Darkness as a metaphor
Kubrick uses an overarching color palette to transition Jack from “normal individual” to murdering psychopath and he sets it up in the first shot. The reflection from No.2 from right to left is Neutrals to Black and White. Jack in neutrals & green and slowly evolving to dark saturated palette of reds and deep blues, connecting him with the black and white photo at the last shot.
Kubrick even has Jack coming out of the black and white photos/shadow space to confront Wendy in No.64
Compare how the characters are styled within Closing Day to the 4PM chapter.
This connects with Kubrick as The Unreliable Narrator, The Maze Device, and using Color saturation to speak to emotional intensity.
Reflections from Right- Left focus on color: Neutrals & Naturals to Black & White.
color: transition from neutrals - dark black,
dark/black: No.33, No.90, No.91}
In this image · No.2
Light to darkness reflects the film’s movement from daytime into night. Literal and conceptual darkness also connect the Incident and the recurring trauma and abuse.