Writer/Director: Mike Flanagan
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson and Cliff Curtis
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many actresses in Hollywood have earned appreciation of Rebecca Ferguson. Following her rise to recognition in the 2000’s, Ferguson has become a beloved icon. Whether it’s spies in danger, messianic leaders or monsters, the actress has played many powerful characters. Arguably, Ferguson’s greatest strength as an actress has always been her commitment. She is one of those rare actresses that has always poured her heart and soul into each and every role. Ferguson has created an image of being an actress which thrives at portraying feminist heroines with courage. A spectacular symbol of feminism, the actress has gained stardom. An actress with strong commitment to her craft, Ferguson has become a icon in entertainment. Through her ability to portray characters that are easy to relate to, Ferguson has become a celebrated actress that audiences value. A Swedish icon, Ferguson has become an actress that audiences cherish. Throughout her career, Ferguson has made several memorable films which deserve to be talked about without any doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Ferguson and adore all the movies she has made in her career. However, “Doctor Sleep” is my favourite. Released back 2019, Mike Flanagan’s movie offered a strong sequel to a beloved horror classic. Packed with breathtaking production-design, phenomenal storytelling and engaging acting, it’s one of the best horror movies ever made. At the centre of it all is a phenomenal performance by Rebecca Ferguson, who portrays a terrifying villain that commits gruesome murders. Ultimately, what makes “Doctor Sleep” a horror masterpiece is its universal appeal. Unlike the beloved 1980 movie, it tackles strong themes that everyone will relate to. It delivers a meaningful message about childhood trauma which would resonate with everyone. A fantastic horror sequel, there are several strong reasons why “Doctor Sleep” is a movie which is definitely without any doubt worth watching.
Set after the events of “The Shining”, “Doctor Sleep” follows a traumatized man that seeks to confront past horrors that are frightening. Ewan McGregor portrays Danny Torrance, a conflicted man haunted by the horrors of his past at the Overlook Hotel. No matter he has often tried, Danny can’t move on from a past leaving him terrified. Seeking to escape past trauma, Danny embarks on a journey to find his identity in a modern era. However, Danny’s dreams of leaving his past behind are ruined when he faces disaster. When he meets Abra (Kyleigh Curran), Danny is forced to confront his past trauma. Abra is a gifted teenager with the ability to possess the rare powers to shine. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, Danny finds that it may be impossible to move on from his past violence. As all odds are stacked against his favour, Danny begins to wonder whether it is possible to recover from a commemorated past haunting his life forever.
Mike Flanagan has often been fascinated with the horror genre. Before he directed “Doctor Sleep”, Flanagan was well-known for making horror movies with psychological themes. His renowned horror film “Gerald’s Game” offered an engaging depiction of a woman involved in a sex game. With “Doctor Sleep”, however, the filmmaker creates his first horror sequel. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to honour a bold horror movie about shining alcoholism, but he succeeded tremendously. Through captivating cinematography, Flanagan captures a man on a tough journey to discover his shining identity. Visually, the movie is an engaging feast for the eyes as gorgeous as visions that Danny seeks to materialize. Flanagan effectively uses point-of-view shots to capture tense hardships men that suffer from childhood trauma go through. For instance, point-of-view shots enhance the hallucination scene. During this intense scene, Danny is haunted by a terrifying hallucination of a scary stranger giving warnings of danger. Point-of-view shoes are complex techniques to use in films. As Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” did illustrate, point of view shots enhance commemorated horror movies about frightening sharks. Nevertheless, they work extremely in this movie. Through breathtaking visuals, Flanagan captures tension conflicted men are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Doctor Sleep” that deserves appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the film is very well-made. Flanagan successfully uses set-design to capture the lives of conflicted men that decline. Throughout the film, Flanagan successfully uses the set-design of hotels to capture trauma faces by Danny Torrance. For instance, the set-design of the hotels elevates the flashback scene. During this frightening scene, Danny is haunted by memories of his past hotel where he faced trauma as a child. One appreciates set-design that pays tribute towards Stanley Kubrick’s classic horror movie. Moreover, the musical score is dazzling. Taylor Stewart’s music is key to success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that shining alcoholics bear. Through phenomenal production-design, Mike Flanagan captures the tensions faced by men whose lives decline.
Storytelling is one of the reasons why “Doctor Sleep” is a captivating horror classic which is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses foreshadowing to capture the tensions that children haunted by trauma are facing. Inspired by the original “The Shining”, Flanagan successfully uses foreshadowing to capture tensions children with shining trauma are experiencing. For instance, foreshadowing elevates the child apparition scene. During this haunting scene, Abra has a terrifying vision of a missing baseball child leading consequences that are scary. One adores foreshadowing that captures tensions children with shining abilities are often facing. Foreshadowing is a complex techniques to use in films. As Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” demonstrated, foreshadowing enhances legendary fantasy adaptations. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through an engaging screenplay, Flanagan captures the lives of traumatized children that experience a price to pay.
One admires amazing performances.
Ewan McGregor delivers one of his greatest performances as Danny Torrance. McGregor achieved recognition for playing drug addicts in Britain. With “Doctor Sleep”, however, the actor took on his most challenging role. It is not simple to portray an iconic character in a horror classic but McGregor succeeded. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him in the past before: intense, charming and emotional in his most memorable role. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures the angst, fear and trauma of a conflicted man seeking to move on from a tragic past. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most underrated actors that’s working today.
Rebecca Ferguson is remarkable as a gifted woman that suffers from trauma causing a dilemma. Ferguson has spent most of her career playing heroic women with likeable personalities. With “Doctor Sleep”, however, the actress showcased a villainous side to herself which audiences hadn’t seen in past movies before. As Rose the Hat, Ferguson did an extraordinary job of portraying an iconic horror heroine. Whether she’s luring a frightening young girl into a trap that’s frightening or negotiating with her fellow team on a mission, Ferguson uses larger-than-life body language to create a commemorated horror heroine that’s compelling. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemroated actresses working today.
Finally, “Doctor Sleep” will earn appreciation of everyone for capturing hardships of conflicted children unable to sleep. Unlike most movies in the horror genre, it discusses themes everyone will relate to. It discusses strong themes such as identity, grief and trauma which definitely resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be fans of the classic 1980 horror film in order to enjoy the movie. Therefore, “Doctor Sleep” is one of those rare horror movies everyone will adore.
Fans of Rebecca Ferguson will definitely enjoy “Doctor Sleep” and so will movie-goers which seek exhilarating entertainment. A captivating horror classic, it honours an actress that has built a legacy which is iconic.
Nearly 40 years following the release of a groundbreaking horror movie about traumatized children facing frightening obstacles in overlooked hotels that are shining, it’s a riveting reminder of an actress that has built a lasting legacy earning a huge fan following for her abilities to portray larger-than-life characters which are compelling in unforgettable movies which are definitely without a single doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 