his tone and meanness...there is no length of peace and tranquility in this marriage. If the hotel itself, or whatever presence of evil possibly occupies it, needed easier prey to galvanize, Jack was just the right candidate for the job...he seemed perfect for the job of adding more of a body count to the Overlook's infamy.