100% I think this is it. I believe that why she's crying at the end but stone cold in the last scene. She understands what's going to happen to their daughter because it happened to her first. Crazy to watch the movie with this in mind, but it works in every scene. Also, any time Alice is alone she acts differently.
maybe her telling him about that "dream" or what she thought about the marine is a way to test how he would feel about other men around her in those parties?
@revelation20232 only if you believe membership in a cult is higher on the social structure. Many people would argue the sex perverts are lower in status.
Kubrick's genius always was to show show us ourselves without realizing it. Paths of Glory. Clockwork Orange. 2001. Barry Lyndon. Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut are all him showing us a mirror of ourselves in way way or another. War. Freedom of Choice. Intelligence. Society.
And the Rothschild’s. Who it turns out Epstein represented. By the way - Rothschild translates into “Red Shield” which is essentially the same as Red Cloak.
I think Alice recognized Nightingale at Zeigler's party. Notice how she looks a little anxious when Bill suggests they go talk to him. She comes up with an excuse to go to the restroom instead and immediately grabs a glass of champagne and gulps it down. Her face seems to say, "here we go."
I’ve noticed this before as well. I’m like, why is she acting so weird when he points out Nick? She gets all antsy and does a beeline for the bar. It does seem to suggest some pretext which Kubrick loves to do. He puts in things that “could”;imply this or that but he avoids over explaining. The amount of symbolism, literary references inhis films is crazy. It is all intentional and thought out by the maiestro.
@victoryak86That's what I like about his films, he will (subtlely) show you but not tell you what's going on. It's up to us to catch his references, details and symbols used to add many layers to the surface story.
Mandy "had many important friends in the fashion and entertainment world" is repeated in the article about her death. Makes me think Kubrick was sending a message.
That actress is as close to Angie Everheart as I've ever seen. She was _huge_ in the modeling world of the 1990s. There's footage out there of Angie promoting this scheme some sleezy NY real estate agents and brokers started up where they'd entice buyers to view homes for sale by having them shown by models/former models. They'd get models their real estate license so prospective buyers would think they'd get close to the women and have a chance at dating or hooking up with them. The whole thing was very slimy, using them as bate.
So. Would. I. So would I. I wish he lived. Selfishly, I want his final version of the film. I want his version of "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" which he was developing with Spielberg, who completed the project for him post humorously. I would loved to have seen his Napoleon, even though I am one of the 5 people in the world who actually do like Ridley Scott's version.
@FilmSchoolDadone take could be that she was indeed brought in the cult, abused, and has had ever since a cloudy memory of it. It resurfaces unde the form of a nightmare later, like a ptsd repressed memory as victims of s.a experience. It also gives an explanation as to why she seems anxious seeing Nightingale. Now why does she agree to give her child at the end ? Weird if we take into account the deleted scenes showcased to the projector man in charge of the 1st private screening show the infamous sexual, child brutal rituals.
The girl whispered to Bill: You'll need an ermine cloak, indicating that she has been to these parties and knows what they wear. Also: from the opening shot to the symbolism in the final scene, and so much in between (including Alice brushing Helena's hair, literally grooming her), it is clear in my eyes and many others' that Alice not only is behind the entire thing, she's the high priestess.
I realized she must be one of them when I made the connection between her dress removal in the first shot and the girls in the circle making the exact same move to remove their robes. Kubrick knew exactly what he was doing.
Minich daughter whispers "you should have a coat lined with ermine". Its a sign of royalty and shows she also knows what type of party Bill is going to.
Interesting, for me I thought her lips kinda looked like she was saying “the second password is ___”. Idk tho it kinda makes sense when Ziegler tells Bill that “ it wasn’t because you didn’t know it”
I've always wanted to know what she said! This is very cool. I do appreciate that Kubrick keeps it from us, and it's just for them, but the added context makes a lot of sense. The Milich's are definitely in on it.
Zeigler also notes there is no second password. But in truth, there's not even a first. Technically...Everyone there knows each other and Fidelio just gives Bill the confidence to go. They were expecting him. (I think!)
I agree. I have a theory that Alice knows The Hungarian at the party and they're pretending NOT to know each other to further push the taboo boundary they are crossing by flirting in the open at the party.
@FilmSchoolDad I see that, absolutely! @ 16:56 there on the wall, is the partial view of a phone number... what is visible, of that phone number, is "5-31-11".. ..on that day, the Titanic launched, without a traditional champagne bottle ceremony, and we know what happened regarding that particular voyage. Left Belfast, Ireland on that day. 5-31-11. Is both reasonable and crazy at the same time to think this means something, but I leave nothing to the latter due to the sheer undeniable genius of Kubrick. The letter in the envelope.. ....what if anything, do You think it said differently pre-scrubbing? I always wonder if the letter said something that was maybe ultra specific and basically would expose a real life individual or group.. but maybe in a nuance way that none of us would understand, and breeze over, but to the actual real life villains, they see it and go " woah,woah, no we cant have him read that in a letter, that hits too close to home, oh no.."
@FilmSchoolDad and she gets mad that he pushes the boundary a little too hard. she needed to go and he started begging like every other man. god id do hard time to be able to see his true full movie
That music was stuck in my head, so I went back to check the track and realized it was Tamil. The version used in the movie had lyrics like, “Is it love or is it hell?” But when I searched for Jocelyn Pook’s track on RUclips, I found a completely different version in Sanskrit. Those lines are actually from the Bhagavad Gita. “Paritrāṇāya sādhūnām vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām, dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge.” English Meaning “For the protection of the righteous, for the destruction of the wicked, and for the establishment of dharma, I manifest Myself age after age.”
There's a whole power dynamic shift when you have a dr come to you vs you going to the office. He def is potential and making housecalls is really the first test
@kestrel1234 This was my take. It is a small hotel where he notices every guest. He's been working long hours he's tired and just looking to chat with an attractive male. Probably high s a kite too.
Did anyone else notice, that the daughter Helena is wearing the same princess dress , That the Barbie doll is wearing? That Nicole Kidman let them kidnap her by the 2 men.
@FilmSchoolDad It's going to take several viewings for you to see all the details Kubrick placed in EWS. You're just seeing the tip of the iceberg. Also, look into the theory that EWS is the initiation of Bill through the 33 degrees of Scottish Rite Freemasonry from the beginning to the end of the film. Red Cloak sits on a chair with the double-headed eagle wearing a crown when Bill is confronted at the mansion. That's an obvious reference to Freemasonry. Kubrick researched secret societies and the occult while in pre-production, and it shows to those with eyes to see.
There's also a stuffed bear with an erection in one shot that has a doll on his lap in the next. As we all know, in Kubrick's films bears are symbols of childhood sexual abuse....
The actress who played Mandy confirmed in an interview that it was her character's body in the morgue, and she described how cold the morgue stretcher was and how she held her breath for the close-ups with Tom Cruise. That said, your theory is intriguing. Oh, and Alice was probably in on the whole thing
Thanks for the info about her interview. I was unaware about it, but even knowing I find the situation still dire for Bill. In the end, the scenario is bad for him either way. If it's Domino, the cult is sending Bill a message- and if it's Mandy, they're ending an even bigger message. I guess the question is this: is the masked ball all a rouse to manipulate Bill? If yes, then it's Domino, to be a body - If it's REAL, than it is Mandy, and they actually Killed her for taking Bill's place and "redeeming" him. Either way it's wild. And yes ALICE.... I'm thinking about making a video all about how she really is in on the whole thing.
@FilmSchoolDad My theory has always been that it was indeed Amanda at the morgue and that she sacrificed herself to "redeem" herself because he attended to her when she overdosed. In that regard I believe the overdose was real and not staged and she simply returned the favor of saving his life.
@FilmSchoolDadIronic because Cruise, IRL, is damn near running the cult that pulled him back in after he tried to leave. I digressed. Dr. Bill IS in dire straights and so is his family either by dumb bad luck or by design
Also can't be coincidence he was bumped into a Mercedes. The car that matches Bill's social class and the preferred luxury brand for older drivers. The Yale students walked past a BMW right before they bump Bill, also a luxury car that is promoted to younger drivers with money. The bump into Bill is almost a hit and run type of event.
Alice is a Honeypot. Ex trafficking victim turned asset. They were testing bill because the cult needs a doctor to be in on it. For the obvious medical emergency that must happen in these orgies. Zeigler suggested Bill. They were indeed testing him. But because he failed to keep the secret and told Alice about it., they punished them by taking their daugther to be part of that endless cycle again. Proof to me is the mask on the bed. Alice had to put it there. Someone told her about it. If she had found it naturally she would have confronted bill right away instead of hidding the mask putting the bag back and wait for the right moment to confront him while she s asleep. makes no sens. And theres no way someone ninja his way inside the apt to put the mask there. It was the final test. See if bill would keep the secret. he didnt. So they took the daugther. I also belive the mask man nodding is Zeigler. As for red cload i beleive its the man bringing the letter. Theres a physical ressemblance on purpose here. i think it says i dont even have to hide, i am untouchable. Hes not a butler because he's got his own driver and is in a luxury car. I think he is the owner of the house and head of cult. its almost to say how theres 2 lives. the night one and the day one where these people interact like nothing happened the night before.
