Doctor Sleepis one of the most experimental and surreal additions to the world of Stephen King movie adaptations, taking place many years after Stanley Kubrick’sThe Shiningand offering an eerie explanation of what happened to these characters after that film’s ending. The movie was positively received by both critics and audiences alike, with excellent performances from Rebecca Ferguson and Ewan McGregor making it one of the most engaging studio horror movies in recent memory.Mike Flanagan thrives in the world of Stephen King, and this film is clear proof.
Interestingly,Doctor Sleepmakes some important changes from King’s works that have left some audiences confused about how exactly it connects toThe Shining- particularly since the novel’s author has vocally criticized that film in the years since its release. There areseveral Stephen King movie franchises, and since some are connected and some are separate, it can sometimes be overwhelming trying to figure out which you need to watch first. Thankfully,Doctor Sleepcan easily be enjoyed on its own- but it has obvious connections toThe Shiningthat enhance it.
Doctor Sleep Is Based On Stephen King’s Sequel To The Shining
Flanagan’s Film Is An Obvious Stephen King Adaptation
Although Mike Flanagan’sDoctor Sleepmakes some major changes from the book, it’s ultimately a pretty faithful adaptation that fans of Stephen King’s work will easily recognize. The book itself was released in 2013 and immediately became one of that year’s most successful and talked-about horror releases. Not only was it refreshing to see King return to such a beloved story, butthe sequel did an excellent job of expanding this universein fresh and exciting ways without changing too much about the original novel.
Doctor Sleep 2 Would Have Explored Divisive Stephen King Plot Point, Reveals Actor
Exclusive: Star Jocelin Donahue reveals how Mike Flanagan’s scrapped Doctor Sleep 2 would have explored a divisive Stephen King plot point.
The book was a hit with both King superfans and more casual readers alike, forging a story that could easily be understood without too much knowledge of the original book. Incidentally, this is something that Mike Flanagan also prioritized when making the movie;it’s clearly connected toThe Shining, but it’s not so tightly bound that audiences may be alienated if they haven’t seen Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 classic. King’sDoctor Sleepbook won the 2013 Bram Stoker Prize for Best Novel, proving to readers around the globe that he was still on top form.
Doctor Sleep Serves As A Sequel To The Stanley Kubrick Movie
The Movie Has Many Aesthetic Connections To The Shining
Importantly, Flanagan’sDoctor Sleepis not only an adaptation of Stephen King’s book, but also a direct sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s movie. There are certain details sprinkled throughout the sequel that clearly reference Kubrick’s film, which is something that audiences were sharply on the look-out for when it was first released in 2019. There are countless ways to approach making a sequel to somebody else’s film, butFlanagan decided to embrace the stylistic changes that Stanley Kubrick madeto King’s work and apply them to his own film too.
The Shiningis one of thebest horror movies ever made, so it makes sense that Flanagan wanted to connect his equally impressive sequel to Kubrick’s masterwork in some way beyond the names of the characters. He also references many of the same locations, employs similar camera tricks, and adopts an overall similar style that givesDoctor Sleepa very familiar atmosphere despite the narrative differences. AlthoughDoctor Sleepwas hugely underrated at the time of its release, the film has been widely reevaluated in recent years and is now seen as a fitting continuation of Kubrick’s legacy.
How Doctor Sleep’s Characters Tie Into The Ones From The Shining
The Two Films Share Many Familiar Faces
Doctor Sleeptakes place several years after the events ofThe Shining,following an older version of Danny Torrenceas he struggles with alcoholism and mental health issues caused by his telepathic abilities and childhood trauma. The film follows Danny during his years working as a hospice orderly, where he finally sees the benefits of his powers and uses them to comfort the elderly as they approach death - giving him the nickname “Doctor Sleep”. While the majority ofDoctor Sleep’s characters are new, the film also features appearances from Wendy Torrence, Dick Hallorann, and The Overlook Bartender.
It’s a very unique story that’s much more self-contained than most would expect from a direct sequel, but Flanagan manages to tie everything together excellently.
Many ofThe Shining’s characters only appear through flashbacks inDoctor Sleep, as Flanagan’s sequel is much morefocused on the conflict between Danny Torrence and a supernatural cultknown as the True Knot, led by Rebecca Ferguson’s villainous Rose the Hat. It’s a very unique story that’s much more self-contained than most would expect from a direct sequel, but Flanagan manages to tie everything together excellently.
There were evenplans for aDoctor Sleep 2before it was ultimately rejected, and Mike Flanagan moved on to projects such asThe Haunting of Bly ManorandMidnight Massinstead. This would have been a much riskier project given the lack of source material, but it proves just how much strong potential there is in this franchise. It’s unclear exactly how this would have tied into Danny Torrence’s story, but it likely would’ve further explored his conflict with the True Knot at their villainous schemes.
What Stephen King Thought Of Doctor Sleep
The Writer Felt Surprisingly Positive About Flanagan’s Movie
Stephen King has never shied away from giving his unfiltered opinions on movies inspired by his works, andDoctor Sleepseems to be one of his favorites.King famously disliked Kubrick’sThe Shining, andFlanagan had to fight hard in order to get the author’s blessingto revisit this story on the big screen. In fact, the filmmaker once shared the story on hisTumblrpage, claiming that he proposed certain ideas to King as a “last ditch effort” to make the story work, and King ultimately agreed.
Since the release ofDoctor Sleep, both King and Flanagan have spoken about the former’s reaction to the project. Speaking withEW,Flanagan retold the story of watchingDoctor Sleepfor the first time with King, and shared the writer’s brief feedback: “you did a beautiful job.” The author has personally commented on the film, claiming, “everything I ever disliked about the Kubrick version is redeemed for mehere.”
Doctor Sleep
Cast
Doctor Sleep, set decades after The Shining, follows Dan Torrance as he confronts his traumatic past at the Overlook Hotel. He encounters Abra, a teenage girl with powerful extrasensory abilities called the “shine,” who enlists his help in battling sinister forces.
