Evie Summers
Doctor Sleep is a 2013 horror novel by American writer Stephen King, which was later adapted into a film of the same name, released in 2019. The novel is a sequel to King's 1977 novel, The Shining, and follows the story of Danny Torrance, now an adult going by Dan, who struggles with his father's legacy of anger and alcoholism. Dan acquires the nickname Doctor Sleep due to his ability to provide comfort to dying patients with the help of his psychic powers and a cat named Azzie. The film adaptation, directed by Mike Flanagan, received mixed reviews, with some praising its stylistic elements and performances, while others found it illogical and unable to escape the shadow of its predecessor, The Shining.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Horror novel/film |
| Author/Director | Stephen King/Mike Flanagan |
| Year | 2013 (novel), 2019 (film) |
| Story | Sequel to The Shining |
| Main Character | Danny Torrance/Dan |
| Main Character's Profession | Doctor |
| Main Character's Nickname | Doctor Sleep |
| Main Character's Profession's Relevance to Story | Dan helps dying patients with his psychic abilities |
| Themes | Family violence, addiction, alcoholism, redemption |
| Reception | Positive reviews, underperformed at the box office |
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What You'll Learn
Doctor Sleep is a sequel to The Shining
Doctor Sleep is a 2013 horror novel by American writer Stephen King, which is a sequel to his 1977 novel, The Shining. The book topped The New York Times Best Seller list for print, ebook, and hardcover fiction. It also won the 2013 Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel. The novel was later adapted into a film of the same name, directed by Mike Flanagan, and released on November 8, 2019, in the United States.
The story of Doctor Sleep follows Danny Torrance, now an adult going by Dan, who struggles with his father's legacy of anger and alcoholism. Dan spends years drifting across the United States before eventually settling in the small town of Frazier, where he gives up drinking and starts working at the local hospice. His psychic abilities, long suppressed by his drinking, re-emerge, and he is able to provide comfort to dying patients with the help of a cat named "Azzie", who can sense when someone is about to die. Dan's newfound sobriety and work helping others form a "well-intentioned tale of redemption" that seems to hold profound personal significance for King, himself a recovering alcoholic.
The film adaptation of Doctor Sleep received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised its stylistic and atmospheric homage to Kubrick's The Shining, while others found it frustratingly illogical and unable to escape the shadow of its predecessor. Despite its strong performances and well-crafted characters, the film underperformed at the box office, possibly due to its lengthy runtime and perception as a film aimed at older audiences.
Doctor Sleep, both the novel and the film, can be seen as a follow-up to The Shining, exploring the lingering trauma and continued psychological struggles of Danny Torrance after the events of its predecessor. The film adaptation incorporates elements from both The Shining and Doctor Sleep novels, including the burning of the Overlook Hotel, which was omitted from Kubrick's film adaptation of The Shining.
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The story is about alcoholism and addiction
The 2013 horror novel Doctor Sleep by Stephen King is a sequel to his 1977 novel The Shining. The story is about Danny Torrance, now an adult going by Dan, who takes up his father's legacy of anger and alcoholism. Dan spends years drifting across the United States, struggling with his addiction to alcohol. Eventually, he settles in the small town of Frazier and decides to give up drinking. He finds work at the local hospice and starts attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. As his psychic abilities, once suppressed by his drinking, begin to re-emerge, he acquires the nickname "Doctor Sleep".
The story of Doctor Sleep is fundamentally about alcoholism and addiction, as noted by several reviewers. Margaret Atwood, in her review for The New York Times, observes that King, a recovering addict himself, "is excellent on addiction and its attendant dysfunctions: deception, self-judgement, disregard of others, new-leaf fantasies and their near-instant collapse, the next fix as the North Star". James Kidd of The Independent also notes that the novel's "well-intentioned tale of redemption through sobriety, work, and family seems to have profound personal significance for King, himself a recovering alcoholic".
The film adaptation of Doctor Sleep, directed by Mike Flanagan and released in 2019, continues the story of Danny Torrance following the events of The Shining. While the film received mixed reviews, it is considered a bridge between King's Doctor Sleep and The Shining, incorporating elements from both novels. Despite its horror elements, the film also explores the impact of addiction and the journey towards sobriety and redemption.
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The film received mixed reviews
The film adaptation of Doctor Sleep received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the acting and cinematography, others found it underwhelming and unable to escape the shadow of its predecessor, The Shining.
Michael O'Sullivan of The Washington Post gave the film a mixed review, calling it "stylish and engrossing" but also "frustratingly illogical". He noted that while it was far from a dull film, it lacked the profound unsettling nature of its source material. Austin Collins of Vanity Fair echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the film's breadth and refreshing take on the horror genre, but also questioned its ability to stand on its own, separate from The Shining.
