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Room 237 is a documentary focusing on multiple theories about hidden messages within Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. The Shining, as everyone knows, is regarded as one of the greatest horror films of all time. And director Stanley Kubrick is well known for being a meticulous and calculating director, placing all kinds of hidden meanings within is work. So, this seems like it would be an interesting watch, right? Wrong.
Without as much as an introduction, we're blasted right into a handful of people's ridiculous interpretations of what Kubrick is "really trying to say" with The Shining. Which would be fine, if the theories weren't the most random, off-the-wall collection of insanity I've ever heard. Conjecture of the movie representing the slaughter of Native Americans, to the Holocaust, to hypothesizing that Kubrick helped NASA fake the moon landing footage, and this movie was nothing more than a vessel for him to reveal it to the audience through subtle clues, like it was just something he had to get off his chest.
It wouldn't be such a bad watch if there was some validity to what these people are saying. But most of it comes off as someone looking for meaning in every little tiny detail, that they miss the big picture. You know, the whole "see the forest through the trees," saying. I think. I've never really used the expression before. It just sounded right. Maybe I'll research everything there is to know about trees, forests, forest fires, Smokey the Bear, lions, tigers, bears, wizard of oz, witches, Halloween, paganism, mass religion in general, God, Gods, the universe, the big bang, the universe before the big bang, nothingness, and everything. Then I'll make a documentary about it. That's pretty much the thought process behind how these people came to their theories.
It's no secret that Kubrick was a brilliant filmmaker. And it's no secret that his films, The Shining especially, have more to them than meet the eye. But for these conspiracy theorists to think that an out of focus poster of a skier seen for a couple seconds is supposed to represent the image of a minotaur (I'm not joking), it unfortunately forces the viewer to just check themselves out of this documentary.
With that said, there are a couple kind of interesting tidbits that are unearthed and brought to the surface for examination. Like the idea that the movie can be watched backwards, overlayed onto the normal viewing of the film, creating some weird synchronicity and patterns. There are a few cool, kind of creepy moments that line up, but I'm guessing there's about another two hours of moments that nothing notable happens at all. There are also some cool little goofs (?) such as rug patterns not matching from scene to scene, or objects in the background mysteriously disappearing. The first instinct would be to blame them on continuity errors, and if the director was anyone other than Kubrick, that would be it; case closed. However, knowing what we know about him, there's no way he would've let these goofs make it through to the finished film. So did he put them in on purpose? Any why? Is the whole movie supposed to just be full of weird, nonsensical things that exist solely to drive the viewer mad when they try to search for meaning? Maybe. Makes more sense than a goddamn Minotaur. 
Overall, The Shining is a masterpiece of filmmaking, and I'm sure there are tons of hidden meanings. I'm also sure that there are several things Kubrick hints at, and likens to, without having to say that "This is really what the movie is about. The Genocide of the American Indians." Can't movies just have themes and allegories? Does everything have to be so literal? The people in this documentary have wasted there lives looking for meaning in this movie, when it's quite possible that it has been purposefully created to have no meaning; to just be a decent into madness with no way out. That would actually be kind of fitting for these folks. Enjoy your craziness, you obsessive bastards; can't say they didn't warn you.There's another quote that comes to mind; I think it has to do with Freud, looking for sexual meaning behind everything. Like bananas. Things like that. But sometimes, a banana is just a banana. Quit hoping for a penis! With a movie like this, the fun is in making your own interpretation. The more you study it, the more you can pick up, but to say that this is definitely what Kubrick was trying to say with the picture just makes you look like a crazy, penis-obsessed loon. Now go eat a banana and shut up.
*Okay- elephant in the room time- this is like the third movie I watched this month that wasn't technically a "horror movie." They all have ties or elements to the horror genre, but I'll agree, this wasn't really a horror flick. So, to make up for it, I wanted to call out to some great horror flicks currently on Netflix this month. If you're looking for some good, movies to check out on instant streaming for your Halloween enjoyment, here's a good place to start. If you're not, then I don't know why I'm even talking to you. Get lost. Go on, GIT!
Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn: Essential viewing in order to become a member of the Dave Tucker Friendship Alliance. The first movie is low-budget, but so ingenious in the camera work and cinematography. The second is the greatest slapstick-horror experience ever put to film. Bruce Campbell earns his title as the greatest horror actor of all time with this one, the the over-the-top nature just makes it such an entertaining, one-of-a-kind experience.
