Obfuscated View

The idea of “obfuscated view” is a part of The Maze device. Beyond an aesthetic choice, it’s a way of crafting the message that says “What I don’t show you is part of the puzzle”.

It’s done in literal examples- where the camera pans through the walls, or in No.11 as the camera pans on the block of black and white photos and a man vacuuming a red couch as Ullman is heard talking off screen about “this old place has had an illustrious past”.

Or it can be done in conceptual examples: Between No.6 and No.7 there’s the missing pieces of Danny receiving the messages from Tony, Wendy finding him and who this Dr. is.

Or about No.44 when Danny enters Room 237 and then we transition to Wendy in the Boiler Room.

In No.24, Wendy tells Jack “Guess we’ve been staying up too late”, yet Kubrick never includes scenes with Wendy and Jack having a good time and enjoying each other’s company. He shows them disconnected, but tells you they’ve had moments of connection.

In No.38, “Just like Halloran said, pictures in a book it isn’t real” This isn’t a line spoken in No.19

In No.47, Jack has no money in his wallet. In No.53, Jack has money but it’s not accepted because he’s so important.