I thought the balcony guy was the same as the letter giver. The eyes are very similar. I have to rewatch again though because I read a comment that says zeigler has a three pointed mask painting in the pool table scene.
Tom Cruise breaks down to his wife He doesn’t break down at the party. He doesn’t break down when people die. He breaks down to his master She is the reason he is initiated into the cult Tom Cruise is shown true love at least twice in this movie and neither time I from his wife The one where the lady dies for him and the other one where she professes his love before he goes to the party, which seems like a cry to save him She pleased to him with an urgency which is concealed as emotional disturbance from the death of her father But it appears as if people die in the real world just so happened to coincidentally lineup with the initiation process
I think you actually have it backwards. My general take on Dr. Bill is that, though a young, handsome successful professional, he is merely a servant of the upper/ruling class(es). Though more aware and intelligent than most, he is still utterly clueless as to the workings of the class(es) above his own. Back in 1999, depicting this was in and of itself a revelation. Most "normies" saw someone like Dr. Bill as a member of the ruling class. There is no intention to recruit him, just to use him appropriately (as long as he continues to act "professionally") . If they're interested in his wife and/or daughter, they'll simply find a way to take them (and there's nothing Dr. Bill can do about it).
The more we rewatch this, the more we’re convinced that the young Alice was once like her daughter Helena, being groomed for the Secret Society. 🤷♂️ IJS
One of my favorite Easter eggs in the film is the fact that “Rainbow Fashions” is directly across the street from the Sonata Cafe where he saw Nick and found out about the party. In the scene where he’s talking to Millitch through the door, you see the reflection of the Sonata and Gillespie Diner. But he took a taxi to get there after talking to Nick. Some say this was an error by the director but we know better. He would never make an error like this and the reflection is very intentionally displayed. Maybe it lends itself to the dream theory of Bills escapades.
@FilmSchoolDad i do too ! i feel like it'd be a the same kind of mechanic then right? for EWS, it's a marker of a something like a dream world and for the shining, a place with an impossible (stacked? for lack of better term) timeline to be seeing past residents and ghosts?
@F@FilmSchoolDadah when the camera is facing Dr Bill through the window from Millitch’s perspective behind him and to the left is Gillespie diner and t he jazz club. I didn’t notice this either but someone had pointed it out.
I like both movies. What I like about ninth gate is how it has a kind of lighthearted take on everything. Many comical moments in my opinion. But still nefarious.
To be fair. Scientology was very manipulative and new at the time. Plus the went above and beyond for cruise to be pandered too. He got brainwashed and showered with praise. And things in his life do seem to go well. His career. His fame. These are things they tell you come “because” you joined. Whether or not he would have accomplished it on his own or not. Scientology got their talons in deep while he was going through public divorce Like any church If you are vulnerable. You are the easiest to catch
For me the story is so open that anything could mean anything so anyone can be right or wrong. These movies drive me crazy as we will never get any answers
Watch from the perspective that Alice is already in on it from the start and Bill is the mark the entire way. The goal is to test him, manipulate him and lead him to the 2nd party, every step of the way. "do you know anyone here" "not a soul" Now Bill is prompted to look around and he sees Nick Nightingale. Without Nightingale there is no 2nd party, there is no ritual initiation. When Alice leaves she immediately chugs a glass of champagne with a look on her face that clearly reads, the show has begun and she is the main character. Every time Bill is about to kiss another woman *RING, RING* it is Alice calling. Just a random coincidence that happens to him with Marion and with Domino as well? No chance. Kidman is in on it the entire way, the 2nd party was all about Bill the entire time, the rainbow costume shop owners teen daughter being trafficked to 2 wealthy Asians, also he offered her to Bill, her knowing what type of coat to wear to the mansion tells us she has been there before. The mask on the pillow? That was Alice, she was testing Bill to see if he would "tell her everything" Just as red cloak told him NOT to do. Looking back and viewing it as Alice leading a long con, everyone he runs into is another mind manipulation tactic and she is the high priestess of his initiation, it is one of the greatest acting roles of all time by Kidman. Easily should have won her Best Actress, but the film was marketed as a sexy drama about fidelity and a sort of mid-life marriage crisis, and in that sense Kidmans performance was a bit run of the mill from the context the media and the studios marketed the film as back in 2000.
Agreed. She has tennis rackets in her dressing room (Ziegler) Stanley used tennis to signify child s. a. in the Shining. He insisted it be Nicole + Tom and when he couldn't get them he put the entire thing on hold for a year until schedules allowed. Her father a known pdf file ring leader, for certain shes been subjected to it before. Ever notice the deceased man he makes a house call to has a mask in his room, his daughter who throws herself at the doc even though shes supposedly "engaged" is named Marion (Ghislaine Maxwell's middle name) Her "fiance" is disheveled/unappealing/greasy doofus kinda character. He's a teacher (in New York) going to Michigan. Jeffrey Epstien was a teacher. In New York. Connected to extremely wealthy people. He went to Michigan, his first documented case is in Michigan. He donated a ton of $$$ to Interlochen around that time. Both - Epstien in real life + character in the movie are math teachers. Lee Lee Sobieski who was 15 at the time has been quoted saying its main reason she left the industry soon after, cause its a documentary
I totally agree that the marketing for this movie was completely off base. Selling it as a soft core film made with movie stars was done to put off the normies. Most people think the orgy scene is sexy, but the point is it's completely cold. It's not about sex, the movie is about control. And yeah, by the end of my review I felt like Alice is completely the one leading him down the rabbit hole.
@FilmSchoolDad heeheeheee wink wink.... no such thing as coinkydinks when it comes to the Master Stanley K 💕 edit: Hey did you know that Stanley did all of the masks first? years in advance. He was instrumental in thier designs, had professionals in Venice do them, there's a Soros, a Trump, a Clinton etc
A few things. There’s a white tux in the costume shop next to the entrance that is the same one Nightingale wears to the mask party. It adds credence to the idea that he (amongst others) was in on it. I think also that Bill was the one being tested and that Alice had been previously initiated. Bill’s journey would not have happened without her involvement in shaping his mindset and pushing him towards the cult’s influence and she seemed unsurprised by everything that went on. I also think that Bill ultimately fails to ingratiate himself into the cult due to as you said his lack of confidence and willingness to take what he wants. I think that this is what leads to him and Alice giving up their daughter at the end in exchange for their lives and silence. The cult showed it was willing to protect their secret and Bill would have been a credible witness due to his status in society. Lastly in the final scene their daughter picks up a Barbie doll and behind it is a Marilyn Monroe doll in a red dress above a box with an upside down five pointed star. I need to rewatch this movie and see what I catch. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen it.
The arrangement of the mannequins in the costume shop changes. Focus on the background while Cruise and Milich are talking. Recommend checking out the “letter theory” videos on YT. It’s known that a portion of the movie was removed. Kubrick was overheard yelling behind a closed door at studio execs that he had full authority and he didn’t want to cut the scenes that they wanted cut. It’s believed that around 20 minutes was cut. The letter theory is that the letter given to Cruise was altered and the original was much more threatening with the loss of their daughter.
@m@modinatmosunmolaadekunle6949's currently free to watch (with ads) on TUBI, however I really recommend the Criterion 4K if you're into physical media, it's an incredible restoration.
Her details are very interesting. She was replaced in many scenes, some because she was conveniently hurt, and some others she doesn't know why. I feel the other person may have filmed stuff that ended up cut. It's interesting 🤔 Something else... She when you beeing dubbed by someone with her similar voice and same accent, so she doesn't know why. Better choice acting? The voice actor had been kept secret for many years, until recently we found out it was Cate Blanchett 🧐
No she had constant issues with Kubrick and his assistant based on an interview she gave. It sounds like she overplayed her 15 minutes of fame and became too demanding.
@ThalanXyeah she said that he wanted her to come into his trailer early AM after they had already been working & she was trying to get rested & ready for the next day. She said he wanted her to come test “g-strings” so she refused then they replaced her
It's interesting to me that Bill seems to find it confusing when a woman isn't impressed by his doctor credentials. The coffee shop server wasn't particularly interested in him.
Yes! The waitress could care less. Milich too. Cruise uses his doctors license the way the FBI does in movies. It's pretty funny. He's constantly like "I'm a doctor".
Presumably his physical attractiveness would be a much more relevant detail and "worth" way more to anyone who would want to extract something specific from him. Male attractiveness is very much misunderstood imo. There's a lot of doctors. There are few men with Cruise's level of facial attractiveness.
@bentonja668it's an important plot point. Bill is ascending to a social circle that isn't his. Being a successful NY doctor is what grants him entry to this circle, so he feels the need to keep reasserting himself. The novella also has that, Fridolin is Jewish and his status as a doctor is what gives him his social status.
27:27 DUDE!!!! you are the only other person besides me who thinks that it was Dominoes body in the morgue and not Mandi!!!! The faces don't even look the same hahaha
But it was the actress who played Mandy. I’ve heard an interview with the actress talking about this scene and warming up the gurney she was on. She spoke about it extensively. However it is a clever theory esp as we don’t know what happened to Domino.
The scene where he is followed is the reverse of a scene in The First Deadly Sin with Frank Sinatra. In that scene, the POV is from the follower. Sinatra is following a younger man at night through NYC. It's Christmas and they even go through a similar restaurant.
