I'll admit that when "Doctor Sleep" was announced I was skeptical: how can anybody possibly make a film that lives up to "The Shining," one of the greatest horror movies ever made? But having finally seen "Doctor Sleep" I'm won over: this movie is an absolute blast. It isn't perfect by any means - it's maybe 20 minutes too long and the ending didn't fully work. But I was blown away by the incredible performances (especially from Ewan McGregor and Kyliegh Curran), engaging story, and the flawless incorporation of Kubrick's visual style into a fresh and enjoyable sequel.
"Doctor Sleep" does what every follow-up needs to do: it builds upon the world established by the first movie and goes off in new directions while staying true to the spirit of its predecessor. So much effort was put into developing the original characters while updating them for a new generation without becoming a retread of old material. By the end, I truly cared about Dan Torrance even more than I did while watching the original, and I came to love new characters just as much. In particular, Rebecca Ferguson plays a great villain who's menacing without going over the top like many horror antagonists. Also, look for Henry Thomas (Eliot from "E.T.") in a surprise role that I won't dare spoil.
"Doctor Sleep" shouldn't have been this good. But it is. This is a horror movie done right. 8/10.
"Doctor Sleep" does what every follow-up needs to do: it builds upon the world established by the first movie and goes off in new directions while staying true to the spirit of its predecessor. So much effort was put into developing the original characters while updating them for a new generation without becoming a retread of old material. By the end, I truly cared about Dan Torrance even more than I did while watching the original, and I came to love new characters just as much. In particular, Rebecca Ferguson plays a great villain who's menacing without going over the top like many horror antagonists. Also, look for Henry Thomas (Eliot from "E.T.") in a surprise role that I won't dare spoil.
"Doctor Sleep" shouldn't have been this good. But it is. This is a horror movie done right. 8/10.