Stephen King’s novel called Doctor Sleep was released in 2013 and became the most much-talked-of work of the writer in many years. It’s not surprising, as the book told us a story about the way little Danny Torrance’s life from The Shining turned out after the horrors he experienced at the Overlook Hotel.
The Doctor Sleep movie has finally come out in theatres, and it is a film version of the sequel to Stephen King’s The Shining. The new movie was directed by Mike Flanagan.
Mike Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep is that rare case when the director wanted to have it both ways, and he could make it. In this film, the director attempted to please both fans of the original two novels and Stephen King himself, who hates Kubrick’s film adaptation of The Shining and says it everywhere. At the same time, Flanagan pays homage to Stanley Kubrick, an iconic director, by including some of the most significant moments from a legendary The Shining in his movie and making references to dozens of major movie scenes. Those included parts are not the original frames from the 1980 movie, though, but the re-shot episodes.
And that’s mainly those episodes that spoil the sequel. Nope, it’s not because they’re poorly shot or something, everything’s pretty fine with it. It just that it turns out that filming a boy’s ride along the vast corridors of the Overlook hotel and showing the Golden Room with its empty bar is not that simple as it seems at first sight. Especially if you’re trying to do it after Kubrick.
Kubrick’s The Shining is a slow and viscous film to watch with overextended scenes and stunning music. By contrast, Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep gleams with bright spots on the screen and only slows down on occasional flashbacks and references to The Shining. At the same time, we see an unhurried and gradual action film that smoothly transitions into horror and drama.
There are much more frightening moments here than in The Shining. If you ask me, Kubrick’s movie is not scary at all, and the same can’t be said about Flanagan’s work. It’s full enough of horror, scariest pieces of music and sometimes repulsive moments, but all these pieces come together into an exciting picture.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy two and a half hours of a fascinating movie!
