Early reactions to Doctor Sleep hail the film as pure nightmare fuel

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

There's nothing like early reactions for DOCTOR SLEEP to help wake a somnolent Friday afternoon news cycle, amirght? Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, DOCTOR SLEEP takes fans of THE SHINING back to the Overlook Hotel, where a now-adult Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) must confront his torturous past.

The Master of Horror himself, Stephen King, recently praised the Mike Flanagan-directed frightfest by calling it an "immersive" experience that fans of THE SHINING and THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION will no doubt enjoy.

DOCTOR SLEEP: Mike Flanagan is a talented director, but heâ??s also an excellent storyteller. The movie is a good thing. Youâ??ll like this if you liked THE SHINING, but youâ??ll also like it if you liked SHAWSHANK. Itâ??s immersive.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 23, 2019

Here's the official synopsis for DOCTOR SLEEP:

Still irrevocably scarred by the trauma he endured as a child at the Overlook, Dan Torrance has fought to find some semblance of peace. But that peace is shattered when he encounters Abra, a courageous teenager with her own powerful extrasensory gift, known as the “shine.” Instinctively recognizing that Dan shares her power, Abra has sought him out, desperate for his help against the merciless Rose the Hat and her followers, The True Knot, who feed off the shine of innocents in their quest for immortality. Forming an unlikely alliance, Dan and Abra engage in a brutal life-or-death battle with Rose. Abra’s innocence and fearless embrace of her shine compel Dan to call upon his own powers as never before—at once facing his fears and reawakening the ghosts of the past.

While DOCTOR SLEEP doesn't open in theaters until November 8th, Warner Bros. has seen fit to lift the embargo for distinguished members of the press who were fortunate enough to see the film early. You can check out many of their reactions below, if you dare!

I was fully invested in #DoctorSleep which is a satisfying supernatural thriller that distinguishes itself apart from its predecessor, The Shining, while also paying homage. Ripe with chills, jumps, scares and a hefty emotional weight. @joblocom

— Paul Shirey (@arcticninjapaul) October 25, 2019

Fans of the book will no doubt toil over some aspects, particularly in the third act, but you’ll be hard pressed to not walk away feeling that it closes out the story in a way that appeases fans of The Shining, Stephen King and the Torrance family legacy. #DoctorSleep

— Paul Shirey (@arcticninjapaul) October 25, 2019

Ewan McGregor and Kyliegh Curran are excellent, but the standout for me was Rebecca Ferguson as Rose The Hat, a great new villain to add to Stephen King’s long line of unforgettable baddies that you can’t help but love (and love to hate). #DoctorSleep

— Paul Shirey (@arcticninjapaul) October 25, 2019

There’s a lot to take in with #DoctorSleep and I’m sure it will divide hardcore fans of the films vs. the books, but in the end this is quality Stephen King stuff done exceptionally and with care by director @flanaganfilm

I will dare to go back.

— Paul Shirey (@arcticninjapaul) October 25, 2019

My full review of #DoctorSleep will be up on the 30th, which will be from the perspective of someone that read the book. @cbumbray will be reviewing as well, from the perspective of someone who has NOT read the book. We got you covered.

— Paul Shirey (@arcticninjapaul) October 25, 2019

#DoctorSleepMovie: A hallucinogenic horrorscape, @flanaganfilm channels King’s waking nightmares & familial trauma artfully. Crafts visceral, disquieting dread not too dissimilar to Kubrick’s masterpiece. McGregor & Ferguson give perfectly pitched performances.@DoctorSleepFilm pic.twitter.com/IF6YJhDBTz

— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) October 25, 2019

#DoctorSleep works best when it's sticking to Stephen King's novel. The moment it starts trying to recreate elements of Kubrick's SHINING, it stumbles a bit. Still, Flanagan nails the emotional elements (no surprise there). And Rebecca Ferguson owns the entire movie.

— Chris EvangelistAHHH!!! (@cevangelista413) October 25, 2019

With #DoctorSleepMovie, Mike Flanagan delivers the best parts of Kubrick and King in one movie.

It made me feel silly for wanting to step back into The Overlook, instead of stepping forward from The Shining with Danny.

Rebecca is an instant icon, and Ewan completely nails it. pic.twitter.com/7Szfq2iRlG

— Andrew Dyce (@andrewbdyce) October 25, 2019

Doctor Sleep will likely give The Shining fans everything they'd want from a sequel (and some things they probably didn't). #RebeccaFerguson is wonderful and it all looks utterly gorgeous, but it's not perfect and needs more memorable scares. #DoctorSleepMovie pic.twitter.com/M2jomtq8eE

— Digital Spy (@digitalspy) October 25, 2019

It’s been a great yr for Stephen King adaptations but I think #DoctorSleep is the best of the bunch. Thrilled me in ways I wasn’t expecting, made me emotional at times & Rebecca Ferguson is ferocious. What a wonderful celebration of Kubrick, King & @flanaganfilm’s career as well. pic.twitter.com/jQ8ktEeUVE

— Heatherface Wixson (@thehorrorchick) October 25, 2019

In DOCTOR SLEEP, which I quite liked, Rebecca Ferguson's truly evil villain has a crustpunk carnie aesthetic and let me tell you…it works

— Esther Zuckerman (@ezwrites) October 25, 2019

As a huge fan of Kubrick's The Shining, King's books & Mike Flanagan, I'm giddy that Doctor Sleep is seriously GREAT. It's an excellent & faithful adaptation that makes smart changes — especially melding the '80 film & the sequel book — and the casting/performances are phenomenal pic.twitter.com/tvkDt3jonJ

— Evil Eric Eisenberg (@eeisenberg) October 25, 2019

#DoctorSleep is The Shining sequel King fans have been waiting for. Kyliegh Curran is a star in the making & Rebecca Ferguson is downright terrifying. Flanagan beautifully meshes Danny Torrance's haunting past w/ the now present, resulting in the best King adaptation of the year pic.twitter.com/g3iEOt7iyG

— Samhain ???????? (@shannon_mcgrew) October 25, 2019

#DoctorSleep is pleasantly surprising, with noteworthy performances especially from Kyliegh Curran as Abra. Although the film does lean into self-referential The Shining references a bit too much for my taste, it is one of the more cohesive Stephen King adaptations.

— Scare-a Musn-icky ???? (@sarahmusnicky) October 25, 2019

Doctor Sleep is the best Stephen King adaption since Shawshank Redemption. Mike Flanagan has perfectly combined nostalgia with tension, mystery, and suspense. The entire cast is superb. There are a number of surprises that will make King fans squeal with delight. #DoctorSleep pic.twitter.com/PhSDm6EZsZ

— Scott Menzel (@TheOtherScottM) October 25, 2019

#DoctorSleep is another trauma-fuelled emotional horror from Flanagan that made me ugly cry in public. Understandably shakes up the book quite a bit, but keeps King's heart right where it needs to be. Where does one sign up for Rebecca Ferguson's cult? Asking for a friend. pic.twitter.com/Jfs2FggiPf

— Haleigh Foutch (@HaleighFoutch) October 25, 2019

Directed by Mike Flanagan (THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE), from his own screenplay, DOCTOR SLEEP stars Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson and newcomer Kyliegh Curran. In addition to the film's main cast, Carl Lumbly, Zahn McClarnon, Emily Alyn Lind, Bruce Greenwood, Jocelin Donahue, Alex Essoe and Cliff Curtis also star. Producing DOCTOR SLEEP are Trevor Macy and Jon Berg, with Roy Lee, Scott Lumpkin, Akiva Goldsman and Kevin McCormick serving as executive producers.