Doctor Sleep

      Strictly for fans of  "The Shining", this new supernatural  thriller stars Ewan McGregor as the adult version of Danny Torrance. If you aren't familiar with the book "Doctor Sleep" or the original "Shining", you probably will want to skip this new film altogether. If you read the book, you may be disappointed by the changes that occur about three quarters into the film although the ending, while different, is exciting and actually better than the book, in my opinion.

      The film is written and directed by Mike Flanagan, who combines elements of the book and the film version of "The Shining" to continue the story of Dan Torrance.  On screen, it's difficult to visualize "the shining" that takes place between Dan and the new protagonist, Abra Stone, a thirteen year old (played by Kyliegh Curran) who's "shine" is even more powerful than Dan's. Elements of the book are fragmented to save running time and things do not always flow as easily as they do in the book. Some plot points have been completely changed or removed. Characters are not fully realized and the fate of some have been changed to suit the screenplay. What is fun, however, are the recreated scenes from "The Shining" integrated into the new story.

         Mr. McGregor does his best as the tortured hero but the script doesn't really capture the depths of his despair. The villain of the story remains "Rose the Hat", the leader of a vampire like cult called "the True Knot", who feed off the "shines" of psychic children. Rebecca Ferguson plays Rose and she is very well cast, evenly projecting charm and pure evil. Zhan McClaron, also perfectly cast is "Crow", her right hand man and lover. The film also co-stars Cliff Curtis as Billy Freeman, a character who is considerably older in the book, Bruce Greenwood, as Dr. John Dalton, a major character in the book who is reduced to practically a cameo in the film, and Carl Lumbly as Dick Halloran, in a part played originally by Scatman Crothers in "The Shining". Mr. Flanagan also found other actors for small roles originally played by Shelly Duvall, Danny Lloyd, and Jack Nicholas in "The Shining".

         The book, as written by Stephen King,  is well paced and everything makes sense (even if it is supernatural). Trying to film this book is not an easy task and while Mr. Flanagan tries admirably, I found the film's structure to be disappointing with two many important pieces missing to hold it altogether.