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Parents' Guide to

Doctor Sleep

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Well-made "Shining" sequel has intense violence toward kids.

Movie R 2019 151 minutes
Doctor Sleep Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 37 parent reviews

slimboss07
slimboss07 Adult
January 21, 2020
age 18+

Kids being murdered for steam.

I agree with many others on here on the cold blooded murder of the baseball boy which really pulled at my heartstrings and was very difficult to watch. That being said it should be an eye opener for all parents to the very real things that are happening to children right here in the US. Keep an eye on your children at all times and protect them at all costs. We live in different times.
2 people found this helpful.
Cullens Mom
Cullens Mom Adult
July 22, 2021
age 18+

Disturbing, and I’m tough.

There is a graphic scene where they kidnap and kill a child- I can handle the scariest and goriest of horror movies, but this one made me actually sick. Like so upset I cried and had to puke all at once. I hate it.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
See all 37 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In DOCTOR SLEEP, Danny Torrance and his mother escape the Overlook Hotel after the events of The Shining and try to move on with their lives. But Danny is still haunted by the spirits from that place. So Dick Hallorann appears and teaches Danny how to lock the spirits away. Years later, Danny (Ewan McGregor) has become an alcoholic and a drifter. He arrives in a small town, where Billy Freeman (Cliff Curtis) helps get him a job as an orderly in a hospital and takes him to AA meetings. Soon Danny is contacted by young Abra Stone (Kyliegh Curran), who "shines" in a very strong way. Unfortunately, Abra has also attracted the attention of Rose (Rebecca Ferguson), an evil being who travels with a pack of ageless followers and eats the essence of those who "shine." Can Danny help Abra before it's too late?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (37 ):
Kids say (34 ):

While it could never compare to Stanley Kubrick's original, this sequel is a leisurely, likable mix of character development and effective scares, though it's marred by intense violence toward kids. Based on Stephen King's novel and written and directed by Mike Flanagan, Doctor Sleep tackles its most difficult obstacle -- attaching itself to The Shining -- admirably. Flanagan, whose previous King adaptation Gerald's Game was also very strong, uses a few quick clips from Kubrick's film but mostly re-films it, using lookalike actors. This points the focus toward the new story, which McGregor carries nicely with a strongly sympathetic performance. Scenes of Danny at work, sitting with patients who are about to die (and earning his nickname "Doctor Sleep") are wonderfully tender.

Additionally, young Curran displays great strength and screen presence, and she and McGregor make a fine pair. Ferguson's villain is a little one-dimensional, but she plays the role with an infectious joy and sensuality. Already a horror expert, Flanagan delivers a few truly spooky moments, sometimes inspired by the original but frequently his own. Even the movie's long runtime tends to add depth rather than make it feel bloated. But while Doctor Sleep is mostly worth seeing, it crosses a line when it depicts the villains' ruthless violence toward kids; the screaming of skilled young actor Jacob Tremblay will cause most viewers' blood to run cold.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Doctor Sleep's violence. How did it make you feel? Do the scenes involving children cross a line? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • How does the movie depict drinking? What consequences does Danny face for drinking? How does he deal with it?

  • How does Doctor Sleep compare to the movie The Shining? How does it compare to the novel?

  • Is the movie scary? What's the appeal of horror movies?

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