Doctor Sleep Review: 7 Ups & 3 Downs

6. Mike Flanagan's Sharp Direction

Mike Flanagan has been making a major name for himself on the horror circuit over the last few years, cemented by his incredible work on Netflix's Stephen King adaptation Gerald's Game and especially last year's brilliant TV series The Haunting of Hill House.

Carrying the torch for Stanley Kubrick is no easy feat, but Flanagan's uncommon penchant for favouring quieter, more character-driven moments over outlandish horror serves him incredibly well here.

Rather than try to ape Kubrick's style, he compliments it with his distinctly minimalist approach, honing in on quiet human moments and, yes, occasionally letting loose with the more heightened madness audiences expect.

Flanagan is an expert at building atmosphere, and off the back of his work here, there's no reason to believe he won't confirm himself to be an all-timer genre great - if he hasn't already - within the next few years.