One of the Greatest Horror Sequels of All Time Is Back On Netflix (And Stephen King Fans Don’t Want to Miss It)

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A truly exceptional horror sequel is currently available to stream on Netflix, and it’s not to be missed. Many consider Doctor Sleep to be one of the best horror films of the last ten years – and one of the most overlooked. As a follow-up to Stephen King‘s classic novel and Stanley Kubrick’s famous movie, The Shining, it’s a standout in the horror genre.

What Is Doctor Sleep About?

Set over three decades after the terrifying events of The Shining, Doctor Sleep follows Danny Torrance as an adult. Now played by Ewan McGregor, Danny is a troubled man still tormented by the ghosts of the Overlook Hotel. Like his father, he struggles with alcoholism, which leads to a devastating event. He tries to escape his past and rebuild his life, and along the way, he meets Abra Stone, a young girl whose psychic abilities might be even stronger than his own.

Abra’s incredible power unintentionally draws dangerous, shadowy creatures to her – beings that thrive on stealing the energy of others. One especially ancient and formidable entity, known as Rose the Hat (played by Rebecca Ferguson), eventually senses Abra’s presence. This forces Danny to rediscover and use his own long-dormant abilities to keep Abra safe and prevent her from becoming a victim.

Why Doctor Sleep Deserves Way More Love

When Doctor Sleep came out in theaters in 2019, it earned only $72.4 million despite costing between $45 and $55 million to make. A nearly three-hour, R-rated horror movie wasn’t a typical blockbuster, and at the time, audiences hadn’t seen anything quite like it – a combination of factors that would ultimately make Doctor Sleep a standout horror film.

Mike Flanagan wrote and directed this film before achieving widespread recognition for his popular Netflix series, including The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Fall of the House of Usher, and Midnight Mass. However, Doctor Sleep truly established him as a gifted horror director capable of handling ambitious projects. The film was scary, but also emotionally resonant and layered with meaning. It also demonstrated Flanagan’s skill at reimagining classic horror stories for a contemporary audience with a high level of quality.

Stephen King and Stanley Kubrick had very different visions for The Shining, and King was openly critical of Kubrick’s film. Director Mike Flanagan faced a huge challenge: create a sequel that would satisfy fans of both King’s original novel, Kubrick’s movie, and King’s own sequel. He succeeded brilliantly. Doctor Sleep skillfully blends elements from all three sources, and its final act especially honors Kubrick’s style, making it perhaps the most satisfying sequel in the entire franchise.

Even without considering its connection to The Shining, Doctor Sleep is a powerfully frightening and violent movie. The supernatural dangers are diverse, including a group resembling vampires and the terrifying ghosts from the original film. The movie doesn’t hold back on intense scenes, and the characters are truly in danger. Visually, Doctor Sleep is a stunning horror film – its effects and sequences are incredibly impressive and rival those seen in big-budget action movies.

Ewan McGregor has become even more popular since 2019, with his return to the Star Wars universe as Obi-Wan, and roles in diverse projects like Birds of Prey and A Gentleman in Moscow. Around the same time, Rebecca Ferguson has significantly raised her profile, continuing her work in the Mission: Impossible films and taking on leading roles in shows like Silo and the Dune movies. Her recent work includes a thriller called A House of Dynamite directed by Kathryn Bigelow, known for Zero Dark Thirty. Seeing Ferguson play a villain, like her character Rose the Hat, is a particularly exciting treat for audiences.

You can stream Doctor Sleep on Netflix.

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2025-11-08 19:42