I really, REALLY love this film. I may be slightly biased, of course: I've watched The Shining far too many times to count, and would include it in my top 5 favorite films of all time - I practically have the entire film memorized.
Now I'm ashamed to admit this, but I didn't get around to seeing Dr. Sleep in theaters. I watched the trailer multiple times, and was, naturally, unbelievably excited. Unfortunately life is busy, and I didn't make this movie enough of a priority. Looking back, I think my subconscious was terrified that this movie would be a letdown.
When I finally did rent it, I watched it with my father who (much to my chagrin) has never seen The Shining. He and I were both completely drawn in, and when the credits rolled we enthusiastically agreed that it was a great movie.
A few days later, I found myself still thinking about it. I realized that I wanted - no, needed to watch it again. So, I bought the blu ray. When my dad realized I was watching it again, he quickly joined me... with my dad, he only rewatches movies that he truly enjoys.
The credits rolled I realized that I didn't just like this movie... I love it! My dad and I ended up watching this movie 3 times over the course of a few weeks. He still hasn't seen The Shining, but he loves this movie. It will absolutely be one that we rewatch every year.
If you're hesitating to watch this movie for whatever, don't. It doesn't try to be The Shining, which would've been a huge mistake. Instead, it is entirely it's own movie. It perfectly establishes new characters, has a wonderful storyline, great cinematography... the score is heavily influenced by the original, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. The pulsing, unsettling heartbeat is always present, perhaps symbolizing the fact that Dan hasn't escaped his past.
Mike Flanagan did a fantastic job in every way. If you haven't watched his Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House, do it now. He crafts great stories, builds tension, and handles character relationships beautifully. Going into Dr. Sleep, I was delighted with his attention to character. If you're like me, you're very attached to these characters. Jack, Wendy, Dick, Danny... I have a lot of emotional investment with each of them. Flanagan shows respect to each of these characters, and doesn't push them aside or mistreat them.
If you're like me, and have a deep love for the original movie, you might find yourself getting teary-eyed a few times. Dan's story is relatable, touching, and surprisingly emotional. Ewan McGregor was, without a doubt, the perfect choice. He has a genuine melancholy that makes you 100% believe this is the same person that lived through the terrors of The Overlook. He portrays issues like PTSD and alcoholism beautifully. The rest of the cast is fantastic as well, and the villains are the best I've seen in a very long time.
This movie is fantastic, don't let yourself miss out on it. This is fantastic psychological horror, a worthy sequel to one of the best movies of all time.