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Many agree that sequels usually don’t live up to expectations, so it is only fair to say that making a sequel to a horror classic like The Shining is a risk. Was Doctor Sleep a chance worth taking? Let’s find out:

Based on Stephen King’s follow-up novel to his famous The Shining, Doctor Sleep follows the now-grown Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor),   who’s struggling in dealing with his childhood trauma. On his journey, Danny meets Abra (Kyliegh Curran), a young girl with gifts like his, whom he tries to protect from a cult. Led by a powerful and merciless woman named Rose the Hat (Rebecca Ferguson), this cult feeds on young children with “shine” in order to become immortal. The feature delivers a brand-new story that you can follow, but it’s recommended you watch The Shining to be able to understand what Danny went through, as well the various references.

The plot does not have the genius simplicity and sophistication of either the first film or even the novel on which it is based. Danny also spends very little time at the ever-so-creepy Overlook Hotel, which, disappointingly, kills a prominent scare factor.

Compared to its predecessor, the film is not as scary or creepy, even though some of the old figures appear. Instead, the film is more of a survival story fromdemon-like creatures chasing Abra and Danny. There are violent scenes, as well as some breathtaking scares, but they are not as constant as expected. Also, the two-and-a-half-hour film has various redundant scenes that could have been shortened to speed-up the pace.

For the acting, Ewan McGregor’s performance barely had any standout moments to make it memorable. Kyliegh Curran’s performance was just as weak, yet fared slightly better when it came to the intense scenes.

Rebecca Ferguson,on the other hand, commanded the screen with a performance that oozed charisma in every scene she was in. Ferguson was expressive, charming, and plausible, which made her performance stand out.

One can say any film based on Stephen King’s imagination is worth watching, and that’s the case with Doctor Sleep. However, if you are a fan of The Shining, you will be slightly disappointed.