While visiting the actual hotel that inspired Stephen King to write THE SHINING, I had the opportunity to sit down with director Mike Flanagan and star Kyliegh Curran to talk about the sequel, DOCTOR SLEEP. Flanagan is no stranger to the horror genre, having made a name for himself over the years with films like OCULUS, HUSH, GERALD'S GAME and most recently with Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House. As someone who was heavily affected by Stanley Kubrick's THE SHINING and as a huge fan of Stephen King, Flanagan had his work cut out for him with DOCTOR SLEEP. We discuss his own time at the famous Stanley Hotel, where he wrote HUSH with his wife Katie Siegel and stayed in King's infamous Room 217, as well as what it was like to screen the movie for the author and bridging the gap between Kubrick's film and King's novels.
Kyliegh Curran is a relative newcomer to the Hollywood scene and plays the key role of Abra Stone in DOCTOR SLEEP. We talk about her awareness of THE SHINING, what it was like to work with co-stars Ewan McGregor and Rebecca Ferguson and how she played Abra true to character from the books, which isn't exactly a squeaky-clean good girl, but someone with a bit of a dark side.
To see more from my time at The Standley Hotel, check out the video below, where I attend the annual Shining Halloween Costume Ball, roam the halls of the hotel, wander the hedge maze and go on an actual haunted tour!
DOCTOR SLEEP is now in theaters. Read my review HERE!
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