David Sims of The Atlantic praised director Mike Flanagan's understanding of Kubrick's adaptation of The Shining and its entrenchment in broader culture. However, he criticised the film for not being able to escape the shadow of its predecessor, stating that it is "still just a very good facsimile".
On the other hand, some critics found the film to be a worthy successor to The Shining. Tim Grierson of Screen Daily commended Flanagan for his adeptness with actors and focus on character arcs over cheap frights. Eric Kohn of IndieWire gave the film a C+ grade, praising the eerie and wondrous atmosphere that blends "abject terror with a somber, mournful quality unique to Flanagan's oeuvre".
BoxOffice predicted that the film's reliance on younger audiences' familiarity with Stephen King's novels and The Shining could be a barrier to its success. Despite positive reviews and a strong opening weekend, Deadline Hollywood attributed the film's underperformance to its lengthy runtime and perception as being targeted towards older audiences.
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The film is a bridge between The Shining and Doctor Sleep
The 2019 film Doctor Sleep, directed by Mike Flanagan, is the sequel to the 1977 novel The Shining by Stephen King. The film is an adaptation of King's 2013 novel of the same name, which is also a sequel to The Shining. Doctor Sleep follows Danny Torrance as an adult, now going by Dan, who is traumatised by the events of The Shining and struggles with his father's legacy of anger and alcoholism.
The film includes scenes that directly reference The Shining, such as Dan talking to a bartender who takes the form of Jack, and the ending, which adapts the final act of The Shining novel, omitted from the film adaptation. Flanagan's inclusion of these elements positions his film as a bridge between the two novels, bringing "the Kubrickian Overlook world" back into the narrative.
The film also incorporates elements from the Doctor Sleep novel, such as Dan's psychic abilities, his work in a hospice, and his connection with Abra Stone, a young girl with her own psychic powers. These narrative links to both The Shining and Doctor Sleep novel establish the film as a narrative bridge, connecting the two stories and expanding upon the world established in The Shining.
Doctor Sleep received mixed reviews, with some critics praising its stylistic and atmospheric qualities, while others found it illogical and unable to escape the shadow of Kubrick's film adaptation of The Shining. Despite this, the film was well-received by audiences, with some appreciating its breadth and character-driven narrative.
Ultimately, the film adaptation of Doctor Sleep serves as a narrative link, connecting the events of The Shining with its sequel, and providing a new perspective on the world and characters established in the original story.
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The film is a homage to Kubrick's The Shining
Mike Flanagan's Doctor Sleep is a sequel to The Shining, based on Stephen King's 2013 novel of the same name. The film is a homage to Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film adaptation of The Shining, which King himself was critical of. Flanagan attempts to combine King's world-building with Kubrick's cinematic departures, creating a "loving homage" to the original film.
Doctor Sleep strives to pay tribute to Kubrick's iconic imagery and atmospherics, while also remaining faithful to King's original novel. Flanagan painstakingly recreates the look and feel of the Overlook Hotel, a central location in The Shining, with incredible attention to detail. The film also explores themes of addiction and recovery, which Flanagan has stated were central to both King's novel and Kubrick's adaptation.
In an interview, Flanagan expressed his understanding of the cultural significance of Kubrick's adaptation, acknowledging that it had "eclipsed King's attachment to the original story." Despite this, Flanagan incorporates elements from both King's novel and Kubrick's film, including references to recognisable characters and scenes from The Shining. The film's ending, in particular, adapts the final act of King's novel, which was omitted from Kubrick's film.
Doctor Sleep also introduces new characters and storylines, such as Rose the Hat, an immortal psychopath who consumes psychic energy. While some critics found the film to be a successful homage, others felt that it was too reliant on its predecessor, unable to escape The Shining's shadow. Despite this, Doctor Sleep stands as a thoughtful and respectful tribute to Kubrick's classic, offering a unique blend of horror and character-driven storytelling.
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Frequently asked questions
Doctor Sleep is a horror novel written by Stephen King, published in 2013. It is a sequel to his 1977 novel, The Shining.
Doctor Sleep follows the story of Danny Torrance, now an adult going by Dan, who struggles with his father's legacy of anger and alcoholism. Dan's psychic abilities, suppressed by his drinking, re-emerge when he decides to give up alcohol and settle in the small town of Frazier. He acquires the nickname "Doctor Sleep" due to his ability to provide comfort to dying patients with the help of his psychic powers.
The title "Doctor Sleep" refers to the protagonist Dan's ability to provide comfort to dying patients and help them "sleep". It also reflects the theme of recovery and redemption through sobriety, work, and family present in the novel.
Yes, a film adaptation of the novel was released in 2019, directed by Mike Flanagan. The movie serves as a sequel to The Shining and attempts to bridge the stories of both novels.
The Doctor Sleep movie received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the acting and atmospheric direction, others found it illogical and unable to escape the shadow of its predecessor, The Shining. The film underperformed at the box office, partly due to its long runtime and perception as being targeted towards older audiences.