The wife is already part of the cult. She’s a plant. Look at all the main women… wife, Mandy, domino, the girl in the costume store and the daughter… all red heads. It a spectrum of involvement. The wife was raised in the cult (her memories are repressed or manufactured), Mandy and domino and the girl are employees/operatives and the daughter is the next generation.
Some things we agree on. Sandro not Zeigler, is red cloak. Zeugler is a thug but that wasn’t him in the mask who nodded. That was Marion’s husband. And she was beside him. She was attracted to Bill cuz he looks like her husband. Ppl say she didn’t know Bill & seemed weird but I argue she knew him at a distance cuz the cult was watching Bill. The cult wanted Bill. Alice was already in the cult. She was the high priestess or at some time the high priestess-she was also Bill’s handler. I also believe Helena wasn’t Bill’s daughter but was Sandor’s (red cloak)- he’s too familiar/ too comfortable with Alice- lets you know he had her before- even claimed her drink- he made that inside home calling Bill Ovid- cuz he knew the outcome of Bill’s journey. It started out as a sex ritual but morphed into a humiliation ritual. They controlled/steered everything. Nightingale was an initiate himself. The blindfold is part of a Masonic ritual- the name escapes me but yeah- he was too forthcoming- all the women with red hair were about sex. Alice -a sacred prositute and Domino-a low class working girl. Alice/the cult knew Bill was at Domino’s-her sexual status,hence the phone call to stop him. Domino’s roommate & Sandor share similar traits- calm yet aggressive. Oh yeah, abelean Ali has red hair- we know she is later taken into the cult- passed off by Alice- cuz it happened to her. Alice distracts and leads Bill throughout the toy store. When Bill told her everything, Alice was crying because he wasn’t supposed to say anything, not even to her and by doing so, they had to give up their daughter. This movie was about access.
I hadn't noticed the connection between red hair and women possibly attached to the cult. Makes sense as Red is the color of lust. Interesting thought that Alice's daughter may not be Bill's. Of all the consummation in the film Bill is constantly unable to perform for a variety of reasons.
They do sound different but - He's 100% mic's up to the soundsystem. He's incredibly loud and the entire congregation can hear him. Would be easy to drop a voice changer on, which is my suspicion.
"When Bill told her everything, Alice was crying because he wasn’t supposed to say anything, not even to her and by doing so, they had to give up their daughter." interesting idea, but there's also a scene where Alice tells her daughter that a richer man is more powerful than a man who is not as rich, so she was already being groomed to defer to rich men by her mother.
Great video. I loved your hypothesis about the Hungarian being Red Cloak. Another detail, I don't know if most people mention this, is that "Fidelio" is Ludwig van Beethoven's sole opera he ever composed, and the story is about a wife (Leonore) that rescues his husband (Fidelio) from prison and probably death.
@FilmSchoolDad say, could the masked Mandy at the ball be (Alice) Nicole Kidman? I always thought that. They have the same build and height.. maybe hair color.
@TheRealLeahFarley Except the accent is completely different. There is something in the newspaper article about a model girlfriend of a fashion mogul found dead from an overdose. To pin it to reality, Victor is Epstein and Redcloak is Les Wexner. Before covid came along and cloaked the epstein scandal, it was obvious that Les Wexner was above epstein in the procurement scene.
This is very good, and goes to the heart of the picture. The initiation is the key point, and links to several other initiation pictures like eye of the devil, the magus, the game, and the conspiracy 2012. Even Rear Window. Actually through Tom Cruise , WE are the initiate. And as far as Alice being 'in on it', her question 'why do you think we get invited to these parties?', it's actually testing his understanding of the situation, because she knows why....
"Why do you think we get invited to these parties?" - yes! You're spot on. I didn't think of that. That's perfect and just adds to the proof that she is definitely a part of it.
@MH3GL hi Rear Window, as an abstract idea, shows a man on the brink of marriage and presents him with a 'theater of possible outcomes'...he could end up lonely, popular, worn out or, worse, wind up plotting to end his wife. Thelma Ritter acts as a guide through his initiation into marriage, which means breaking his other leg. Now he ain't goin anywhere. EWS also presents the inductee with a catalog of versions of his wife. Cheers
@DennisMHenderson No. The Milijch storyline in the film is completely autonomous, at the same time being a very strong thread. I have the feeling that they cut the scenes connect Milijch and his daughter with the elite during the party and orgy.
Dr. Bill Hartford was being "TAPPED". It's levels to these secret orders ! @4:15 zeigler slams the "que ball" against a "red table". Similar to how "red cloak" slammed the staff in the ritual. 👁️
16:20 there is a pizza box on the table in this scene, we all know what pizza means to the elites… There’s also a pizza box under all the presents in Dominoes apartment. Even the name domino is a pizza reference.
Well, to be fair, I think the surface level viewing of the movie leads one to believe that Bill was scared away from further investigating into the cult. Some people still think the movie is strictly about masculinity and relationships. (But I'm obviously with you in thinking the whole things an initiation)
I saw a interview with the girl that played Mandy and she did say that was her in the morgue she said she had to have this white look of her laying on that cold table she said was tough because she had to hold her breath and she said it was so tough to do
In light of the Epstein files, this movie is maybe not so far into the world of fiction 11:02 looks like the end of 2001. What about the theory Alice is an operator for the cult, bringing Bill in? 13:00 I think Domino was killed because she failed to bring Bill in. Also, note the teardrop painted on some of the masks, I think this is similar to prison tats for kills.
I think the amount of film that was cut and edited after Kubrick's death makes it impossible to know. There are scripts and rewrites of the film online, and nowhere does it mention Alice knowing anything. The missing voice-over alone could've rewritten the entire meaning of the film. There are images of the family on a boat, which could be a game-changing scene. We have no idea. Eg, if you edited out the last 10 minutes of Korean film 'A Tale of Two Sisters', and watched it, you would have absolutely no idea what the film was about. Small edits can completely rewrite the film. The ultimate meaning of EWS went to the grave with Kubrick, unfortunately.
0:58 I’ve heard many times the studio (or someone else) removed 20-30 minutes from Eyes Wide Shut. There are many people that would love to see what was left out.
There's an entire narration left out. Script can be found online. Possible cut by Kubrick himself, but I'm sure there's some missing footage as well. I heard 19 min possibly.
It's worth noting that Kidman's father, who was accused of pedophilia, died in Singapore under mysterious circumstances. VERY mysterious circumstances...
Thank you! And yes, I think I should dive deeper into Kubrick's other films too. Dr. Strangelove is a movie I'm well overdue to rewatch. Back in Film School I watched it over and over again, but I think today in 2026 - it probably is time to revisit and review. I bet I would see it in an entirely different light.
That is really cool of you to say. Thank you. I put a lot of work into this theory and your comment is really gratifying. I'm glad you liked the video. And yes these days these things are very interesting.
Of course , these cults have existed from the dawn of civilization among the uppermost achelon of power and wealth Circle of every society and Epstein was an unqualified, indiscreet member .
Just realised Domino's purple dress and jacket mirrors the purple cloaks worn by the figures standing to the right and left of Red Cloak. Proof she is a member?
16:35 Doesn't Milich's daughter whisper "You should get a cloak lined with ermine" in Bill's ear? At least that's what appears in the film's subtitles.
Alice will have been groomed into it from when she was a girl just like the girl in the costume shop, they are groomed and then later sent out to marry and lure rich and influential men into getting trapped into the cult, basically exactly what Epstein was doing, has anybody seen the movie KILL LIST it's kind of the same premis
It's very interesting how no one notices that the news paper says: Lucky to be alive on the front, the same thing Bill tells Mandy when she woke up. I think that the paper was meant to eventually cross path with Bill and he can see about her death
It was marketed wrong - maybe purposely - but when you dive into it and when you consider what happened in reality, and “art imitating life,” I think you could certainly consider Eyes Wide Shut Kubrick’s swan song.
Your analysis is spot on! 100%. These cults have one rule for sure; they must tell us what they are doing and when they are doing it! We just need to wake up and see it and realize that there really is a spiritual war of good vs. evil.
Yes! This would make sense and after watching it again it feels like some of the story is missing and this would explain why and how they would recruit people to the cult. Entice them with sex and use blackmail or fear to get their new members. Kubrik knew about this global cult and wanted to show how it works. It's a shame we didn't get the full film, it would have been his best by far. RIP Stanley
They must always show the public what is really going on, Disguised as entertainment. Their cult believes that they won't receive punishment if they tell you what's happening.
Going "over the rainbow" is a reference to crossing the rainbow bridge. It's what our soul does when we die. However, some people are able to cross the rainbow bridge while alive in order to protect themselves from extreme abuse. This is the process of dissociation. I think when bill goes into the rainbow costume shop he is dissociating while experiencing the abuse from the cult. The costumes in the shop are personalities that he will wear on command.
The best argument for the entire thing as a setup for Bill to join the cult is imo, the fact that Mandy in ritual immediately goes to Bill and tells him he doesnt belong here. Thats a test about whether his lust and intrique about the orgy is greater than his fear of it. Bill passes that test. Most people wouldve gotten the hell out of there fast knowing that someone knew you were crashing the party. At 16:39, she says to Dr. Bill "You should get a cloak lined with ermine". Ermine was used to line Royals robes in Europe.
