Hot off the success of the Netflix serial version of The Haunting Of Hill House, Flanagan's adaptation of Stephen King's sequel novel to The Shining for the most part works well. Flanagan's use of camera and tension-building are again evident and successful here, as the film picks up with Danny Torrance (the child from The Shining) now an adult, alcoholic drifter, who forms a mental link with a young girl who 'shines' even more strongly and is being pursued by a murderous cult group which feeds on psychic energy. It takes great pains to touch on The Shining's greatest hits very early on, as if trying to reassure fans through iconic sounds, visuals and moments that are recreated faithfully, even if the retro-fitting 1980s-set opening with re-cast characters is not entirely convincing. Here lies the film's main problem: it falls between two stools, trying to fulfil the commercial need to be a straight sequel (albeit to a well-regarded but fairly niche Kubrick film) with the opening and the final act in particular, and also tackling King's focus on the adult Danny, with neither aspect totally realised. Doctor Sleep is nevertheless a solid outing, with as expected strong performances by Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson (as a coolly wicked cult leader Rose The Hat) and effective work by young Kyliegh Curran as the gifted girl.
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