There are few great horror films with quite the level of universal recognition and influence asStanley Kubrick’sThe Shining. Thoughit’s famously despised by the original novel’s authorStephen King, the adaptation still holds a special place in the hearts of many viewers including first-time directorClarke Wolfe. The Collider alumni made her directorial debut withA Shining Example, a short film inspired by Kubrick’s classic that explores new themes like motherhood and toxic family dynamics through a similar lens. Wolfe makes sure totie it all back to Kubrick, but there are a few places where she went even further than the Oscar winner.
Collider’sPerri Nemiroffspoke with Wolfe atFantastic Fest2023 where she divulged the connections between her film and Kubrick’s and how she tried to bring more emotion into her project with her main character Aiden. Much of the film’s look, the director says, can be attributed tothe 1980 horror masterpieceand how Kubrick tackles visions, but the big difference is how Aiden is explored compared toJack Torrance (Jack Nicholson). Instead of a writer slowly being driven mad and violent as she tries to overcome her writer’s block at the shady Overlook Hotel, Aiden is a mother and television writer whose big break also threatens to unravel her. After putting her writing career on hold for her daughter, she finally has the chance to return to the television franchise that put her on the map, but the tight deadline and her toxic family dynamic with her feckless husband (Andy Cohen) leave her at a breaking point.
A Shining Examplepromises to really explore Aiden’s thought process and feelings toward her family and work before getting emotional as she breaks down:
“Yes. It was great. We found a lot of that in post. But in terms of the visions and getting inside Aiden’s head, a lot of that is through visual style. And of course, we replicated a lot, you know, a throwback to Stanley Kubrick’s imagery, which you will see when you see the short, and so on. So we knew that that was going to be a part of it. We were directly nodding at Stanley Kubrick’s film and the way he lets you inside of what’s going on. But then, of course, I think that there are moments that are more emotional, that hopefully you go a little deeper with Aiden versus maybe Jack.”
‘A Shining Example’ Is a Love Letter to Kubrick and King
There’s a lot of love in how Wolfepays homage to KubrickwithA Shining Exampleeven as she shares her own unique vision. It’s not just about the film, however. Wolfe also references King’s beloved novel, including the croquet mallet that Jack wields instead of his axe in the film’s iconic climax. She gave a lot of credit to production designerAlora CholetteandV/H/S/99editorThom Newellfor helping to bring everything together on screen in a way that honorsboth versions of the tale.
A Shining Examplestars Wolfe as Aiden alongside Cohen,Marnie McKendry, and co-writerDylan Guerra. The film made its world premiere at Fantastic Fest which ran from September 21 through 28. Check out the full interview with Wolfe below:
