DOCTOR SLEEP: A Worthy Successor to Both King’s Novel and Kubrick’s Adaptation

When it was first announced that they were adapting Doctor Sleep, the sequel to Stephen King‘s The Shining, for the big screen, it was uncertain at first the direction they were going to go. King famously didn’t like Stanley Kubrick‘s adaptation of his novel, believing that Kubrick removed some of his core themes in addition to barely shaping the characters that he had spent so much time developing. Instead, the film became an allegory of sorts, inspiring critics and historians over the years to delve into its potential meanings.

Yet, differences aside, both the novel and its adaptation have gone on to have their own distinct legacies. Now, with Doctor Sleep, which is King‘s sequel to his own novel, it would be a shame if we didn’t have at least some callbacks to the iconic imagery of Kubrick‘s film. Thankfully, director Mike Flanagan realized this, and decided to adapt a sequel to both sources. In addition, though, this is still meant to be a story that will stand on its own two feet. It’s understandably a difficult task that he set out for himself, and the strain does show, but Flanagan still proves he is capable of handling it.

The Years-Later Sequel

Doctor Sleep focuses on a character we have known only as a child in the events of The Shining, that of Danny Torrance (aptly played by Ewan McGregor as an adult). Now, years later, he is still haunted by the events of his childhood, in which his father famously was possessed by the evil spirits of the Overlook Hotel and tried to kill both his mother and himself. He turns to alcohol to silence his trauma, but after years of that, decides he has had enough. Danny (now known as simply Dan) then moves to a remote town in upstate New Hampshire, where he makes new friends, including a man named Billy Freeman (Cliff Curtis). In addition, he finds release through helping the hospice ward of the town, where he is able to use his shining power to console people who will soon be passing on (earning the nickname “Doctor Sleep” as a result).

Soon, though, a conflict presents itself in the form of a group called the True Knot. Led by Rose the Hat (Rebecca Ferguson), the group travels around the country seeking out children who have the shining power, which they call “steam.” They had discovered that, if they torture and subsequently kill children who possess this gift, they will produce a substance that the True Knot can injest, therefore leading to a longer life. On their travels, they discover an unusually gifted girl named Abra Stone (admirably played by newcomer Kyliegh Curran), who unwittingly comes into contact with them. Suddenly in their crossfires, it is up to Dan to try to save Abra from a horrific fate.

Connections to Kubrick’s The Shining

The setup for Doctor Sleep is quite brilliant, both through King‘s story and through Flanagan‘s adaptation of it. As opposed to just being an excuse to bring these characters back, it is instead fitting, both with Danny’s transformation and his eventual placement within the story as it relates to the young Abra. Flanagan also teases just enough of Kubrick here to keep fans of that version invested; for example, the famous overhead shot of the car making its way towards the Overlook Hotel is here repeated at various instances, including at one point where it is cleverly sped up. In addition, he adds the heartbeat sound effect that Kubrick used so prominently in order to build tension. For much of the first act of Doctor Sleep, Flanagan slowly eases you into this new conflict, bringing back a familiar world but with new creatures that lurk in the shadows.

Here, those creatures are, as mentioned, those of the True Knot. An ominuous, dark force of nature, these vampiric monsters resemble humans but are anything but. Rose the Hat is especially terrifying, helped immensely by the sinister performance of Rebecca Ferguson. Having read King’s novel back when it came out, I pictured someone almost exactly like Ferguson; so excellent casting on their part. The remainder of the group is less-developed, although a standout is Zahn McClarnon as the second-in-command Crow Daddy and Emily Alyn Lind as the young and menacing Snakebite Andi.

Rushed Second Act

Though the setup for Flanagan‘s film is alluring, it starts to falter somewhat by its second act. The film contains three distinct stories: that of Dan Torrance, the True Knot, and Abra Stone. There had to be a way to bring these characters together. And here is where the film starts to feel rushed. The characters come together in a way that doesn’t feel organic, and the film, which had been heading at a steady pace, suddenly runs at breakneck speed towards its conclusion, concluding certain stories abruptly in an attempt to make way for its final act.

Still, there are some worthy setpieces here, including a stunning scene where Ferguson‘s Rose the Hat swoops across the country in an attempt to locate the powerful Abra, leading to some impressive overhead shots and off-kilter camera angles. It’s a feat of camerawork and special effects that never would have been possible back in Kubrick‘s day, but Flanagan utilizes the best of the technology at hand to deliver some astounding work.

Doesn’t Quite Stick the Landing

Still, Doctor Sleep doesn’t quite come together in the most effective conclusion. Without any spoilers, it attempts, not surprisingly, to bring together the stories of both The Shining and the one at hand. Yet, it also attempts to, here most overtly, coalesce both King‘s novel and Kubrick‘s adaptation, and it arguably does not completely work. Though it was a nice dash of nostalgia to bring back the imagery of Kubrick‘s version, here even recreating specific scenes, it doesn’t do much more than appeal to fans of that film.

Those two works famously ended very differently, and Doctor Sleep attempts to marry the two in a somewhat meaningful way. Yet, in doing so, it also forgets to satisfy viewers of the story they are currently watching. The new characters and story presented here are mostly pushed to the sidelines, and it results in a less-than-satisfying outcome. Perhaps, in the end, Flanagan just tried to fit too much on his plate.

Doctor Sleep: Conclusion

Doctor Sleep may not be the most satisfying conclusion to both the book and film version of The Shining, yet it is still an engaging film in its own right. As mentioned, Flanagan had a weighty task on hand in both bringing together two works and adapting a new story. Yet, unevenness aside, it still feels about as strong an outcome as you could hope for.

Which is your preferred vesion of The Shining? Are you a fan of this sequel? Let us know in the comments below!

Doctor Sleep is released in the UK on October 30 and the US on November 8. For all international release dates, click here.