Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Doctor Sleep.
Doctor Sleep is a continuation of The Shining that features several characters from the original movie - including the Overlook Hotel itself. Based on Stephen King’s 2013 novel, the sequel was directed by Mike Flanagan and has many visual references to Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 classic.
In The Shining, Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) relocates his family to the Overlook Hotel in Colorado. Jack’s wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), is initially supportive of her husband’s plan to earn money looking after the hotel while working on his writing, but ultimately becomes worried once Jack’s demeanor changes for the worse. Meanwhile, the couple’s five-year-old son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), roams the Overlook’s wide open spaces, resulting in numerous terrifying experiences that precede the film’s violent climax.
Doctor Sleep explores the psychological trauma that Dan attempts to overcome as an adult. He struggles with alcohol, but later finds his calling after years of sobriety. In Doctor Sleep, Danny teams up with Abra (Kyliegh Curran), a young girl with unique abilities. Together, they square off against a group known as the True Knot: people who feed off “steam” emitted by those with the shining. Here are the original characters from The Shining that also appear in Doctor Sleep.
Ewan McGregor as Dan Torrance: A recovering alcoholic who uses his psychic powers to help dying people pass on peacefully. Dan’s shine goes mostly unnoticed by the True Knot’s leader, Rose the Hat. In Doctor Sleep, he grapples with memories of his mother and father from the Overlook Hotel, and how those experiences affected his upbringing.
Alex Essoe as Wendy Torrance: She appears in flashback sequences, both at the Overlook Hotel and in Florida-set scenes. The Shining’s infamous axe sequence is also shown, with Essoe recreating the famous shot of Shelly Duvall’s terrified Wendy as Jack starts to break through the door.
Henry Thomas as Jack Torrance: Dan’s father makes his presence known during a pivotal sequence in Doctor Sleep, where he takes on the role of Lloyd the bartender and tries to tempt Dan to drink.
Carl Lumbly as Dick Hallorann: In the 1980 film, Dick is a chef at the Overlook Hotel who connects with young Danny through shining experiences, and was portrayed by Scatman Crothers. During the sequel, Dan communicates telepathically with Dick Hallorann.
Room 237 Ghost: Young Danny Torrance encounters a ghost in The Shining, and Jack later investigates. He initially sees an alluring nude woman, presumably a former hotel patron named Lorraine Massey, who transforms into a rotting ghost. The Room 237 ghost plays a significant role in Doctor Sleep.
Overlook Hotel Ghosts: Numerous ghosts appear throughout The Shining, and are featured once again in Doctor Sleep. The infamous twins return, along with a suit-and-tie gentleman who bleeds from the head and comments about the “great party.” One intense sequence includes multiple Overlook Hotel ghosts, all of whom are dressed to impress and starving after spending decades imprisoned.
More: Stephen King Believes Doctor Sleep Finally Redeems The Shining
