The Shining
Danny ’s imaginary admirer Tony inThe Shiningis really someone surprising , as reveal not in the film , but inStephen King ’s original book . In Stanley Kubrick ’s iconic film adjustment , Danny Torrance refers to Tony as " a minuscule boy that live in my mouth , " and Tony evince vision to Danny of things that have chance and thing that will bump . Tony is sort of presented as Danny ’s way of draw himself through the various information he receives via his knock-down psychical abilities .
Late in the film , Tony seems to take over for Danny after the niggling boy is traumatized by his showdown with the woman in Room 237 , telling Wendy Torrance that her son is no longer present , and speaking in the weird guttural voice Danny used previously when talking as Tony . He eventually snap out of it , but for all intents and design , it appears that Tony was indeed imaginary , and just an excogitation of Danny ’s psyche to assist him make do .
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However , as with many aspects ofThe Shiningmovie , Tony ’s characterization is quite dissimilar than it was in King ’s classic novel . King ’s prose makes Tony ’s true nature quite clear , and it add an all new layer to an already very complex chronicle .
The Shining: Danny’s Imaginary Friend Tony Is Danny’s Future Self
Near the end of Stephen King’sThe Shiningbook , it ’s revealed that Tony is actuallyDanny Torrance ’s future adult self . It ’s also revealed that Danny ’s middle name is Anthony , explain why exactly Tony is call that . The reveal make a lot of sentience , as it ’s launch that Danny ’s " shining " world power allow him to see past and future event , and if that ’s the case , that would stand for that his future self might in fact be ship him visions of those future result back , in a sort of stable clip loop . The future Danny knows what need to happen for him to survive the Overlook , and facilitate that .
Notably , this reveal is n’t reflected at all in the recentDoctor Sleepmovie , which stays in line with the Stanley Kubrick version ofThe Shining . The plot point was adapted into the1997 miniseries remake ofThe Shiningthough , which was written and produce by King himself . Danny sees Tony as a individual , and in the final scene showing Danny ’s high school graduation , Danny is played by the actor who ’d previously been attend as Tony . Notably , this epilog shot was n’t regain in King ’s book , and really sees the ghost ofJack Torranceappear to Danny as he graduates , on the face of it now at peace .
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