Doctor Sleep (2019)

Doctor Sleep (2019) is a moody, suspenseful follow-up to The Shining that blends psychological drama, supernatural fantasy, and slow-building horror. Years after the Overlook Hotel, an adult Dan Torrance—broken by alcoholism and haunted memories—has found fragile stability working in a hospice and using his "shine" to comfort the dying. When he connects with Abra Stone, a teenager whose psychic power outshines anything he’s seen, the two form an uneasy alliance against the True Knot, a quasi-immortal cult that feeds on the psychic essence of children. Watching this film you’ll experience a chilly, atmospheric ride: lingering dread and eerie, paranormal moments interlace with quieter, emotional beats about trauma, recovery, and the price of survival. The pacing is deliberate, building tension through unsettling visions, claustrophobic encounters, and flashes of grotesque menace from the cult, then exploding into a tense, cinematic showdown that calls back to the Overlook’s frozen menace. Expect effective scares more rooted in mood and psychological terror than cheap jump-scares, strong emotional resonance between characters, and striking visual moments—snowbound isolation one moment, uncanny psychic phenomena the next. It’s both a homage to the original and a standalone tale of redemption, fear, and the desperate fight to protect innocence.

Actors: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran

Director: Mike Flanagan

Runtime: 152 min

Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Horror

6.3 /10 59 /100 7.3 /10 6.5 /10