Stephen King (author of The Shining) was smart enough to know that children can sometimes be downright creepy. Anyone can tell you that kids are sensitive to stuff that adults aren't, but King uses this same idea to suggest that kids have access to bad knowledge that adults don't. So much for the whole "Kids are innocent" thing.
If anything, this movie suggests that adults are more naïve than kids when it comes to some of the darkest parts of the human mind. Just ask Danny's "friend" Tony and see how he answers—he answers with an elevator full of blood.
Questions about Youth
- When did Danny first start talking to Tony? What do you think provoked him to develop this new relationship?
- Why do you think Danny sees the scary hotel visions before either of his parents do? Is it just because he's a kid? Why or why not?
- Do you think Jack is an abusive father (you know, before the whole axe murdering spree)? Why or why not?
Chew on This
In The Shining, we learn that children aren't nearly as innocent as we like to think. If anything, their minds are much darker than those of adults.
The Shining reminds us that as we get older, we lose touch with our surroundings while kids remain super sensitive to them.