8 Obscure Background Movie Clues That Explained Everything

1. Everything Is A Clue - The Shining

Taken at face value The Shining is the story of a crazy, violent man who takes his family to an isolated hotel where he proceeds to become crazy and violent (shocker), either because he has no beer (not a Simpsons reference - that's genuinely part of the film) or general ghost meddling, with an odd subplot about a psychic son. Then at the end he somehow ends up assimilated into the hotel's past, because reasons. It's a chilling film, one that uses constant foreboding to build up an increasingly oppressive tension, but pinning down the point of it all (and because this is Stanley Kubrick there's definitely a bigger point) is tricky. Although naturally, again because this is a Kubrick film, there's clues to that bigger picture hidden in the background (and pure composition) of each frame.

The Overlook Hotel is absolutely littered with Native American iconography, from the tapestries hanging in the main room to a specific brand of baking powder in the fridge, and is even built on an "Ancient Indian Burial Ground". Contrast that with the more overt hints at the general weirdness of the hotel (skiing adverts for a resort with no skiing) and you're left with a film all about the appropriation and decimation of persons and culture (kinda ironic given how much Stephen King hated this adaptation of his book). That is, of course, one reading, but shows how so much of the film is hidden in the little scenery choices.

Naturally some people have taken it all rather far, with the documentary Room 237 not only highlighting the Native American theory, but also some more bonkers ones about it being Kubrick's confession for faking the moon landings and him superimposing his face into the opening credits for no discernible reason. Hmm... maybe it is possible to read too much into a film.

Which other films have major clues hidden in the background? Share any more down in the comments.