'Doctor Sleep' Review

Apologies for the long hiatus. In October, my free time was consumed by either a trip to the cinema or anxious viewings of postseason Astros games. In fact, I've found myself often facing a similar dilemma throughout the year. There are a total of 29 2019 releases I've seen and neglected to review. Therefore, it was daunting for me to approach returning to write about them all. However, I developed an idea that will enable me to catch up efficiently.

I've decided to start summarizing what I watch every month in a new post format. I will continue writing reviews for major releases which I feel warrant thorough analysis. I'll relay my thoughts on the remainder in approximately a paragraph via a Reel Recap. The first few Reel Recaps will be divided into April-August, September, October, and November. Beginning with November, they'll be posted once-a-month at the end of each month or the beginning of the following month. As I start my career, I view this as the best way for me to maintain the blog going forward. To my readers, I appreciate your patience and hope you continue to follow along. Let's move on to the review now, shall we?

'Doctor Sleep' Review

Synopsis: Struggling with alcoholism, Dan Torrance remains traumatized by the sinister events that occurred at the Overlook Hotel when he was a child. His hope for a peaceful existence soon becomes shattered when he meets Abra, a teen who shares his extrasensory gift of the "shine." Together, they form an unlikely alliance to battle the True Knot, a cult whose members try to feed off the shine of innocents to extend their lifespan and become immortal.

Runtime: 151 minutes

MPAA Rating: R (for disturbing and violent content, some bloody images, language, nudity and drug use)

Who should see it? Adult fans of Stephen King and The Shining.

Written and directed by Mike Flanagan, Doctor Sleep joins the recent resurgence of feature-length Stephen King adaptations and legacy sequels by furthering the story of The Shining. Though The Shining is widely considered the most celebrated horror ever made, King infamously hated Stanley Kubrick's iteration, leaving Flanagan in a precarious position. How could he possibly follow up such an influential classic in a way that would satisfy fans of Kubrick's film and King's respective novels? It's a tall order, but Doctor Sleep bridges the gap between King and Kubrick.

Tonally and thematically, Doctor Sleep aligns with the world established by Kubrick. However, Flanagan differentiates from his predecessor by emphasizing the story's supernatural elements. The "shine" is explored in greater detail, but Flanagan also keeps a veil of mystery over these abilities while expanding the universe. He carefully treads along a fine line but leaves enough ambiguity to satisfy the audience's imagination. Thankfully, this approach is applied to The Shining's other cryptic details as well, so you needn't worry about unnecessary answers to 39-year-old questions. 

Some questions are best left unanswered, and I'm appreciative Flanagan recognized that. Of the lingering storylines, the predominant thread Flanagan tugs on is the manifestation of Dan Torrence's trauma. In his adult years, substance abuse helped Dan cope with that distressing experience. Now a recovering alcoholic, Dan must struggle to resist his father's trajectory as demons from his past resurface. Dan's journey is undoubtedly the film's most compelling narrative. Despite tempered expectations, I felt mixed about certain aspects. Much like It Chapter Two, the two-and-a-half-hour runtime is too long for the story being told. In that time, Doctor Sleep juggles plenty of plot and occasionally drags.

Though my primary qualm is that I wish Doctor Sleep were more standalone. In a drawn-out third act, Flanagan is over-reliant on homages to The Shining. They contribute to a cathartic resolution of Dan Torrence's arc but felt ham-fisted in select moments. A dialogue must exist between the two, but the conversation was too one-sided in the original's favor. It seems as though Flanagan was so indebted to The Shining's legacy, that he was reluctant to step out of its shadow. The iconic scene recreations are executed very well, and the production designers did a phenomenal job recreating pristine and rundown versions of the Overlook Hotel. Otherwise, the visual effects looked cheap and unrefined at times while The Newton Brothers' score encapsulated an eery atmospheric sound befitting of this sequel.

That said, Ewan McGregor turns in his best work in years exploring the tortured soul of Dan Torrence. McGregor's in the midst of a renewed career path, and I'm keen to see what he brings to an older Obi-Wan Kenobi in the upcoming untitled Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+. On the flip side, Kyliegh Curran joins the ranks of young talent to keep an eye on. Curran portrays Abra with an assuredness well beyond her years, but also quickly reverts to the fear-stricken teen when the character's outmatched. The role's quite demanding, and she wholeheartedly steps up to the task.

As Rose The Hat (yes, her actual name), Rebecca Ferguson commands attention from the moment she arrives onscreen. The supernatural cult-leader makes for an alluring antagonist about as evil as the Overlook. It's a hypnotic performance, and her band of devotees is as creepy as they come. Concerning other cast, I'd rather not spoil anything. However, a renowned child actor's cameo caught me off guard and registered strongly with minimal screen time.

