Mike Flanagan’s Terrifying Sequel to ‘The Shining’ Now Streaming on Netflix

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Feeling down now that Halloween is over? Don’t worry! Horror experts Mike Flanagan and Stephen King have a treat for you. Starting today, you can stream Doctor Sleep on Netflix. This excellent film is a sequel to the classic The Shining and is considered one of the best horror movies of recent years, and a fantastic adaptation of King’s work.

While based on Stephen King’s 2013 novel – itself a sequel to his 1977 book – Mike Flanagan’s film version is arguably even better. With King’s blessing, Flanagan cleverly incorporated iconic scenes and ideas from Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation of The Shining, blending them with King’s original story.

Years after the events of The Shining, Doctor Sleep centers on Danny Torrance, now an adult struggling with addiction. He still possesses his psychic abilities – ‘the shining’ – and uses them to comfort people as they die. Danny also forms a connection with Abra Stone, a young girl with powerful psychic gifts who is being hunted by a dangerous group of beings who feed on the life force of children. Abra reaches out to Danny for help in stopping Rose the Hat and her followers, a nomadic band with sinister intentions.

‘Doctor Sleep’ Is Easily the Best Stephen King Sequel – Both in Book and Movie Form


Warner Bros. Pictures

I’m a big Stephen King fan, and I’ve enjoyed seeing him revisit some of his stories with sequels, especially in the worlds of Mr. Mercedes and The Dark Tower. While Doctor Sleep might not have been a sequel everyone needed, I think it did a fantastic job of giving us a satisfying conclusion to Danny Torrance’s story – a character a lot of us were eager to see more of.

Mike Flanagan didn’t just adapt the book well, he brilliantly connected two different versions of the story—both rooted in the same world, but with very different tones. The film Doctor Sleep understands the core themes of Stephen King’s original The Shining—the devastating impact of addiction and how individual struggles can grow into something much larger. It also acknowledges and respects Stanley Kubrick’s famous film adaptation, which King himself wasn’t a fan of.

Mike Flanagan has quickly become a standout director in the horror genre, and his recent work solidifies that reputation. Films like The Life of Chuck and the series The Haunting of Hill House demonstrate his unique storytelling ability. Many consider Doctor Sleep to be his strongest script – a well-crafted story about a man confronting his past, a uniquely gifted child, and a compelling villain driven by insatiable desire.

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2025-11-02 20:05