The tiger in Domino's apartment is the same at the end in the toy shop, she also has masks all over her apartment, and theask he's given doesn't seem to have a theme yet, the girls have doll masks and the servants have gold masks his is half and half, I definitely think the letter was changed but not for the movie but it's meant for anyone looking further, asking questions.
On my next rewatch I'll be looking for these tigers and masks. I haven't noticed them before but I'm not surprised. Have you seen the painting behind Helena's bed????
7:20 What is suspicious is that his musitian friend gave up the information too easy, even if he knew that the ones who he was playing the piano blindfolded did certain things after that much visitations.but 1st and foremost I doubt that somebody who doesn't belong to their sick society could have played the piano at all...
3:55 Woah, I've never noticed this shot in my years of rewatching this movie. Zeigler was definitely Red Cloak! The couple on the balcony was either Marion/Carl or the costume shop owner and his daughter.
One thing I found interesting is that the actor who actually played Red cloak is Leon Vitalli who is mentioned in the newspaper article denoting Mandy’s death. Quite frankly I never understood why. Was it a small inside joke or insignificant (unlikely given Kubrick), or was it the crossing of the liminal boundary between reality and fiction (the movie) whereby merging character and real life actor as red cloak gives credence to real life sex cults.
LIke everyone here, Ive seen a few film analasys of Eyes Wide Shut. This one is the most conclusive Ive seen . I personally think you have nailed it . I never considered a few points you make here ( Domino is the corpse , The Hungarian is very possibly Red Cloak , Alice is already in the cult .... all of these ring true to me . Great film analasys - nicely done .
new sub….love your channel and style of film interpretation so far! especially this movie! I think this is my fav SK film. Can’t wait to check out your other vids! Thanks 😊
Curiously the name of Mr. Kubrick' second hand man, Leon Vitaly, appears on the newspaper's last paragraph: 26:53. He also performs the Red Cloak Master in this fully symbol movie.
@ler@lerg7699you're so welcome. Thanks for watching. And thanks for adding to the conversation. All these details just make my appreciation for Kubrick all the more stronger. I recently watched some of his older films: Killers Kiss, Spartacus, The Killing and I'm just ever in awe of this incredible director.
@FilmSchoolDad And since those early days the sole fact of a filmmaker who takes and retakes one shot to another until it captures what he had in mind; caring about details, the pauses and long silences... You can see any of his movies dozens of times and you will still be able to find a fountain of new discoveries on them. Thank you FSD, we'll look forward to more of your reflections about this remarkable director.
i’ve noticed, that every time he was “crossing” the line - crossing boarder between realities, - he would go through rainbow light, or multicolor lights, or in some cases it would actually wording like “rainbow”
I was pretty young when it came out and just didn't get most of what was going on - i actually thought it was really boring😂- but it was blatantly obvious to me then that Alice was already in the cult
There is merit to some of these theories, but I also believe EWS to be even more multi-layered. Scratch the surface of most scenes, and one can find at least 2 or 3 layers, meanings and themes. Cults, classism, gender dynamics, grooming, secret societies, being rich vs wealthy... It's a masterpiece.
Kubrick really speaks to the way people actually are. So disquieting to watch Alice and Bill knowing their multi-faceted characters don't really add up. In the process I always feel I must accept my own character doesn't really add up either. Perhaps no person depicted in film or literature ever really has added up? Alice might have passed the second test. Outside the context of the cults set and setting she is "married" and therefore is bound by this facade and passes the test.
You could be on to something. My feeling is that if The Xmas party is the cult in public without their masks, The Hungarian was meant to test Alice and The Models were meant to test Bill. Although it's possible The Hungarian / Red Cloak (IMO) was merely playing with his food, so to speak. Teasing Alice, someone he knows (if she's in the cult or grew up there) and testing her. Maybe you're right, and she does pass...
Alice was already a priestess groomed and with that she and bill produced a viable sacrifice.the trick of the movie was bill pulled into the sacrifice of Helena by his wife.
I would suggest Alice is a,legacy member through her family. She is getting her husband initiated.
100% I think this is it. I believe that why she's crying at the end but stone cold in the last scene. She understands what's going to happen to their daughter because it happened to her first. Crazy to watch the movie with this in mind, but it works in every scene. Also, any time Alice is alone she acts differently.
maybe her telling him about that "dream" or what she thought about the marine is a way to test how he would feel about other men around her in those parties?
So she took a social downgrade to be with Bill?
@revelation20232 only if you believe membership in a cult is higher on the social structure. Many people would argue the sex perverts are lower in status.
I always felt like she was there and had been a member all along
People thought they were watching a movie but in reallity they were watching a documentary.
Kubrick's genius always was to show show us ourselves without realizing it. Paths of Glory. Clockwork Orange. 2001. Barry Lyndon. Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut are all him showing us a mirror of ourselves in way way or another. War. Freedom of Choice. Intelligence. Society.
basically he exposed zionists and freemasonry (same thing btw).
His big break was Lolita though, before he abondoned Hollywood
Yes. I believe that completely
And the Rothschild’s. Who it turns out Epstein represented.
By the way - Rothschild translates into “Red Shield” which is essentially the same as Red Cloak.
I took the "Not a soul." line to imply that these people are literally soulless.
100%
@FilmSchoolDadKubrick was an atheist so their "souls" probably weren't part of his thoughts.
@upon-fe2720 True, but he might have used it symbolically anyway. Maybe. I don't know. No offense?
Very well seen.
@l@lorierush6561 was symbolic for sure. You are right about that.
I think Alice recognized Nightingale at Zeigler's party. Notice how she looks a little anxious when Bill suggests they go talk to him. She comes up with an excuse to go to the restroom instead and immediately grabs a glass of champagne and gulps it down. Her face seems to say, "here we go."
Great catch. I just rewatch this and it totally went down like you say
Yup. She gives him the space to talk to him alone and drinks that champagne as if she was playing a character and now she can take a break.
Well because she's attracted to him
I’ve noticed this before as well. I’m like, why is she acting so weird when he points out Nick? She gets all antsy and does a beeline for the bar. It does seem to suggest some pretext which Kubrick loves to do. He puts in things that “could”;imply this or that but he avoids over explaining. The amount of symbolism, literary references inhis films is crazy. It is all intentional and thought out by the maiestro.
@victoryak86That's what I like about his films, he will (subtlely) show you but not tell you what's going on. It's up to us to catch his references, details and symbols used to add many layers to the surface story.
Mandy "had many important friends in the fashion and entertainment world" is repeated in the article about her death. Makes me think Kubrick was sending a message.
Ohhh yes, he was
That actress is as close to Angie Everheart as I've ever seen. She was _huge_ in the modeling world of the 1990s. There's footage out there of Angie promoting this scheme some sleezy NY real estate agents and brokers started up where they'd entice buyers to view homes for sale by having them shown by models/former models. They'd get models their real estate license so prospective buyers would think they'd get close to the women and have a chance at dating or hooking up with them. The whole thing was very slimy, using them as bate.
You'll never convince me that the version we are seeing is the director's cut. I would love to see the director's cut.
So. Would. I. So would I.
I wish he lived. Selfishly, I want his final version of the film. I want his version of "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" which he was developing with Spielberg, who completed the project for him post humorously. I would loved to have seen his Napoleon, even though I am one of the 5 people in the world who actually do like Ridley Scott's version.
@FilmSchoolDad im one of the 5 as well then
i have that 20 minutes. But it will cost 300.000 $ 😺
@aZoRandaWap Send over those 20 minutes of film! Your checks in the mail.
@aZoRandaWap😂
Makes me wonder now if she had a "dream" or she was just telling him something that really happened to her. 😮
It's a good question and worth pondering. Did she tell him the whole truth, or just enough to make him spin out?
Seein if he’d be into it. If it excites. Intrigues him.
@FilmSchoolDad do you think it's implied that the girls are on drugs?
@FilmSchoolDadone take could be that she was indeed brought in the cult, abused, and has had ever since a cloudy memory of it. It resurfaces unde the form of a nightmare later, like a ptsd repressed memory as victims of s.a experience. It also gives an explanation as to why she seems anxious seeing Nightingale. Now why does she agree to give her child at the end ? Weird if we take into account the deleted scenes showcased to the projector man in charge of the 1st private screening show the infamous sexual, child brutal rituals.
I think it was a way of her telling him the truth without actually telling him
The girl whispered to Bill: You'll need an ermine cloak, indicating that she has been to these parties and knows what they wear. Also: from the opening shot to the symbolism in the final scene, and so much in between (including Alice brushing Helena's hair, literally grooming her), it is clear in my eyes and many others' that Alice not only is behind the entire thing, she's the high priestess.
Alice is literally grooming her daughter. Holy moly! Great catch. Quite the visual metaphor. Can't wait to rewatch this this week.
Hmmmmmmmmmm😊
**Alice was always one of the cult's girls, from BEFORE marriage**
I realized she must be one of them when I made the connection between her dress removal in the first shot and the girls in the circle making the exact same move to remove their robes. Kubrick knew exactly what he was doing.
His wife was ran thru!
@FilmSchoolDadthat and the “dream” she tells bill about. And at the end bill says dreams are never just dreams
Minich daughter whispers "you should have a coat lined with ermine". Its a sign of royalty and shows she also knows what type of party Bill is going to.
