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The Shining: WHO is Lloyd and Why did he show up?

Off The Dome

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Did The Shining secretly reveal Jack Torrance's fate much earlier than most fans realize? In this scene breakdown, I examine one of the film's most overlooked moments and ask whether a seemingly insignificant line actually changes the entire meaning of the story.

Who is Lloyd? Is he simply a ghost, a manifestation of Jack's mind, or did Jack Torrance actually sell his soul to the Overlook Hotel? I also compare the evidence from Doctor Sleep to see whether it supports this theory or completely changes how we should interpret The Shining.

If you enjoy movie analysis, hidden details, fan theories, ending explained videos, and deep dives into classic horror films, this breakdown is for you.

What do you think? Was this just a throwaway line, or did Stanley Kubrick intentionally leave a clue hiding in plain sight?

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20 Comments

@xlerb2286 3 months ago

Jack says he'd sell his soul for a drink and in the next scene a bartender and a fully stocked bar appear. Doesn't sound like a throwaway line to me.

@natpaulsen8793 3 months ago

I've always thought that Lloyd's appearance was the Overlook hearing Jack say he'd sell his soul for a drink and saying "We'll take you up on that."

@jillbergene-k1d 3 months ago

"You're the caretaker. You have always been the caretaker."

@henrykujawa4427 3 months ago

What I remember, the first time I saw the film, was, Jack walked into the bar, sat down, looked up, and there was Lloyd. And they talked. And talked. And talked. And this went on for some time, before I suddenly thought to myself... "Hey, wait a minute. There's NOBODY ELSE in the hotel!!!" THAT's how it hit me. I was so sucked into the story, that I completely forgot there was nobody there.

So... for much of the film, I wondered. Was Jack hallucinating? Was it all in his mind? UNTIL... he was locked in the freezer... and SOMEBODY unlocked he door from the outside. THAT was the moment, when, after so much build-up, so much suspense, so much uncertainly, that you KNEW... REALLY knew. Yes. The hotel WAS haunted. There WERE ghosts. And they wanted his family dead.

@ronsloan90 2 months ago

Lloyd was played perfectly…by Joe Turkel …and he also played Eldon Tyrell in Blade Runner…perfectly..such a good actor..

@FilmSchoolDad 3 months ago

I am fully committed to the theory that Loyd is actually Jack's projection. His own version of Tony. I believe Jack has The Shining, like his son Danny. And just as Danny uses Tony to conceptualize his understanding of his abilities, Loyd is a conduit for Jack to experience his own shine. He seems extremely familiar with Loyd - compared to how unfamiliar his is with Delbert Grady. Grady is initially referred to as "Jeevesy" until Jack asks his real name. Compare that to Loyd who is instantly recognized by Jack.

Great video. 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿

@littlechimpomine 2 months ago

I believe the "You're the best of them" bit is just the kind of grandiose, fawning blather that an alcoholic would use to stroke anyone handing out drinks. "Take it as a joke if it suits you, bartender, or take it as a plea, but pour generously."

@kestrel9000 2 months ago

I had a friend named Lloyd who told me about seeing the movie for the first time - on acid. "Hi, Lloyd!" I would have PAID to have seen that.

@jerseyforhawks 3 months ago

The interaction covered here is one of the most creepy scenes put to film.

@gregsmith7949 3 months ago

Kubrick is one of the only directors that has people saying "I've watched the film at least a hundred times" whether that film be 2001, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, or Eyes Wide Shut. He was a true master of filmmaking.

@StephenThrossel-t8w 3 months ago

Jack's dad appearing as the Lloyd character and revealing what was in his mind about the "mouths" was a forgotten scene for me. I'm so glad you highlighted it!

@MPJB73 2 months ago (edited)

AND.....at the 1920s Gold room gala event everyone also misses that when Grady accidentally on purpose crashes into Jack he takes him to get cleaned up in a totally then modern 1980 bathroom

@matthewclark5668 3 months ago

I've thought about these bar scenes a lot before seeing this video. I don't know who Lloyd is specifically, but I think he does speak for the entity that is the Overlook. I think the bar scenes in the Shining are Jack taking in the Overlook. I see it as an unholy communion. I don't know if that alcohol is actually there or not, but it really doesn't matter to Jack. When Jack drinks the alcohol, he's allowing the Overlook to enter him. The Overlook is satisfying Jack's urges by mimicking or actually giving him a drink. In return, Jack satisfies the Overlook's urges by becoming possessed and attacking his family.

@rgnyc 3 months ago

Even the first time I saw The Shining, I felt that Jack sold his soul to the devil — and that Lloyd was the devil. It has never entered my mind that anything else was likely, except for the possibility that Lloyd is a servant of the devil ("orders from the House" and "you're the best of all of them" from Jack).

@spacemissing 3 months ago

Lloyd is as real as a hallucination can be.
Jack has always been the caretaker, and therefore he is one of the supernatural denizens of the hotel.
He does not need to pay for his drink because it's comped.

@garethmcaleer7429 3 months ago

I think Loyd is simply the gateway between Jack and Alcohol. The overlook knows once Jack's on the drink he's puty in their hands.

@cinnamongirl5410 6 days ago (edited)

I thought this the first time I seen the movie. And still do. You're the first I've seen bring this up. I do wonder that many youtubers who have channels talking about these movies may skip around, or watch on increased speed, but not sit and watch it thru really. So they'd miss details like this.

@spaceclown7650 3 months ago

I've heard a theory that Jack's money was "no good here" because it was money from Jack's time (1980) and the party was occurring in the 1920s. I agree about the devil theory. Lloyd reminds me of the Devil (or at least "a" devil) because he appears right after Jack says he'd sell his soul. I always got that impression too. An infernal contract.

Notice also how Jack's drink of choice was always Jack Daniels (for Jack and Danny).

@lorrainebeauregard2210 2 months ago

The final scene in the movie was a black and white photograph with the caption “Overlook Hotel July 4th Ball 1921. Jack was always the Caretaker at the Overlook. I believe with each incarnation of him returning to the Overlook, he remembers his association with the hotel and its staff.

@rockfan1969 3 months ago

The Shining is one of my all-time favorite films. I've often thought that Jack saying he'd sell his soul had a connection to Lloyd showing up. Thanks for your thoughts!