Having read King’s sequel to The Shining when it was released, I
was curious about how the eventual film adaptation would tackle the story. The novel
is a continuation of the first book’s narrative and not the 1980 film version
made by Stanley Kubrick. Since far more people would be interested in a sequel to
the film, I wondered how a screenwriter would approach that problem. Luckily,
the very talented Mike Flannagan was up to the task. He alters the book just
enough to craft a sequel to the film while retaining most of the book’s details,
blending the two different stories into a very satisfying whole. DOCTOR SLEEP
(2019) is an excellent example of a sequel that both widens the scope of the
first story and also deepens the emotions of it. By having the distance of time,
both the central character of Danny and the audience familiar with the 1980
film can see the tragedy of the original events in a new way. Part of the new
vision allows us inside the damaged psyche of Danny as he faces the fear of
becoming like his father as well as the dangers of his mental abilities. The
new story also has a truly exciting set of villains with their leader being one
of the best characters I’ve witnessed onscreen in some time. And I have to say
that the film’s ending is much more satisfying than the book’s but don’t tell
Mr. King that!
The List
JOKER (2019) – 9
HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH (1983) – 8 (rewatch)
THE GLASS BOTTOM BOAT (1966) – 6
TERMINATOR: DARK FATE (2019) – 8
HOLD THAT GHOST (1941) – 6 (rewatch)
NIGHTMARE BEACH (1989) – 6 (rewatch)
KILLER CROCODILE (1989) - 5 (kind of nuts but entertaining in its way)
WEREWOLF IN A GIRLS DORMITORY (1961) – 6
THE LIGHTHOUSE (2019) – 8
THEY CALL HER…..CLEOPATRA WONG (1978) – 5 (silly, sloppy but energetic)
A DATE WITH THE FALCON (1942) – 6
DARK ALIBI (1946) – 7 (rewatch) (excellent Charlie Chan mystery)
CURSE OF THE DEVIL (1973) – 6 (rewatch)
WEREWOLF SHADOW (1971) – 8 (rewatch)
DUNE WARRIORS (1991) – 5
CHECK INN TO CHRISTMAS (2019) – 6 (Hallmark Christmas movie)
THE FALCON TAKES OVER (1942) – 7 (based on Chandler’s Farewell, My Lovely)
THE JADE MASK (1945)- 5 (mediocre Chan mystery; slow pace and a terrible No. 4 son)
DOCTOR SLEEP (2019) – 8
TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT (1980) – 4
PAGANINI HORROR (1989) – 4
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