MovieChat Forums > The Shining (1980) Discussion > Was Jack possessed by The Hotel's ghostl...

Was Jack possessed by The Hotel's ghostly supernatural evil? Or did he become insane?

posted a year ago by TheMan18 (13052)
5 replies | jump to latest

And thus SPOILER - towards the end tried to kill his family? I think he did become insane but not quite possessed.

[–] Nanook (1960) a year ago

In the book, it's clearly the hotel bewitching/possessing Jack to kill Danny for his "shine."

Kubrick made that point much more ambiguous, except who/what let him out of the pantry?

[–] DoctorThirteen (14182) a year ago

I've never read the book, but in the movie it did seem open to interpretation.

[–] BKB (10075) a year ago

I'd say it's more the Ghosts caused him to lose his sanity

[–] fortrus (90) a year ago

i think it's both. He is being corrupted throughout the film by the hotel. Mostly insanity i guess.

Is it possessing him though? Possible.

[–] MeanKitty2022 (145) 8 months ago

He is in the picture at the end of the movie. So, the hotel and its "energy" was possessing and absorbing him.