Interesting, for me I thought her lips kinda looked like she was saying “the second password is ___”. Idk tho it kinda makes sense when Ziegler tells Bill that “ it wasn’t because you didn’t know it”
@alexram-l3w I'm a sucker for scripts so i always watch with subs on a but what you're describing would be pretty much the same reveal
I've always wanted to know what she said! This is very cool. I do appreciate that Kubrick keeps it from us, and it's just for them, but the added context makes a lot of sense. The Milich's are definitely in on it.
Zeigler also notes there is no second password. But in truth, there's not even a first. Technically...Everyone there knows each other and Fidelio just gives Bill the confidence to go. They were expecting him. (I think!)
Interesting! I really enjoy reading screenplays as well.
His wife is in the cult and The good doctor doesn't have a clue like you, his daughter might not even be his
T
I believe that there is a LOT of truth in this movie.
😅this movie is a documentary with the news we're getting today
that was the whole point Kubrick was making
alice isin on it way before she even knew bill even existed
I agree. I have a theory that Alice knows The Hungarian at the party and they're pretending NOT to know each other to further push the taboo boundary they are crossing by flirting in the open at the party.
@FilmSchoolDad I could see that . He probably comes from some ancient royal demonic bloodline
@FilmSchoolDad she might be in the background at the masked party
@FilmSchoolDad I see that, absolutely!
@ 16:56 there on the wall, is the partial view of a phone number... what is visible, of that phone number, is "5-31-11"..
..on that day, the Titanic launched, without a traditional champagne bottle ceremony, and we know what happened regarding that particular voyage. Left Belfast, Ireland on that day. 5-31-11. Is both reasonable and crazy at the same time to think this means something, but I leave nothing to the latter due to the sheer undeniable genius of Kubrick. The letter in the envelope..
....what if anything, do You think it said differently pre-scrubbing?
I always wonder if the letter said something that was maybe ultra specific and basically would expose a real life individual or group.. but maybe in a nuance way that none of us would understand, and breeze over, but to the actual real life villains, they see it and go " woah,woah, no we cant have him read that in a letter, that hits too close to home, oh no.."
@FilmSchoolDad and she gets mad that he pushes the boundary a little too hard. she needed to go and he started begging like every other man. god id do hard time to be able to see his true full movie
I think the death of that lady’s father means that there was an opening in the colt, and that opening has to be filled
Numbers have meaning in a lot of the occult. It's possible they try to maintain an exact number of members for their rituals.
Very interesting idea.
@thegoodolddays9193also a very interesting idea.
@thegoodolddays9193 gematria
That music was stuck in my head, so I went back to check the track and realized it was Tamil. The version used in the movie had lyrics like, “Is it love or is it hell?” But when I searched for Jocelyn Pook’s track on RUclips, I found a completely different version in Sanskrit. Those lines are actually from the Bhagavad Gita.
“Paritrāṇāya sādhūnām
vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām,
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge.”
English Meaning
“For the protection of the righteous,
for the destruction of the wicked,
and for the establishment of dharma,
I manifest Myself age after age.”
There's a whole power dynamic shift when you have a dr come to you vs you going to the office. He def is potential and making housecalls is really the first test
The hotel receptionist is definitely in on it because I don't know anyone who works night shifts and stays on till next morning
I thought something similar. What are his hrs?!?
Yes and he tells everything like he expects something but no money, he gets his part of the roll and is very pleased with that
I work at a hotel and know people who have worked a double.
Hotel people are gossipers and will remember any altercations.
@vivib9675 He's clearly gay and is hoping Bill is interested, as earlier in the film Bill is bullied for seeming gay himself.
@kestrel1234 This was my take. It is a small hotel where he notices every guest. He's been working long hours he's tired and just looking to chat with an attractive male. Probably high s a kite too.
Did anyone else notice, that the daughter Helena is wearing the same princess dress , That the Barbie doll is wearing? That Nicole Kidman let them kidnap her by the 2 men.
Really? Thats interesting. I'm going to have to look out for that.
@FilmSchoolDad It's going to take several viewings for you to see all the details Kubrick placed in EWS. You're just seeing the tip of the iceberg. Also, look into the theory that EWS is the initiation of Bill through the 33 degrees of Scottish Rite Freemasonry from the beginning to the end of the film. Red Cloak sits on a chair with the double-headed eagle wearing a crown when Bill is confronted at the mansion. That's an obvious reference to Freemasonry. Kubrick researched secret societies and the occult while in pre-production, and it shows to those with eyes to see.
Also, the 2 old men at the end scene in the toy shop appeared before during Ziegler's party (near the staircase)
There's also a Barbie dressed in a red priestess robe and a Barbie in a box with an inverted pentagram window in the scene.
There's also a stuffed bear with an erection in one shot that has a doll on his lap in the next. As we all know, in Kubrick's films bears are symbols of childhood sexual abuse....
The actress who played Mandy confirmed in an interview that it was her character's body in the morgue, and she described how cold the morgue stretcher was and how she held her breath for the close-ups with Tom Cruise. That said, your theory is intriguing. Oh, and Alice was probably in on the whole thing
Thanks for the info about her interview. I was unaware about it, but even knowing I find the situation still dire for Bill. In the end, the scenario is bad for him either way. If it's Domino, the cult is sending Bill a message- and if it's Mandy, they're ending an even bigger message. I guess the question is this: is the masked ball all a rouse to manipulate Bill? If yes, then it's Domino, to be a body - If it's REAL, than it is Mandy, and they actually Killed her for taking Bill's place and "redeeming" him. Either way it's wild.
And yes ALICE.... I'm thinking about making a video all about how she really is in on the whole thing.
@FilmSchoolDad My theory has always been that it was indeed Amanda at the morgue and that she sacrificed herself to "redeem" herself because he attended to her when she overdosed. In that regard I believe the overdose was real and not staged and she simply returned the favor of saving his life.
@FilmSchoolDadIronic because Cruise, IRL, is damn near running the cult that pulled him back in after he tried to leave. I digressed. Dr. Bill IS in dire straights and so is his family either by dumb bad luck or by design
@Fenrir_Beernaert That's definitely what I originally thought too and works. I'm not sold it's Domino, but I had a big suspicion.
@yusefendure I know, its wild right?
It’s an initiation ritual for all that have watched the film to get the masses to realize what’s going on
14:45 the Yale students randomly bumping into him in a seedy part of town can’t be a coincidence.
Also can't be coincidence he was bumped into a Mercedes. The car that matches Bill's social class and the preferred luxury brand for older drivers. The Yale students walked past a BMW right before they bump Bill, also a luxury car that is promoted to younger drivers with money. The bump into Bill is almost a hit and run type of event.
Also look at the reflection on the glass, notice what you see
@shable1436 ?
@shable1436 What is in the reflection??
Alice is a Honeypot. Ex trafficking victim turned asset. They were testing bill because the cult needs a doctor to be in on it. For the obvious medical emergency that must happen in these orgies. Zeigler suggested Bill. They were indeed testing him. But because he failed to keep the secret and told Alice about it., they punished them by taking their daugther to be part of that endless cycle again. Proof to me is the mask on the bed. Alice had to put it there. Someone told her about it. If she had found it naturally she would have confronted bill right away instead of hidding the mask putting the bag back and wait for the right moment to confront him while she s asleep. makes no sens. And theres no way someone ninja his way inside the apt to put the mask there. It was the final test. See if bill would keep the secret. he didnt. So they took the daugther. I also belive the mask man nodding is Zeigler. As for red cload i beleive its the man bringing the letter. Theres a physical ressemblance on purpose here. i think it says i dont even have to hide, i am untouchable. Hes not a butler because he's got his own driver and is in a luxury car. I think he is the owner of the house and head of cult. its almost to say how theres 2 lives. the night one and the day one where these people interact like nothing happened the night before.
You're right! He's not the driver. Interesting !
I thought the balcony guy was the same as the letter giver. The eyes are very similar. I have to rewatch again though because I read a comment that says zeigler has a three pointed mask painting in the pool table scene.
Touché
@ryangauldhe does. Final billiards room scene.
Tom Cruise breaks down to his wife
He doesn’t break down at the party. He doesn’t break down when people die.
He breaks down to his master
She is the reason he is initiated into the cult
Tom Cruise is shown true love at least twice in this movie and neither time I from his wife
The one where the lady dies for him and the other one where she professes his love before he goes to the party, which seems like a cry to save him
She pleased to him with an urgency which is concealed as emotional disturbance from the death of her father
But it appears as if people die in the real world just so happened to coincidentally lineup with the initiation process
I think you actually have it backwards. My general take on Dr. Bill is that, though a young, handsome successful professional, he is merely a servant of the upper/ruling class(es). Though more aware and intelligent than most, he is still utterly clueless as to the workings of the class(es) above his own. Back in 1999, depicting this was in and of itself a revelation. Most "normies" saw someone like Dr. Bill as a member of the ruling class. There is no intention to recruit him, just to use him appropriately (as long as he continues to act "professionally") . If they're interested in his wife and/or daughter, they'll simply find a way to take them (and there's nothing Dr. Bill can do about it).
I agree with this take.
Seems obvious
Alice is totally already in the cult. The entire movie is Alice bringing her family into the cult. Including Helena.
