Brilliant Overlook Hotel AD That Aired During The Oscars

“Come stay with us forever and ever.”

That was my favourite Oscars moment when a commercial aired featuring The Overlook Hotel from Stanley Kubrick‘s The Shining. It just made me happy to see the ad! I’m such a huge fan of the movie and watching an unexpected ad for the hotel invites you to enjoy a “quiet, remote family getaway” at the “newly renovated” property, where “there’s a surprise around every corner.” This is simply just clever.

The amusingly eerie scenes in the ad playoff main plot points from the movie, including a hotel maintenance guy wiping off the word “Redrum” off the door, a manager examining a door that was broken in by Jack with an axe, and a maid mopping up a bloody floor in front of the elevator. According to Adweek, the commercial was designed with original film footage from the Kubrick Estate, which “was supplemented with the performances of the hotel staff.”

The ad finishes up with the number (833) 888-0237. If you call that number you’ll spend six minutes on hold for the hotel with music and a recording of a person offering you details about the hotel. The recording ends with an invite to visit AcademyMuseum.org. Obviously, a lucky few will get to talk to a live person, “who will have lots of interesting things in store for you.”

The commercial was made for Academy Museum, which will open in 2019.

Welcome to the Overlook Hotel from The Academy on Vimeo.