After his traumatic experiences in the haunted Overlook Hotel, troubled Danny Torrance as an adult tries to resolve his past. Soon he crosses paths with a teenage girl who is being stalked by the True Knot, a cult who want to extend their lifespans by consuming the psychic essence from those who have the shining.
Director Mike Flanagan's production of Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep masterfully incorporates Stanley Kurbrick's vision of the Overlook hotel, aesthetics including the maze and likeness of the characters drawn from King’s source novel. Incorporating Hallorann and the ghosts of the Overlook to name a few. Flanagan expertly recreates scenes from the original with new actors including the likes of Wendy (impressive Alex Essoe), Jack and young Danny.
Doctor Sleep at times tries to scare you but with the child murders it also shocks and sickens. Opening with a nod to Frankenstein, where a young girl is by a lake, Doctor Sleep is very vampire-like with the True Knot gang feeding off the Shining, instead the blood of virgins to extend their mortality. You then have to watch an overdose and toddler death. Flanagan doesn't pull punches.
The acting is on point from every character. Ewan McGregor is outstanding as Doc/Danny, carrying a hefty character arc. Rebecca Ferguson menacingly simmers and Kyliegh Curran is notable, all supporting cast offer great support. Emily Alyn Lind steals some scenes as new True Knot recruit Andi. Henry Thomas (Eliot in E.T.) as The Bartender Jack Torrance has an uphill struggle, it's difficult not to compare him to Jack Nicholson, that said, without the aid of CGI tweaks (which may have fared better) he does a decent incarnation of Danny’s father.
The special effects, especially the skull faces of the gang during their demise is impressive. The recreated sets are exceptional (painstakingly recreated exceeding the Thing (2011)). Flanagan offers a well paced film, plenty of character development and of course chills, especially the directors cut! His visuals are stunning and handsomely executed (the homages to Kubrick's Shining, including music reworked by The Newton Brothers and sound cues are especially welcome) and the third acts return to the Overlook is a joy.
Doctor Sleep is a good adaption of the novel and is an advantageous sequel which builds on the characters and makes connections to the film. While it could never compare to Stanley Kubrick's weighty original, this pastiche sequel is fresh and unsettling enough to justify its existence.
No comments:
Post a Comment