Bingo
It would make sense to be born into it. How else would you devote your life to a lie just to strengthen the cult?
@accidentalmeditation To get more people in the cult ... how do you not understand this?
The more we rewatch this, the more we’re convinced that the young Alice was once like her daughter Helena, being groomed for the Secret Society.
🤷♂️ IJS
I mean it was foreshadowed by her weird sexual dreams she used to have pretty often.
One of my favorite Easter eggs in the film is the fact that “Rainbow Fashions” is directly across the street from the Sonata Cafe where he saw Nick and found out about the party. In the scene where he’s talking to Millitch through the door, you see the reflection of the Sonata and Gillespie Diner. But he took a taxi to get there after talking to Nick. Some say this was an error by the director but we know better. He would never make an error like this and the reflection is very intentionally displayed. Maybe it lends itself to the dream theory of Bills escapades.
this sounds similar to the impossible window in Ullman's office in the shining
I love the impossible window
I need to rewatch for this!
@FilmSchoolDad i do too ! i feel like it'd be a the same kind of mechanic then right? for EWS, it's a marker of a something like a dream world and for the shining, a place with an impossible (stacked? for lack of better term) timeline to be seeing past residents and ghosts?
@F@FilmSchoolDadah when the camera is facing Dr Bill through the window from Millitch’s perspective behind him and to the left is Gillespie diner and t he jazz club. I didn’t notice this either but someone had pointed it out.
Roman Polanski's The ninth gate came out around the same time. Similar theme.
I like both movies. What I like about ninth gate is how it has a kind of lighthearted take on everything. Many comical moments in my opinion. But still nefarious.
Strange how Cruise joined a cult in real life, isn’t it?
To be fair. Scientology was very manipulative and new at the time. Plus the went above and beyond for cruise to be pandered too. He got brainwashed and showered with praise. And things in his life do seem to go well. His career. His fame. These are things they tell you come “because” you joined. Whether or not he would have accomplished it on his own or not. Scientology got their talons in deep while he was going through public divorce Like any church If you are vulnerable. You are the easiest to catch
The movie industry and Scientology are deeply connected
@s@shayflow519New? It was founded by Hubbard in 1953.
I watched a documentary about satanic ritual abuse based out of Australia and it said Kidman was a part of it
@shayflow519to be fair it’s not a religion, they abuse children, and he’s 100% ok with it.
"Lucky To Be Alive" - Kubrick talking, considering his untimely demise?
In Stanley's Wonderland, Alice is the rabbit hole.
I really like this. Gives meaning to her name. Probably not a coincidence.
For me the story is so open that anything could mean anything so anyone can be right or wrong. These movies drive me crazy as we will never get any answers
The best art asks questions.
It's called a loyalty test
Watch from the perspective that Alice is already in on it from the start and Bill is the mark the entire way. The goal is to test him, manipulate him and lead him to the 2nd party, every step of the way. "do you know anyone here" "not a soul" Now Bill is prompted to look around and he sees Nick Nightingale. Without Nightingale there is no 2nd party, there is no ritual initiation. When Alice leaves she immediately chugs a glass of champagne with a look on her face that clearly reads, the show has begun and she is the main character. Every time Bill is about to kiss another woman *RING, RING* it is Alice calling. Just a random coincidence that happens to him with Marion and with Domino as well? No chance. Kidman is in on it the entire way, the 2nd party was all about Bill the entire time, the rainbow costume shop owners teen daughter being trafficked to 2 wealthy Asians, also he offered her to Bill, her knowing what type of coat to wear to the mansion tells us she has been there before. The mask on the pillow? That was Alice, she was testing Bill to see if he would "tell her everything" Just as red cloak told him NOT to do.
Looking back and viewing it as Alice leading a long con, everyone he runs into is another mind manipulation tactic and she is the high priestess of his initiation, it is one of the greatest acting roles of all time by Kidman. Easily should have won her Best Actress, but the film was marketed as a sexy drama about fidelity and a sort of mid-life marriage crisis, and in that sense Kidmans performance was a bit run of the mill from the context the media and the studios marketed the film as back in 2000.
Agreed. She has tennis rackets in her dressing room (Ziegler)
Stanley used tennis to signify child s. a. in the Shining.
He insisted it be Nicole + Tom and when he couldn't get them he put the entire thing on hold for a year until schedules allowed.
Her father a known pdf file ring leader, for certain shes been subjected to it before.
Ever notice the deceased man he makes a house call to has a mask in his room, his daughter who throws herself at the doc even though shes supposedly "engaged" is named Marion (Ghislaine Maxwell's middle name)
Her "fiance" is disheveled/unappealing/greasy doofus kinda character. He's a teacher (in New York) going to Michigan.
Jeffrey Epstien was a teacher. In New York. Connected to extremely wealthy people. He went to Michigan, his first documented case is in Michigan. He donated a ton of $$$ to Interlochen around that time.
Both - Epstien in real life + character in the movie are math teachers.
Lee Lee Sobieski who was 15 at the time has been quoted saying its main reason she left the industry soon after, cause its a documentary
I totally agree that the marketing for this movie was completely off base. Selling it as a soft core film made with movie stars was done to put off the normies. Most people think the orgy scene is sexy, but the point is it's completely cold. It's not about sex, the movie is about control. And yeah, by the end of my review I felt like Alice is completely the one leading him down the rabbit hole.
@BassingtonFfrench-0that's some wild coincidences. Super cool.
@FilmSchoolDad
heeheeheee wink wink....
no such thing as coinkydinks when it comes to the Master Stanley K 💕
edit:
Hey did you know that Stanley did all of the masks first? years in advance.
He was instrumental in thier designs, had professionals in Venice do them, there's a Soros, a Trump, a Clinton etc
@BassingtonFfrench-0the masks are wild looking. I didn't know that. Makes things even more interesting.
Alice was a lifer. She grew up in it.
I think so!
A few things. There’s a white tux in the costume shop next to the entrance that is the same one Nightingale wears to the mask party. It adds credence to the idea that he (amongst others) was in on it. I think also that Bill was the one being tested and that Alice had been previously initiated. Bill’s journey would not have happened without her involvement in shaping his mindset and pushing him towards the cult’s influence and she seemed unsurprised by everything that went on. I also think that Bill ultimately fails to ingratiate himself into the cult due to as you said his lack of confidence and willingness to take what he wants. I think that this is what leads to him and Alice giving up their daughter at the end in exchange for their lives and silence. The cult showed it was willing to protect their secret and Bill would have been a credible witness due to his status in society. Lastly in the final scene their daughter picks up a Barbie doll and behind it is a Marilyn Monroe doll in a red dress above a box with an upside down five pointed star. I need to rewatch this movie and see what I catch. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen it.
Some good details there at the end in FAO Schwartz. If you're going to rewatch check out the 4K. It's really great looking.
The arrangement of the mannequins in the costume shop changes. Focus on the background while Cruise and Milich are talking.
Recommend checking out the “letter theory” videos on YT. It’s known that a portion of the movie was removed. Kubrick was overheard yelling behind a closed door at studio execs that he had full authority and he didn’t want to cut the scenes that they wanted cut. It’s believed that around 20 minutes was cut.
The letter theory is that the letter given to Cruise was altered and the original was much more threatening with the loss of their daughter.
I believe the letter was altered.
@FilmSchoolDadwhere can I get to watch the real movie again? Any link?
@m@modinatmosunmolaadekunle6949's currently free to watch (with ads) on TUBI, however I really recommend the Criterion 4K if you're into physical media, it's an incredible restoration.
It is Mandy in the morgue... there is even a interview with the actress who played her - talking about how awkward it was to play dead
Her details are very interesting. She was replaced in many scenes, some because she was conveniently hurt, and some others she doesn't know why. I feel the other person may have filmed stuff that ended up cut. It's interesting 🤔
Something else... She when you beeing dubbed by someone with her similar voice and same accent, so she doesn't know why. Better choice acting? The voice actor had been kept secret for many years, until recently we found out it was Cate Blanchett 🧐
Could be Kubrick was purposely making things ambiguous. No easy answers kind of thing.
@FilmSchoolDadYes. I recommend you to look it up and watch it. You'll learn some stuff and details. To bad the interviewer wasn't that good.
No she had constant issues with Kubrick and his assistant based on an interview she gave. It sounds like she overplayed her 15 minutes of fame and became too demanding.
@ThalanXyeah she said that he wanted her to come into his trailer early AM after they had already been working & she was trying to get rested & ready for the next day. She said he wanted her to come test “g-strings” so she refused then they replaced her
I guess we will never know how the original cuts were. and it must be brilliant.
It's Midsommar in NYC. It's folk horror.
It's interesting to me that Bill seems to find it confusing when a woman isn't impressed by his doctor credentials. The coffee shop server wasn't particularly interested in him.
Yes! The waitress could care less. Milich too. Cruise uses his doctors license the way the FBI does in movies. It's pretty funny. He's constantly like "I'm a doctor".
Presumably his physical attractiveness would be a much more relevant detail and "worth" way more to anyone who would want to extract something specific from him. Male attractiveness is very much misunderstood imo. There's a lot of doctors. There are few men with Cruise's level of facial attractiveness.
