Review of Doctor Sleep (2019) by Michaelwelch016 — 09 Nov 2019

Doctor Sleep, although not perfect, is a well-done return to the world of The Shining. I've heard this film be considered more of a dark fantasy than horror and I would to an extent agree. This film does not hold the slow building tension of The Shining, nor does it have scares placed evenly throughout as many modern horrors often do.

The film is a slow burn, using horror and action elements sparingly with purpose as it builds the narrative. It follows Dan Torrance in the aftermath of the traumatizing events that unfolded at the Overlook Hotel.

He, a drifter, soon cleans himself up and finds purpose aiding young fellow shiner Abra in surviving villain Rose the Hat and the True Knot's pursuit of her. During which, we learn the true extent of "shining" and what this power both is and can do.

The film spends a considerable amount of time rotating between Dan, Abra, and Rose, as well as exploring their abilities. Following a fantastic beginning, the movie slows down as we get to know our characters.

.. but perhaps a little too much at times given the general small amount of interesting events taking place. Despite knowing I'd be bored on a second watch, it serves as a necessary lag allowing us to deeply know who and what we're dealing with, which in turn makes the following acts of the narrative more impactful.

These characters then get mixed up with one another and the plot excitingly moves forward until it reaches the climax where it all began- The Overlook Hotel. There are a fair share of great moments and strong development in the new ground of Doctor Sleep, but the highlight is undoubtedly what unfolds in the familiar setting of The Shining.

This movie really stands on it's own in terms of story. Being a sucker for lore and world building, the expansion on the concept of "shining" and what it entails really kept me intrigued while the characters and conflict kept me entertained, save for a half hour or so.

The way this film is crafted as a slow burn is precisely what I expected from director Mike Flanagan, known for The Haunting of Hill House. Despite some sequences venturing into boredom...the conflict, characters, surreal moments, uncomfortable moments, and finale are enough to make this one of my favorite Stephen King adaptations.