No.81
Jack chases Danny into The Hedge Maze through a hallway we’ve seen— but have no idea where it’s connected to.
American History/Culture:
Native American children portraits:
Coupled with the portrait of the dog and the result of being hunted (in the pheasant centerpieces), the portraits of Native American children stand for those children who have been hunted, much like Danny, but because their nationality made them “the enemy”.
*It is important to note that the depiction of these Native American children is in a westernized /idealized style and lens. It is not in the Indigenous or a natural style- like the loons painting is.
Domestic abuse:
This scene is a clear instance of Play vs. Harm, in that if Jack wasn’t trying to kill Danny, it COULD HAVE BEEN a version of Hide and Seek.
The Maze:
Kubrick as Unreliable Narrator:
When you have a scene repetition, there is ‘a next level’ application happening.
In A66, Wendy discovers how far Jack has gone to sabotage them into staying. Here, the viewers see how far Jack is willing to go to ’secure his place’.
Spatial Reflection / Amalgamated Space
There are references amongst the hallway that reference other moments in the hotel and their development.
Loons chasing yellow sun: A5:i110
Connecting Jack getting the job with completing the action of killing Danny.
Native American children portraits:
These have been shown recently: they line the hallways outside of the West Wing Living Quarters AND the hallway as Wendy runs upstairs (No.80)
*It is important to note that the depiction of these Native American children is in a westernized /idealized style and lens. It is not in the Indigenous or a natural style- like the loons painting is.
Dog portrait:
Shown as Jack stares down a hallway of streamers and balloons, A51:I1051
Pheasant Centerpieces:
Shown as Jack stares down a hallway of streamers and balloons, A51:I1051
A note: Both the dog portrait + the pheasant feathers speak to predator + prey.
The Native American children and The Elevator speak to metaphorical/conceptual predator + prey.
Native American blanket:
The blanket between the dog portrait + the pheasant centerpiece is the same blanket that we’ll see as blood pours from the elevator.
A red and black version of this same blanket will be seen in the final sequence.
Light as Awareness:
Danny knowingly leads Jack into The Maze.
Danny as Prey:
Having camera switching to Danny’s feet as he runs through the maze furthers the symbol that Danny is “prey”.
A4:i100,
Bugs bunny on shirt
A16—D:i415
“He looks like a Doc, doesn’t it? EH WHAT’S UP DOC?”
A48:i929
rabbit illustrations
Colors:
Red & Black:
The banding that lines the whole hallway is red and black— much like the surrounding banding around Halloran’s death.
The Elevator to the left is red and black
The Native American blanket in the far background is Red + Black— the pattern is the same as the outside of the bathroom in The Gold Room (No.53), and No.91.
Ghost Story:
Jack is fulfilling his promise made in No.53, No.69.
Cabin Fever:
Jack is fulfilling his promise made in No.53, No.69.
The camera is positioned to see Jack walk towards it— crossing across many black and red colored spaces. Jack crosses into the next space to exit, turns the lights on, and chases after Danny much like No.79.
The camera switches from following Danny’s back to having Jack face the camera as it backs away.
Eventually the camera will switch to Danny’s feet as he runs, furthering the symbol that Danny is “prey”.
The Exit Hallway
No.66
The Hotel Exterior
No.14, No.26, No.33
Jack
Danny
Wind, more eerie whispering as Jack looks outside.
As Jack and Danny enter the maze, we’ve got Kanon For Orchestra and Tape — same as No.72 and No.84