Don't Sleep: Unraveling The Mystery Of The Ending

The horror film 'Don't Sleep' explores the profound, formative trauma of hurting loved ones. The movie centres around Zach, a young boy who experiences a series of disturbing dreams and visions, including an encounter with a bald crone and a little girl wearing a sack-cloth mask. As Zach grows up and seemingly has it all, he starts to see his childhood double and is haunted by images of a man being tortured on his laptop. The movie takes a turn when Zach's neighbour commits suicide, and the audience is left to grapple with the question of whether Zach is responsible for his actions or if there are darker forces at play.

The significance of Dan's death

Dan's death in "Doctor Sleep" is significant for several reasons and brings his character's journey full circle. Firstly, it mirrors his relationship with Dick Hallorann more directly. In Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining", Dick Hallorann is killed, and he appears to young Danny as a ghost after the Overlook Hotel incident. Dan's death in "Doctor Sleep" means that he, too, appears to Abra as a ghost in the final scene, paralleling his own experience. This also serves as a way to balance the film adaptation with Stephen King's original books, as in the source material, both Dick and Dan survive their respective climaxes.

Secondly, Dan's death allows him to find peace, which he seemingly hasn't had since the start of the film. By the end of "Doctor Sleep", he has saved Abra, destroyed the True Knot, and burned the Overlook Hotel to the ground. He is finally at peace with himself, having overcome his trauma and his past demons.

Dan's death also highlights the theme of sacrifice and redemption. By sacrificing himself to save Abra, Dan redeems himself for his past mistakes and the guilt he feels over Deenie and her son. This act of selflessness completes his character arc, showing that he has moved on from his past and chosen to do good in the world.

Lastly, Dan's death serves as a powerful conclusion to the story, bringing together the elements of horror, tragedy, and redemption that have defined his character's journey throughout both "The Shining" and "Doctor Sleep".

The Overlook Hotel as a metaphor for addiction

The Overlook Hotel in Stephen King's The Shining serves as a metaphor for addiction, specifically alcoholism. Jack Torrance, a writer and recovering alcoholic, takes up a job as the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel during the winter months. The hotel, described as a "homey, haunted hospice", is a cunning and insidious force that preys on Jack, drawing him in like "a sip of whisky".

The Overlook Hotel is a place of escape for Jack, a respite from his failing marriage and career. However, the longer he stays, the worse his addiction symptoms become. The hotel's evil power takes control of his mind, and he falls victim to the addiction, becoming a volatile recluse. Jack's addiction speaks through him, telling him to neglect his family and his health, and eventually convincing him to harm them.

The hotel is portrayed as a psychic vampire, absorbing the ghosts of those who die within it and turning them into agents of its own hunger. It is a place where evil spirits feed on the innocent, mirroring how addiction consumes and corrupts its victims. The hotel's ghosts are drawn to young Danny Torrance because of his "`shining", a supernatural ability that is awakened by his father's alcoholism.

The Overlook Hotel is a powerful symbol of the destructive nature of addiction, reflecting the devastating effects it can have on individuals and their loved ones. It represents the insidious nature of addiction, luring its victims with false promises of escape and comfort, only to ensnare and destroy them.

Dan's relationship with Abra

Dan and Abra's relationship in "Doctor Sleep" is a complex one, with the two characters connected by their shared powers of "the shining". Abra is a young girl who first discovers her powers at a very young age. She uses her psychic abilities to connect with Dan, a grown man who also possesses the power to shine. Abra sends him a message that appears on the chalkboard wall in his bedroom, and this forms a long-distance, psychic relationship between them.

As Abra grows older, she witnesses the murder of a young boy by a group of immortal beings called the True Knot, who feed off the "steam" of those with the shining. Abra reaches out to Dan for help, and they meet in person. Due to the age difference and the potential for suspicion, Abra suggests that they pretend to be uncle and niece, and she continues to refer to him as "Uncle Dan" throughout the film.

In the book, their relationship is further explored, as it is revealed that Abra is actually Dan's niece, as her mother, Lucy, is Dan's half-sister. However, in the film adaptation, this familial connection is not explicitly confirmed, although all the pieces are there. Despite this, Dan and Abra's relationship remains crucial to the story, as they work together to defeat the True Knot and their leader, Rose the Hat.

Dan and Abra's relationship is also significant because it mirrors the relationship between Dan and Dick Hallorann from "The Shining." Just as Dick once helped Dan, Dan now plays a similar role in Abra's life, guiding and protecting her from the dangers of the True Knot and the Overlook Hotel. In the end, Dan sacrifices himself to save Abra, ensuring that she can escape and break the cycle of addiction and trauma that has plagued him.

The role of ghosts in the film

The 2017 horror film "Don't Sleep" explores the role of ghosts in unpacking the trauma of its protagonist, Zach Bradford (played by Dominic Sherwood). The film begins with a dream sequence in which Zach, as a little boy (Dash Williams), is haunted by several ghosts, including a bald crone and a sickly-looking evil twin. These ghosts foreshadow the traumatic events that Zach will face as an adult, setting the tone for the film's exploration of the psychological impact of ghosts.

As an adult, Zach is haunted by a ghostly figure from his childhood—a pale teenager cloaked in a hoodie. This ghost serves as a manifestation of Zach's repressed memories and unresolved trauma. The ghost appears to Zach at significant moments, such as after the suicide of his neighbour's father, Mr. Marino. This ghostly figure is a constant reminder of Zach's past, which he has tried to compartmentalize and forget.

The film also hints at the presence of other ghosts or supernatural entities that affect the lives of those around Zach. For example, Zach's wife, Shawn (Charlbi Dean Kriek), experiences mysterious occurrences such as a closet door popping open unexpectedly. Additionally, Zach's neighbour, Jo, sees something terrifying while she is with her partner, Vincent. These instances suggest that the film's narrative extends beyond Zach's personal trauma and that there may be a broader supernatural force at play.

The ghosts in "Don't Sleep" serve as a metaphor for the burden of one's past and the impact it can have on the present. They are a physical manifestation of Zach's guilt, fear, and repressed memories. The film utilizes horror tropes and supernatural elements to explore the psychological impact of trauma and the challenges of facing one's darkest aspects.

While the film ends with a twist that suggests Zach is not solely responsible for his actions, the role of ghosts in the film is crucial in unraveling the complexities of his character and the trauma that haunts him.

The film's ending compared to the book's

The film adaptation of Doctor Sleep, the sequel to The Shining, makes some significant changes to the story presented in the book it is based on.

The film's ending, in which the adult Danny Torrance sacrifices himself to save Abra from Rose the Hat and the True Knot, takes place in the abandoned Overlook Hotel, which is still standing. In the book, the hotel has been destroyed, and the final showdown takes place at a campground constructed on the site where the hotel once stood.

The film's ending also deviates from the book in that it features the deaths of Abra's father and Billy, who both survive in the novel. Additionally, the film does not include Abra's grandmother, who plays an important role in the book, and combines the characters of Doctor John and Casey Kingsley into a single character, Billy.

The film adaptation also makes changes to the portrayal of the True Knot. In the book, the group disguises themselves as camper people and blends in with the general population, while in the film, their caravan is massive and conspicuous, making them stand out.

Overall, the film's ending takes some liberties with the source material but ultimately manages to bridge the gap between the book and film versions of The Shining, serving as a satisfying sequel to both.

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