Directed by: Mike Flanagan
Written by: Stephen King (based on the novel by), Mike Flanagan (screenplay)
Runtime: 2h 31min
Rating: R
Our Rating: ★★★

Let’s just get this out of the way, Doctor Sleep is not even remotely scary. But, before you get angry with me and stop reading let me say even though there is a tremendous lack of horror, Doctor Sleep is still a ‘see it’ for fans of The Shining. Which one, you ask Kubrick’s or King’s? Both.

Years following the events of “The Shining,” a now-adult Dan Torrance meets a young girl with similar powers as he tries to protect her from a cult known as The True Knot who prey on children with powers to remain immortal.

Much like IT: Chapter 2 (also not scary), Doctor Sleep is literally hauntingly beautiful. There are shots during the characters “shining” moments that are dare I overuse this term are breathtaking. Director Mike Flanagan and his cinematographer. Michael Fimognari have a done a pretty amazing job with the visuals of this film. Flanagan manages to intertwine the shine moments with reality in an impressive cohesive way.

Reusing Kubrick’s heartbeat sound effect to indicate when, Rose the Hat, leader of The True Knot is with a person with the shine (or generally when someone is shining) is disturbing, as well as arresting (no pun intended). The sound also manages to make us the audience extremely anxious. It also indicates when their shine/life is dying.

Although, I didn’t read Doctor Sleep – the book – I know it’s King’s follow up to his version of The Shining and it is not necessarily based on Kubrick’s version. However, I did read King’s book version and I know this is blasphemy, but I like Kubrick’s version better. I commend Flanagan for trying and doing a rather successful job of bridging the two visions.

Ewan McGregor stars as grown up Danny Torrance. He embodies the complete disaster of the adult that Danny was bound to grow up to be. It is interesting to see what happened to Danny and how he and his mother’s lives continued after the events at The Overlook.

Flannigan again tries for reconcile Kubrick’s Shining by casting Alex Essoe as Wendy Torrance. She does resembles Shelley Duvall. Essoe does a sufficient job as Wendy, but at the same time it is jarring at first when you realize and remember this isn’t Duvall. The same goes for Henry Thomas as Jack Torrance and again with Carl Lumbly as Dick Hallorann. Although since I always felt Scatman Crothers got such a raw deal in the Kubrick version it was nice to see any rendition of this character.

Rebecca Ferguson as Rose the Hat and Kyliegh Curran (Abra Stone) both give notable performances. Abra is strong, willful and she’s awesomely fearless. Rose is a good villain and you somewhat find yourself wanting to know more of her backstory. However, the scenes between Rose and Abra are so watered down, it is kind of beyond me why this film has anything other than a PG-13 rating. But I think the entire cast does the best they can with the material they have.

Much of the film honestly as stated is not scary, I’m not even sure it rises to a thriller, certainly not in any traditional sense. The last act of the film attempts to change that vibe, by taking us back to Kubrick’s Overlook with bartender Lloyd (also Henry Thomas), creepy zombie lady from room 237, dead eyed twins and the death maze and all. This part of the film is great to watch, especially if you are all knowing about everything The Shining. Again, Flannigan does a good job of recreating the hotel and reminding you of the events that took place there. However, the recreation isn’t as horrifying as it was on our previous visit to The Overlook.

As I always say I feel these types of films deserve a second or third watch, before you make final judgements. Doctor Sleep is certainly worthy of a trip to the theater and those rewatches.

Doctor Sleep is in theaters today.