Fear not Shining fans, the original's legacy has not been "[de-]redrum." Between the gripping performances and quality filmmaking on display, Doctor Sleep proves itself more than worthy of carrying on that legacy. This sequel shines alright, but it could shine even brighter if it were whittled down in the editing room and less reliant on Shining imagery.

Film Assessment: B

Throwback Thursday Review: 'The Shining'

Sorry for the delay on this review as it was originally supposed to be uploaded in the Fall and was then set to be published last Thursday... However, life and schoolwork got in the way so that didn't happen. As a result, I've decided to modify my Throwback Thursday Review schedule a bit by nixing some reviews and postponing others. Anyways, the initial intention of reviewing The Shining was to review it along with some of the other Stephen King adaptations in last fall's lead-up to The Dark Tower and It (2017). For those curious about what I'll be reviewing throughout February, look no further! The list currently includes Throwback Thursday Reviews of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Blade, and the 1990 It miniseries, and reviews of new releases Maze Runner: The Death Cure, Winchester, Peter Rabbit, The 15:17 To Paris, Early Man, Black Panther, and Annihilation. Some 2017 films I missed out on that I'll be reviewing in the near future are Mudbound, Colossal, The Boss Baby, The Lost City of Z, Wonder, and The Florida Project.

'The Shining' Review

The Shining follows Jack Torrance, an aspiring author and recovering alcoholic, as he accepts a position to be the winter caretaker of the remote Overlook Hotel. Torrance brings his wife, Wendy, and psychic son, Danny, along for the prolonged isolation, but the family soon discovers the dark secrets of the hotel as Danny's premonitions happen more frequently. Meanwhile, an evil spirit takes hold of Jack and turns him into a maniac hell-bent on butchering his family.

Stanley Kubrick helmed The Shining as his eleventh feature, and in addition to directing the flick, Kubrick also infamously wrote the screenplay as a very loose adaptation of Stephen King's novel with the help of his co-scribe, Diane Johnson. While King has adamantly voiced his immense displeasure with the adaptation for deviating from the source material, audiences have only warmed up to it over time. For those unaware of the film's peculiar history, The Shining was initially met with a mixed reception from critics and audiences, yet the film is now fondly remembered as a cult classic and a significant staple of the horror genre. Audiences weren't quite sure what to make of all the ambiguous imagery Kubrick prominently displayed at the time, so I suppose you could even go as far as saying that it was the 1980's equivalent of mother!... Although, The Shining is a FAR better film that actually accomplishes its goal.

Perhaps, one of the most distinguishable attributes of a Kubrick film would be the attention to symmetry, distance, and depth in the camerawork. Kubrick's cinematographer, John Alcott, captures countless examples of eerie imagery, which are a perfect companion to Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind's endlessly unnerving accompaniment. For a film made in the '80s, it's really remarkable how well-crafted the scares are, as I was constantly on edge and my heart was rampantly racing. I'll come forward now and admit I hadn't seen the film before, but I was fairly familiar with the the more iconic elements and surprised to discover that they were even more frightening in the proper context. 

Jack Nicholson obviously ratchets up the insanity as Jack Torrance, but he also imbues some subdued characteristics in the character's quieter moments. Nicholson conveys the required sarcasm, despicable demeanor, and psychotic personality so exceptionally well that it's really no wonder this role is remembered as an especially iconic one.

Meanwhile, Shelley Duvall incredibly embodies the extremes of Wendy's personality as both a passive, doting wife and a frantic, concerned mother. It's truly Duvall's reactions that sell the unabashed insanity of the film's ending. While all of The Shining is definitely disturbing on its own, Duvall is just the icing on the cake for the ending's perturbing parts.

Credit's also due to Danny Lloyd for a certifiably creepy children's performance. Lloyd achieves something few young performers are capable of through Danny's dual-personalities. He maintains a childlike innocence when he's riding around on his Big Wheel and an unsettling attitude when he's repeatedly reciting "Redrum! Redrum! Redrum!" with his rough, croaking voice. Joe Turkel, Philip Stone, and Scatman Crothers also provide memorable moments in the respective roles of the bartender Lloyd, ghostly butler Grady, and hotel chef Hallorann.

If I were to cut to the chase, I'd tell you what you've already heard and you already know... The Shining is a timeless masterwork of horror that still startles because its extreme intensity will forever be a terrifying thing to witness. 

Film Assessment: A+