Written and directed by Mike Flanagan. Based on the book by Stephen King. Starring Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran, Cliff Curtis, Carl Lumbly, Zahn McClarnon, Emily Alyn Lind, Bruce Greenwood, Jocelin Donahue, Carel Struycken, Alex Essoe, Zackary Momoh and Henry Thomas.
Plot: Dan Torrance (McGregor) has to protect a young girl with similar powers to his, from a cult whose members seek eternal life.
We watched the director’s cut of this sequel to The Shining and we recommend you do the same. It was completely worth the extra 28 minutes. It opens in the 80’s. We find out that the ghosts from The Overlook have followed young Danny out of the hotel. A deceased Dick (Lumbly) tells him that if he doesn’t do something about it, the ghosts will eat him alive. So, he gives young Danny a box and tells it to “put it in his head” for when the Room 237 bitch – and others – come back. Later, Danny sees the woman from 237 in his bathtub at home and he places her in one of these boxes in his head.
Fast forward to 2019, Dan Torrance has a job in a hospice and he’s using his shine to help people pass over peacefully. Hence the title, Doctor Sleep. Bad news though, there’s a cult called the True Knot killing people who shine. They torture these people because their “steam” tastes better that way. They kill one boy and a girl named Abra (Curran) who’s shine is hella strong, sends a psychic message to Dan telling him about this. But Rose the Hat (Ferguson), the leader of the cult, has caught wind of Abra and wants her steam above all others. So, after some hesitation, Dan decides to help Abra, not only by saving her, but by helping her stop the cult from killing others as well.
The movie was very engaging for a three hour film. They made the protagonists so likable that you really cared when they were in danger. It followed rules, had a great cast, decent Freddy Claws and was sufficiently creepy all the way around. But especially the Room 237 woman. God, do we hate her. Oh, and the ending was just terrific. DJ was hoping it would end that way and when it did it was just so damn satisfying. And maybe this is blasphemy, but we could care less: we loved it WAY better than Stanley Kubrick’s version of The Shining. As a matter of fact, DJ didn’t like the Kubrick version at all, but he loved this. Do with that what you will.
I suppose I could list my favorite movies here, but instead I'll give you a strange glimpse into what makes me TaraRomero.
1. I met George Romero. He was the kindest and sweetest man. He talked to me for longer than he should have with the line getting longer. He also held my hand. And when he noticed the ladybug I have tattooed on my wrist, he said he liked it and asked me it's name. Till then, it had not had a name. Now, I call him George.
2. I love stickers. All stickers. I just adore them. I even ask for stickers for Christmas! As a matter of fact, the birthday that just past, every member of my immediate family gave me sticker packs as gifts. Affordable and extremely appreciated.
3. I have never put much stock in astrology or horoscopes, but I LOVE the magic of the MBTI. Omg. I am an INFP and it actually sounds just like me. Introverted mostly. Creative always. Heart before head and not the most logical. Totally me! For better or worse.
4. It's no surprise I count horror so high up on the list of things that make me, me. However, it's so within my soul that I was part of the Horror Club in college. Interesting bunch. And even took a Horror Lit class as an elective. I got an A.
5. Coffee always makes me happy. Always. I'm particularly fond of caramel macchiatos. But I'll drink black coffee if it's the only thing available.
6. I hate shock for the sake of shock and endings that depress me. I always mention the movies Within (2016) and the Eli Roth produced, written and starred in, Aftershock (2012), as proof of this distate I have. I abhor the idea that just because I like horror, some people think I'd actually praise a movie that lets you think the "Final Girl" just made it through the night, only to slap her in the face with a tsunami.
7. We are big time animal people. I mean, if I could, I'd have an elephant, a bear, a zebra, a penguin, an otter and a meerkat, living with me. Seriously though. We have 2 dogs right now and 2 cats. Both cats we picked up when they each came to our front door hungry. And both dogs we got from 2 different sets of neighbors. Both who, unfortunately, don't know how to care for pets long-term. But they're happy and healthy now!!
8. Revisiting my love of horror, one of the above cats, my cat, is a little black guy named Church. Because Pet Sematary. His middle name is even Pascow. To give credit where credit's due, the name was DJ's idea. But he loves horror too!
9. I'm big into art. Along with movie posters and an Anne Frank quote, I have some actual paintings on my wall. I really think Dali paints beautifully when he wants to. And if I don't get to see Michaelangelo's Pieta in person some day, I will be very disappointed.
10. Lastly, I find Emily Dickinson's poetry intriguing. I took an elective course about her as well. But do you know I injected horror even there? I was given a poem to dissect and I picked one on death, of course. Then, I researched old "Death Photos" and even printed out copies for everyone in the class. They were so interested in looking at them that it stopped them from all looking at me, and I was able to deal quite well with my stage fright. Haha
View all posts by TaraRomero
BLOOD RED REVIEWS 