It’s remarkable what Mike Flanagan can accomplish. He consistently takes on daunting projects and delivers. Consider that he made ‘Ouija: Origin of Evil,’ improving upon a truly terrible film, then directed every episode of ‘Haunting of Hill House,’ successfully weaving together two narratives across ten episodes. Now, he's created a sequel to the highly regarded horror movie ‘Doctor Sleep’...and he pulled it off again! I think Flanagan deserves more recognition as a director instead of people criticizing his movies for not being scary enough. ‘Doctor Sleep’ was a pleasant surprise for all the right reasons. I wasn’t immediately sure if the film would grab me, because it takes some time to get going, but gradually I became invested in the story and its characters. There have been four Stephen King adaptations this year: ‘Pet Sematary’, ‘IT Chapter Two’, ‘In The Tall Grass,’ and now this one. This is by far the best of them. The film runs 152 minutes long, and it's safe to say that about 85% of it stands on its own; it doesn’t simply rely on nostalgia to tell its story. It’s only in the final act that things start referencing the past when the characters return to the Overlook Hotel—the iconic horror film from the 1980s, or the 1997 television miniseries. Who has fond memories of *that* mess? This movie functions as both a sequel to Kubrick's film and King’s original novel; it's a collision of visions that Flanagan attempts to unify while also incorporating his own perspective. That’s no easy task. A scene between Danny and an elderly patient who is dying peacefully, without being alone, really resonated with me. It’s a beautiful and heartfelt moment you wouldn’t expect in a supernatural horror movie. Ewan McGregor was excellent as the adult Danny Torrance struggling with alcoholism. Nicholson's presence lingered throughout the film as adult Danny fears he might repeat his father’s mistakes. There’s a scene where Danny speaks at a rehab group, and while the camera focuses on McGregor’s face, he reflects deeply on everything that happened to him—not only from his childhood but also afterward, using alcohol to numb the trauma, something we as viewers don't see. I thought he was superb; he truly “shines” in the role...and I apologize for that pun. I was surprised by how well-developed the villains were. They’re like vampires who feed on "the shining" to extend their lives—charming and casual, yet wickedly evil. There's a particularly disturbing scene that really got under my skin. You also see them interacting with each other in everyday conversations as they function as a group. Rose the Hat stands out as a sinister but endearing villain, portrayed wonderfully by Rebecca Ferguson. Mike Flanagan does an excellent job of balancing Kubrick’s and King’s visions respectfully while still adding his own visual style. He's also remarkably good at directing child actors, consistently eliciting strong performances—especially from Jacob Tremblay and Kyliegh Curran, who were so convincing in their roles that it was frightening. The movie looks gorgeous, with the use of colors enhancing the overall tone and contributing to the horror atmosphere. The score does a similar job, drawing samples from Kubrick’s film while still establishing its own identity. Some minor issues: There were a few callbacks that felt excessive, often through references. As I mentioned earlier, the movie takes a while to find its footing, and you can't help but draw comparisons. A few lines of dialogue felt awkward, as if King had inserted them for humor, which diminished the fear factor in this context. Overall rating: “Eat well and live long.”

Source on TMDB