A sequel to The Shining that follows a now adult Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) as he fights to save young Abra Stone (Kyliegh Curran) from an evil group of people called The True Knot.

Writer/Director Mike Flanagan, responsible for the exceptional Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House had a huge task on his hands with Doctor Sleep. Creating a sequel to a revered film, one that was hated by the writer of its original source material and managing to keep both the Kubrick estate and Stephen King happy seems an impossible task. Especially as Kubrick’s film fundamentally changed the ending to King’s book, meaning that King’s sequel has significant differences. Luckily, in an exceptional year for horror film fans he absolutely hits the nail on the head. Doctor Sleep is another excellent King adaptation.

Danny Torrance has struggled with the ghosts that have haunted him since his time in the Overlook Hotel. Now an adult he uses alcohol to suppress his shine and drifts from town to town. When Billy (Cliff Curtis) spots him in his town he offers him help and with the guidance of Alcoholics Anonymous he finds a place for himself and a job as a hospice orderly. It is here that he finds his shine can be used for good and he earns the moniker Doctor Sleep. Gradually as he establishes control over his power he makes a telepathic connection with Abra and discovers that an evil group of people track and kill people with the shine to eat.

The True Knot are a truly fantastic creation. Led by Rose the Hat (Rebecca Ferguson) they are an interesting modern day vampire. Ferguson is superb as their leader, providing an ominous and powerful figurehead to the group. The introduction of Snakebite Andi (Emily Alyssa Lind) to the group gives us everything we need to know about them and their preying on children gives us an uneasy watch.

There are then of course the links to The Shining with the film bookended by scenes in a recreated Overlook Hotel with actors made to look like Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall and Danny Lloyd. Whilst the actors look slightly jarring, almost but not quite matching physical, the sets are superb and the use within the story inspired.

A fantastic achievement.