I think I was halfway through with reading “The Shining” until I realized there was a sequel that came out many years later and a movie to go with it. Even now when I talk to people about “The Shining” and I ask them if they have watched “Doctor Sleep,” they always sound just as confused as I was.

“Doctor Sleep” takes place 40 years after “The Shining,” and follows Dan’s story of being an adult. Like father like son, he also struggles with alcoholism. A young girl named Abra Stone forms a strong psychic connection with Dan because of their mutual ability to “shine.” 

An evil cult-like group called the True Knot feeds off the steam from the shining children. The True Knot travels all over America hunting these children. Dan tries to protect Abra and stop the True Knot from preying on children.

I really liked how the book and the movie were almost identical to how I imagined the scenes to happen. This was an effect that I did not get after watching and reading “The Shining.” 

“Doctor Sleep” hooked me in because of the antagonist group the True Knot. They gave off this cult-y vibe that disturbed me. The True Knot leader, Rose the Hat, had a sadistic quality to her that made me want to keep reading. It felt like there was nothing that could be done to defeat her because she was so confident in winning and was always one step ahead. 

Rebecca Ferguson was able to make this character seem even more sadistic somehow in the film adaptation. Ferguson’s character had no problem killing children, not even batting an eye. In most horror films that I watch, it is adults killing other adults, and it is not as chilling. Although of course there are many films where it is adults killing children, I was just not familiar with seeing it in this cult-like format. I wasn’t so much as scared while watching this – but more so disturbed and creeped out.

Dan and Abra have this almost father-daughter relationship, but they are uncle and niece. They share the same ability to connect, which forms a deeper bond between the two. At first, Dan wants nothing to do with Abra because he is trying to recover and get his life back together, but then he becomes a mentor for her. He teaches her how to control the shining. 

Watching their connection evolve in the film was more pleasing from the acting, the scene, the dialogue, etc. You can tell that there is this resistance in Dan wanting to help Abra. He doesn’t want to get caught up back in that world that he tried to forget, but he is scared for her safety as he grows to care for her.

Here is where the major difference between the film and book lies. In the book, Dan’s character survives, and the ending gives the audience hope that he does not have to succumb to the darkness and die believing he is this horrible person.

In the movie, Dan’s character dies by sacrificing himself to save Abra. It is implied that his spirit will become apart of the Overlook Hotel and remain there. 

The ending from the book has such a deeper meaning and impact on the audience. From witnessing what Dan went through in “The Shining” and how his character fell into the same habits his father did in “Doctor Sleep,” you begin to root for his character that things can get better for him. 

As he helps Abra, there is a sense of redemption for his character and purpose that it gives him. He went through all of that and tried to get better for what? To sacrifice himself and die at the end? The full circle character arc is completed by him saving not only Abra but saving himself too.

King’s novels often get very skewed in the film adaptations, but I do respect the art and message that both have to offer. 

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