Cabin in the Woods: A clever deconstruction of the horror genre, making fun of all the genre tropes and doing so in an original manner. Crafted by Joss Whedon (I guess he's kind of a big deal on the internet), the movie shares his knack for clever dialogue without coming off "too-clever" as a lot of his work tends to be. Plus the end of the movie is a horror fanatics wet dream.
Troll 2: Proudly carrying the title of the Best Worst Movie ever made. Endlessly entertaining for all the wrong reasons, this terrible, terrible movie is one of the most enjoyable experiences you can have with a bunch of friends and a couple of beers. When I first saw it with some buddies, we turned around it and immediately watched it again the same day.
Fire in the Sky: One of the most terrifying horror movies from my childhood. "Based on actual events," this film follows the alien abduction of Travis Walton, and examines the legal drama that his friends were left in after his mysterious disappearance. The last fifteen minutes of this has the freakiest, most disturbing alien sequence I've ever seen. Seriously, this film scarred me for life when I saw it as a kid.
Killer Klowns From Outer Space: Come on, you know about this one. I'm not getting into it too much here, because I plan on reviewing it later this month. But you know what you're getting into with a title like this.
Human Centipede 1 and 2: Gross-out film-lovers need only apply. Although, I would argue the first film is a very well-crafted, disturbing suspense story, with ass loads of originality, and a truly original premise that is as horrifying as it is disgusting. It's also relatively tame (compared to the sequel), and most of the disgustingness is implied rather than shown. If you really want to ruin a nice evening, follow it up with the sequel, which delivers on all the grisly promises of the original, without a shred of shame or humility.
Re-Animator: A close contender for the same category that Evil Dead 2 holds the title. A brilliant, hilarious, horror film that acts as a modern (well, 80's) retelling of the Frankenstein formula. Jeffery Combs is brilliant as Dr. Herbert West, the titular Re-Animator, and if anyone could compete with Bruce Campbell for the King of slapstick horror, it's him. Extra points for being adapted from the legendary works of H.P. Lovecraft. I actually proposed to my wife while we watched this movie. So, take that as either a recommendation of the film, or an example of how weird I am.
The Host: Awesome Korean monster movie that isn't afraid to show the creature. Some of the best computer-generated effects, which is a rare feat, since most movie monsters work best in the shadows with a degree of practical effects to them. Tonally, kind of weird and all over the place, but it really is a cool, well-made movie. Give it a shot, it's got a great opening sequence where the monster first attacks. If you aren't sold by that, then I guess maybe monster movies aren't your cup of tea.
Hellraiser: Another classic. Author Clive Barker's first turn in the director's chair, adapting one of his earliest novels, The Hellbound Heart. And also cinema's first introduction to horror-icon Pinhead, or as he is credited in this film: Lead Cenobite. Great, grisly gory fun.
Creepshow 2: Another great anthology, adapted from a couple short stories by Stephen King, and helmed by George A. Romero. The first and last story are a little lame (so why am I recommending this?), but the middle segment is so amazingly badass, it could be it's own film. The Raft is about a couple of kids that swim out to a raft in the lake, only to be sequestered by a monstrous creature resembling a pool of black tar. Such a great segment. Worth watching just for this. (which is strange because most horror anthologies usually drag in the middle segment. A rare exception.)
Aftershock: Written and produced by Eli Roth (of the Hostel fame), this survival horror film follows a group of friends (also starring Roth) as they try to make their way out of an Earthquake ravaged city in Chile. The effects are a little Sci-Fi channel, but the film is dark and unforgiving. The direction isn't on par with Roth's own movies, like Hostel, but the spirit and premise is pretty similar. Worth watching because you have no idea what will happen next. And man, are the characters expendable.
Slither: A campy throw-back to old creature-feature films. This is a gross-out big budget shlock-fest brought to us by the folks that started their careers working on Troma films (the lowest-of the low budget (and brow) horror films in the industry). It's enjoyable and well made, with a pretty impressive cast, great gore and make up, and a lot of hilarious moments.
And lastly, if you have a lot of time on your hands this month, why not check out two amazing horror TV shows currently streaming on Netflix? The Walking Dead (anyone heard of this?) and American Horror Story. I really dug American Horror Story, because essentially, ever season is a stand-alone story, like having an original horror movie stretched out for 12 episodes. They have time to craft some really cool stuff, and there is so much cool, creepy style to it.
Well, that's all I've got for now. I'm sure there's a couple that I'm missing (and I'll probably kick myself for it when I stumble on them) but I feel like this is a pretty good smattering to get you started...
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