Doctor Sleep (2019) is a horror film directed by Mike Flanagan and serves as both a sequel to The Shining (1980) and an adaptation of Stephen King’s 2013 novel of the same name. The film bridges the worlds of Stanley Kubrick’s iconic movie and Stephen King’s original stories, continuing the terrifying tale started in The Shining.

The story follows a grown-up Danny Torrance (played by Ewan McGregor), who is still haunted by the traumatic experiences he faced at the Overlook Hotel as a child. Now an adult, Dan struggles with alcoholism and a troubled past, but eventually finds a sense of peace when he settles in a small town and works at a hospice, where his psychic abilities—his “shine”—help comfort dying patients, earning him the nickname “Doctor Sleep.”

Dan’s quiet life is disrupted when he meets a young girl named Abra (played by Kyliegh Curran), who also possesses powerful psychic abilities. Abra’s shine is extraordinarily strong, attracting the attention of a sinister cult known as The True Knot, led by the menacing Rose the Hat (played by Rebecca Ferguson). The True Knot are a group of quasi-immortal beings who feed on the psychic energy (“steam”) released by children with the shine as they are tortured and killed.

Realizing Abra is in grave danger, Dan reluctantly steps back into the world of the supernatural to protect her. Together, they face Rose the Hat and her followers in a deadly battle that brings them back to the infamous Overlook Hotel, where Dan must confront his past and the lingering spirits that still haunt him.

Doctor Sleep is praised for its atmospheric tension, character-driven narrative, and the way it bridges the gap between King’s novel and Kubrick’s cinematic vision. The film carefully balances psychological horror with supernatural elements, offering a mix of suspense, emotional depth, and nostalgia for fans of The Shining. With strong performances, especially from McGregor and Ferguson, and Flanagan’s meticulous direction, Doctor Sleep is a compelling continuation of one of horror’s most iconic stories.