Discover Mike Flanagan's Brilliantly Overlooked Shining Sequel - Unraveling the Untold Masterpiece
Mike Flanagan's Doctor Sleep deserves greater acclaim, as it skillfully continues the legacy of The Shining with a tantalizing callback in The Fall Of The House Of Usher Despite underperforming at the box office, Flanagan's House Of Usher follow-ups promise to rectify the oversight and highlight the accomplishment of this near-impossible sequel
Summary
The Fall of the House of Usher trailer includes an Easter egg callback to The Shining and Flanagan's underappreciated sequel, Doctor Sleep.
Despite underperforming at the box office, Doctor Sleep received critical acclaim for its successful homage to both Stephen King's book and Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film adaptation. Flanagan's upcoming projects, such as The Life of Chuck and The Dark Tower, will further establish his skill in adapting Stephen King's intricate narratives, potentially elevating the recognition of Doctor Sleep.
Mike Flanagan's upcoming Netflix series, The Fall of the House of Usher, offers chilling similarities to The Shining, emphasizing the underappreciation of his film adaptation, Doctor Sleep. The trailer for The Fall of the House of Usher provides a glimpse into the complex relationships between characters, the inclusion of familiar Flanagan actors, and the thematic elements that will be featured in the October 2023 series, based on various Edgar Allan Poe stories. Notably, the trailer also includes a subtle reference to Doctor Sleep, Flanagan's 2019 movie which served as a sequel to Stephen King's iconic horror novel, The Shining.
While Flanagan had previously brought King's tale, Gerald's Game, to life for Netflix in 2017, his 2019 interpretation of Doctor Sleep raised the stakes with a larger budget and a theatrical release. However, despite receiving positive feedback from both critics and audiences, Doctor Sleep struggled to succeed commercially, earning a global total of only $72 million, while being made with an estimated budget of $45 million. The film faced divided opinions due to its attempt to stay true to the original Stephen King book, while also incorporating significant differences from Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film adaptation of The Shining. Unfortunately, Doctor Sleep has often been overshadowed in Flanagan's repertoire, but his new Netflix series serves as a timely reminder of the remarkable achievements of this overlooked sequel.
Mike Flanagan's The Fall Of The House Of Usher Teases The Shining Callback
The Fall of the House of Usher trailer teases a clever reference to The Shining and Doctor Sleep in Mike Flanagan's Netflix show. Carla Gugino's character, Verna, is shown briefly in a scene where she hands a drink to Roderick Usher behind the bar, reminiscent of the bar scenes in both films. Mike Flanagan is known for incorporating references to his previous and future projects, so it's not surprising to see a nod to Doctor Sleep in The Fall of the House of Usher. These callbacks to the iconic horror movies and their sequel are a refreshing addition to Flanagan's new TV shows, providing the recognition and interest that Doctor Sleep deserves.
Doctor Sleep Accomplished Near-Impossible Sequel Wins (Despite Box Office Bomb)
Doctor Sleep's box office performance in 2019 was disappointing, but it was expected to receive less critical acclaim than The Shining. Despite its divisive reception upon release, The Shining has become a cult classic and is now favored more positively by both critics and audiences. This puts any type of sequel, remake, or follow-up at a disadvantage. However, considering the iconic status of The Shining and how highly it is regarded by different generations, the fact that Doctor Sleep received any acclaim from critics and audiences is a remarkable achievement.
Furthermore, Flanagan's sequel successfully pays homage to both Stephen King's book and the 1980 movie. The division surrounding Doctor Sleep arose from the question of whether it was a follow-up to the film or the book, which have vastly different endings and tones. Flanagan's adaptation addressed the outcomes and themes of both, with a greater emphasis on the human themes and emotional depth of its characters, aligning more closely with King's novel. Given the challenging task at hand, Flanagan's ability to receive acclaim for the 2019 movie is even more impressive.
Doctor Sleep, while not as consistently terrifying as The Shining movie, remains true to Stephen King's books and successfully incorporates many of the crucial elements omitted from Kubrick's adaptation. Despite criticism of its lengthy runtime, Flanagan's screenplay, the actors' performances, and the filmmaker's skillful ability to create a remarkable sequel to a classic story make Doctor Sleep deserving of greater acclaim. Flanagan's previous success with Gerald's Game further solidifies his position as one of the few directors who consistently grasp the themes, tone, and horror of Stephen King's stories.
Mike Flanagan's House Of Usher Follow-Ups Will Redeem Doctor Sleep Oversight
Following the release of
on October 12, Mike Flanagan has exciting projects in the works that will return him to the realm of Stephen King. Flanagan has confirmed his plans to adapt King's story, The Life of Chuck, into a film. Furthermore, he has obtained the rights to adapt King's novel series, The Dark Tower. These two ambitious endeavors are expected to be Flanagan's next ventures after The Fall of the House of Usher, solidifying his reputation as one of the most talented filmmakers to tackle King's challenging narratives. With any luck, this will also bring a positive shift to the legacy of Doctor Sleep.