@bentonja668it's an important plot point. Bill is ascending to a social circle that isn't his. Being a successful NY doctor is what grants him entry to this circle, so he feels the need to keep reasserting himself. The novella also has that, Fridolin is Jewish and his status as a doctor is what gives him his social status.
27:27 DUDE!!!! you are the only other person besides me who thinks that it was Dominoes body in the morgue and not Mandi!!!! The faces don't even look the same hahaha
Finally someone on my side about that !!! I took a bunch of pictures because it was driving me crazy. I really think it's at a minimum questionable.
But it was the actress who played Mandy. I’ve heard an interview with the actress talking about this scene and warming up the gurney she was on. She spoke about it extensively. However it is a clever theory esp as we don’t know what happened to Domino.
The scene where he is followed is the reverse of a scene in The First Deadly Sin with Frank Sinatra. In that scene, the POV is from the follower. Sinatra is following a younger man at night through NYC. It's Christmas and they even go through a similar restaurant.
That's VERY cool.
It was Alice at the party that save him and the price to save him was their daughter.
That's a long stretch. Not the same voice and he would know that it's his wife
The wife is already part of the cult. She’s a plant. Look at all the main women… wife, Mandy, domino, the girl in the costume store and the daughter… all red heads. It a spectrum of involvement. The wife was raised in the cult (her memories are repressed or manufactured), Mandy and domino and the girl are employees/operatives and the daughter is the next generation.
After having done this video I'm totally convinced Alice is in the cult.
Some things we agree on. Sandro not Zeigler, is red cloak. Zeugler is a thug but that wasn’t him in the mask who nodded. That was Marion’s husband. And she was beside him. She was attracted to Bill cuz he looks like her husband. Ppl say she didn’t know Bill & seemed weird but I argue she knew him at a distance cuz the cult was watching Bill.
The cult wanted Bill. Alice was already in the cult. She was the high priestess or at some time the high priestess-she was also Bill’s handler. I also believe Helena wasn’t Bill’s daughter but was Sandor’s (red cloak)- he’s too familiar/ too comfortable with Alice- lets you know he had her before- even claimed her drink- he made that inside home calling Bill Ovid- cuz he knew the outcome of Bill’s journey.
It started out as a sex ritual but morphed into a humiliation ritual.
They controlled/steered everything. Nightingale was an initiate himself. The blindfold is part of a Masonic ritual- the name escapes me but yeah- he was too forthcoming- all the women with red hair were about sex. Alice -a sacred prositute and Domino-a low class working girl. Alice/the cult knew Bill was at Domino’s-her sexual status,hence the phone call to stop him.
Domino’s roommate & Sandor share similar traits- calm yet aggressive. Oh yeah, abelean Ali has red hair- we know she is later taken into the cult- passed off by Alice- cuz it happened to her. Alice distracts and leads Bill throughout the toy store.
When Bill told her everything, Alice was crying because he wasn’t supposed to say anything, not even to her and by doing so, they had to give up their daughter.
This movie was about access.
I hadn't noticed the connection between red hair and women possibly attached to the cult. Makes sense as Red is the color of lust. Interesting thought that Alice's daughter may not be Bill's. Of all the consummation in the film Bill is constantly unable to perform for a variety of reasons.
Red Cloak has a very distinctive voice, which is FAR from Sandor's.
They do sound different but - He's 100% mic's up to the soundsystem. He's incredibly loud and the entire congregation can hear him. Would be easy to drop a voice changer on, which is my suspicion.
@FilmSchoolDadhmm, maybe.
"When Bill told her everything, Alice was crying because he wasn’t supposed to say anything, not even to her and by doing so, they had to give up their daughter." interesting idea, but there's also a scene where Alice tells her daughter that a richer man is more powerful than a man who is not as rich, so she was already being groomed to defer to rich men by her mother.
Great video. I loved your hypothesis about the Hungarian being Red Cloak.
Another detail, I don't know if most people mention this, is that "Fidelio" is Ludwig van Beethoven's sole opera he ever composed, and the story is about a wife (Leonore) that rescues his husband (Fidelio) from prison and probably death.
Actually Nick Nightingale mentions it at the Jazz Club. But, you're right most people don't mention what the opera is about.
I always thought the Hungarian was red cloak too!
@FilmSchoolDad say, could the masked Mandy at the ball be (Alice) Nicole Kidman? I always thought that. They have the same build and height.. maybe hair color.
@TheRealLeahFarley Except the accent is completely different. There is something in the newspaper article about a model girlfriend of a fashion mogul found dead from an overdose. To pin it to reality, Victor is Epstein and Redcloak is Les Wexner.
Before covid came along and cloaked the epstein scandal, it was obvious that Les Wexner was above epstein in the procurement scene.
Interesting pfp
This is very good, and goes to the heart of the picture. The initiation is the key point, and links to several other initiation pictures like eye of the devil, the magus, the game, and the conspiracy 2012. Even Rear Window. Actually through Tom Cruise , WE are the initiate. And as far as Alice being 'in on it', her question 'why do you think we get invited to these parties?', it's actually testing his understanding of the situation, because she knows why....
"Why do you think we get invited to these parties?" - yes! You're spot on. I didn't think of that. That's perfect and just adds to the proof that she is definitely a part of it.
How is Rear Window an "initiation picture"? Please elaborate...
@MH3GL hi Rear Window, as an abstract idea, shows a man on the brink of marriage and presents him with a 'theater of possible outcomes'...he could end up lonely, popular, worn out or, worse, wind up plotting to end his wife. Thelma Ritter acts as a guide through his initiation into marriage, which means breaking his other leg. Now he ain't goin anywhere. EWS also presents the inductee with a catalog of versions of his wife. Cheers
All is in deleted material.
Nothing but a myth that corresponds with the motif of the movie. Same goes for his “passing”
@DennisMHenderson No. The Milijch storyline in the film is completely autonomous, at the same time being a very strong thread. I have the feeling that they cut the scenes connect Milijch and his daughter with the elite during the party and orgy.
When he says that he doesnt know a soul at the party, he didnt say he doesnt know anyone there if theyre soulless.
Bingo.
The old man at the gate is definitely Red Cloak
Dr. Bill Hartford was being "TAPPED". It's levels to these secret orders ! @4:15 zeigler slams the "que ball" against a "red table". Similar to how "red cloak" slammed the staff in the ritual. 👁️
Yeah most likely everyone here has seen Rob ager’s embarrassing take on this
They need a Dr to tend to their victims. That is what he means by making house calls
16:20 there is a pizza box on the table in this scene, we all know what pizza means to the elites… There’s also a pizza box under all the presents in Dominoes apartment. Even the name domino is a pizza reference.
If you're right that's pretty wild. Domino as a name always was weird. Your theory might be right.
also she was at least one of if not the the domino that toppled him over (maybe)?
And they both are teenagers
The entire movie is a subtle hazing of Dr. Hartford.
Exactly!
Nobody thinks this film is not an initiation
This movie initiates the viewer
Well, to be fair, I think the surface level viewing of the movie leads one to believe that Bill was scared away from further investigating into the cult. Some people still think the movie is strictly about masculinity and relationships.
(But I'm obviously with you in thinking the whole things an initiation)
I saw a interview with the girl that played Mandy and she did say that was her in the morgue she said she had to have this white look of her laying on that cold table she said was tough because she had to hold her breath and she said it was so tough to do
In light of the Epstein files, this movie is maybe not so far into the world of fiction
11:02 looks like the end of 2001.
What about the theory Alice is an operator for the cult, bringing Bill in?
13:00 I think Domino was killed because she failed to bring Bill in.
Also, note the teardrop painted on some of the masks, I think this is similar to prison tats for kills.
I think the amount of film that was cut and edited after Kubrick's death makes it impossible to know. There are scripts and rewrites of the film online, and nowhere does it mention Alice knowing anything. The missing voice-over alone could've rewritten the entire meaning of the film. There are images of the family on a boat, which could be a game-changing scene. We have no idea. Eg, if you edited out the last 10 minutes of Korean film 'A Tale of Two Sisters', and watched it, you would have absolutely no idea what the film was about. Small edits can completely rewrite the film.
The ultimate meaning of EWS went to the grave with Kubrick, unfortunately.
0:58 I’ve heard many times the studio (or someone else) removed 20-30 minutes from Eyes Wide Shut. There are many people that would love to see what was left out.
There's an entire narration left out. Script can be found online. Possible cut by Kubrick himself, but I'm sure there's some missing footage as well. I heard 19 min possibly.
They cut lot ,but it doesn t was kubrick ,he died 4 day after.
It's worth noting that Kidman's father, who was accused of pedophilia, died in Singapore under mysterious circumstances. VERY mysterious circumstances...
This was a great video. Yes, I would like to see more insights into other Stanley Kubrick movies, particularly Dr Strangelove.
Thank you! And yes, I think I should dive deeper into Kubrick's other films too. Dr. Strangelove is a movie I'm well overdue to rewatch. Back in Film School I watched it over and over again, but I think today in 2026 - it probably is time to revisit and review. I bet I would see it in an entirely different light.
Your theory is just as good as any other one on this film. It is filled with ambiguity and innuendo and is especially interesting these days….
That is really cool of you to say. Thank you. I put a lot of work into this theory and your comment is really gratifying. I'm glad you liked the video. And yes these days these things are very interesting.
Cubrik knew about Epstein and what was going on for centuries
Of course , these cults have existed from the dawn of civilization among the uppermost achelon of power and wealth Circle of every society and Epstein was an unqualified, indiscreet member .
So did the writer of the book that this movie is based on. That book came out in 1926.
Who's this Cubrik we've not heard of? What was his involvement in the film?
I bet Kubrick knew too!
Why are all the main women red heads? There must be something to that choice.
So you don’t know which one the mask woman is
The red-haired woman is an ancient symbolism for what they are used for in this cult
Just realised Domino's purple dress and jacket mirrors the purple cloaks worn by the figures standing to the right and left of Red Cloak. Proof she is a member?
16:35 Doesn't Milich's daughter whisper "You should get a cloak lined with ermine" in Bill's ear? At least that's what appears in the film's subtitles.
Yes, but she’s not his daughter. Could be tied in with the mansion cult, and the shop is used for trafficking/erotica.
Alice will have been groomed into it from when she was a girl just like the girl in the costume shop, they are groomed and then later sent out to marry and lure rich and influential men into getting trapped into the cult, basically exactly what Epstein was doing, has anybody seen the movie KILL LIST it's kind of the same premis
I hear I need to check that movie out.
Epstein was probably brought into the cult as a child.
That's a good point
Gli uomini ricchi li cercano per natura
It's very interesting how no one notices that the news paper says: Lucky to be alive on the front, the same thing Bill tells Mandy when she woke up. I think that the paper was meant to eventually cross path with Bill and he can see about her death
The Headline is Crazy.
Did you see the mask beside the dead man’s bed?
Not till it was pointed out here and now I can't unsee that. Super cool.
It was marketed wrong - maybe purposely - but when you dive into it and when you consider what happened in reality, and “art imitating life,” I think you could certainly consider Eyes Wide Shut Kubrick’s swan song.
It's "Harford" -- not 'Hartford."
Your analysis is spot on! 100%. These cults have one rule for sure; they must tell us what they are doing and when they are doing it!
We just need to wake up and see it and realize that there really is a spiritual war of good vs. evil.
Yes! This would make sense and after watching it again it feels like some of the story is missing and this would explain why and how they would recruit people to the cult. Entice them with sex and use blackmail or fear to get their new members. Kubrik knew about this global cult and wanted to show how it works. It's a shame we didn't get the full film, it would have been his best by far. RIP Stanley
Taken from us too soon.
@FilmSchoolDadredcloack is the man with the letter.🤫
They must always show the public what is really going on, Disguised as entertainment. Their cult believes that they won't receive punishment if they tell you what's happening.
Going "over the rainbow" is a reference to crossing the rainbow bridge. It's what our soul does when we die. However, some people are able to cross the rainbow bridge while alive in order to protect themselves from extreme abuse. This is the process of dissociation. I think when bill goes into the rainbow costume shop he is dissociating while experiencing the abuse from the cult. The costumes in the shop are personalities that he will wear on command.
The best argument for the entire thing as a setup for Bill to join the cult is imo, the fact that Mandy in ritual immediately goes to Bill and tells him he doesnt belong here. Thats a test about whether his lust and intrique about the orgy is greater than his fear of it. Bill passes that test. Most people wouldve gotten the hell out of there fast knowing that someone knew you were crashing the party. At 16:39, she says to Dr. Bill "You should get a cloak lined with ermine". Ermine was used to line Royals robes in Europe.
The tiger in Domino's apartment is the same at the end in the toy shop, she also has masks all over her apartment, and theask he's given doesn't seem to have a theme yet, the girls have doll masks and the servants have gold masks his is half and half, I definitely think the letter was changed but not for the movie but it's meant for anyone looking further, asking questions.
On my next rewatch I'll be looking for these tigers and masks. I haven't noticed them before but I'm not surprised. Have you seen the painting behind Helena's bed????
Could be title actually refer to Tom Cruises character not seeing that his wife and daughter is already apart of the cult?
7:20 What is suspicious is that his musitian friend gave up the information too easy, even if he knew that the ones who he was playing the piano blindfolded did certain things after that much visitations.but 1st and foremost I doubt that somebody who doesn't belong to their sick society could have played the piano at all...
100%
Always thought of it as a welcome to the club feel good story
I love that.
This is a great analysis.
Thank you and thanks for taking the time to watch it!
3:55
Woah, I've never noticed this shot in my years of rewatching this movie. Zeigler was definitely Red Cloak! The couple on the balcony was either Marion/Carl or the costume shop owner and his daughter.
One thing I found interesting is that the actor who actually played Red cloak is Leon Vitalli who is mentioned in the newspaper article denoting Mandy’s death.
Quite frankly I never understood why. Was it a small inside joke or insignificant (unlikely given Kubrick), or was it the crossing of the liminal boundary between reality and fiction (the movie) whereby merging character and real life actor as red cloak gives credence to real life sex cults.
Kubrick's genius may never fully be understood but you may be on to something.
LIke everyone here, Ive seen a few film analasys of Eyes Wide Shut. This one is the most conclusive Ive seen . I personally think you have nailed it . I never considered a few points you make here ( Domino is the corpse , The Hungarian is very possibly Red Cloak , Alice is already in the cult .... all of these ring true to me . Great film analasys - nicely done .
Thanks so much for watching and letting me know. I hope this brings another level to the film next time you watch. I'll be watching it again soon too.
It's been recently discovered that Erica Kirk's Mom worked in the same building as The E Man himself. Eyes Closed Open?
That's very obviously Mandy on the slab.
I love her 😭
new sub….love your channel and style of film interpretation so far! especially this movie! I think this is my fav SK film. Can’t wait to check out your other vids! Thanks 😊
Thank you! Working on a big one coming out soon.
Curiously the name of Mr. Kubrick' second hand man, Leon Vitaly, appears on the newspaper's last paragraph: 26:53. He also performs the Red Cloak Master in this fully symbol movie.
It's incredibly interesting that he did that.
@FilmSchoolDad Indeed! Another eye wink from this great movie maker. Thanks for this noticeable effort FSD.
@ler@lerg7699you're so welcome. Thanks for watching. And thanks for adding to the conversation. All these details just make my appreciation for Kubrick all the more stronger. I recently watched some of his older films: Killers Kiss, Spartacus, The Killing and I'm just ever in awe of this incredible director.
@FilmSchoolDad And since those early days the sole fact of a filmmaker who takes and retakes one shot to another until it captures what he had in mind; caring about details, the pauses and long silences... You can see any of his movies dozens of times and you will still be able to find a fountain of new discoveries on them. Thank you FSD, we'll look forward to more of your reflections about this remarkable director.
Leon Vital had a doc made about him and his shared work in Kubrick's career.
The film always fascinates me and I don’t even know what is the truth anymore .
Maybe there is no definitive truth. Enough details for it to have multiple layers and interpretations.
the studio made major cuts that brought the story together...Kubrick was livid
They cut the children at the party.
@Jack9-333Yeup
i’ve noticed, that every time he was “crossing” the line - crossing boarder between realities, - he would go through rainbow light, or multicolor lights, or in some cases it would actually wording like “rainbow”
I was pretty young when it came out and just didn't get most of what was going on - i actually thought it was really boring😂- but it was blatantly obvious to me then that Alice was already in the cult
That's because you're awesome. Took me a few viewings but once I saw it I couldn't unsee it.
@FilmSchoolDad probably my perception wasnt cluttered yet with all the compromises adult life requires🙄
Alice reminds me of Erika Kirk. 😮
There is merit to some of these theories, but I also believe EWS to be even more multi-layered. Scratch the surface of most scenes, and one can find at least 2 or 3 layers, meanings and themes. Cults, classism, gender dynamics, grooming, secret societies, being rich vs wealthy... It's a masterpiece.
I agree. Multi-layered. This theory is just one of many.
A name isn't just a name
Kubrick really speaks to the way people actually are. So disquieting to watch Alice and Bill knowing their multi-faceted characters don't really add up. In the process I always feel I must accept my own character doesn't really add up either. Perhaps no person depicted in film or literature ever really has added up? Alice might have passed the second test. Outside the context of the cults set and setting she is "married" and therefore is bound by this facade and passes the test.
You could be on to something. My feeling is that if The Xmas party is the cult in public without their masks, The Hungarian was meant to test Alice and The Models were meant to test Bill. Although it's possible The Hungarian / Red Cloak (IMO) was merely playing with his food, so to speak. Teasing Alice, someone he knows (if she's in the cult or grew up there) and testing her. Maybe you're right, and she does pass...
Its amazing that we are still obsessed with this confounding movie. Kubrick was the master!
Alice was already a priestess groomed and with that she and bill produced a viable sacrifice.the trick of the movie was bill pulled into the sacrifice of Helena by his wife.
I think so too.
Alice being in the cult explains why her "confessions" feel rehearsed and inauthentic. Unlike Kidman, Alice is not a professional actor. 🙂
16:27 *_Why is Milich’s daughter smiling as she grabs Dr Bill during this whole scenario?_*
*Was this whole thing scripted?*
🤷♂️ IJS
I think it might be.
i guess tom felt somewhat familiar with the cult thing in the movie.. 🤭😑
2:09 wait…who’s that couple dancing in the left of the shot here? 🤔